Chief Stipe

I have no idea if they are or aren't. If they are available and updated in real time then they must only be available in a system accessed by trainers or @jess assertion is inaccurate. Regardless which trainer has the time to sit there and watch nominations being updated or is there a "cool down" period between noms closing the fields being declared. LOL I thought according to some that NZ Trainers didn't have the luxury of picking and choosing the races they start their charges in.

Yes and those extra nominations are not published between the first nominations and field selection. If NZTR had a decent computer system then the nominations could be published and updated in real time as they arrive. Not that I can see any advantage to doing so.

The difference is @TAB For Ever when I do criticise poorly run aspects of the industry i post fact based opinion. NOT positivity syrupy sanctimony based on false facts.

Bollocks - proof? Why would it be "interesting"? Why focus on a statistic that is impossible to get to zero when zero is the only figure that would appease the anti-racing minority? Sadly 1,500 Greyhoinds bred to run will never run at a full gallop again well at least not without a Hannibal Lecter face mask.

Well said. Te Akau is a brand and one that has had a huge investment. That investment not only benefits Te Akau but the whole industry. You are also right that Te Akau will always give credit to where it is due. Hunter Durant is a good horseman and rides trackwork each morning. The named Trainers couldn't achieve what they do without depth and skill in their assistant trainer ranks. Probably on track to buy more this coming season with Cranbourne and Riccarton now permanent bases.

Te Akau Wins South Island Trainers' Premiership 🍊 NZ Racing News reports: Te Akau Racing’s Matamata stable has been a dominant force in New Zealand racing, but over the last couple of years, Te Akau principal David Ellis has cast his eye further afield. New Zealand’s leading stable has subsequently established a permanent presence at Cranbourne in Australia and Riccarton Park in Christchurch, where they have recorded immediate success. Christchurch has long been a strategic stronghold for Te Akau, but 18 months ago Ellis elected to have a permanent base in the Garden City, and lured former stable employee Hunter Durrant back from Australia to head their Riccarton Park barn. In their first full season in Christchurch, Te Akau’s South Island base recorded 45 wins from permanent stable residents, giving them their first South Island Trainer’s Premiership. Durrant was rapt to secure the title for his employers and said it was a rewarding result for his hardworking team. “It is a great pleasure,” he said. “We have got a great team of staff down here, they work really hard all year round. We don’t quieten down a lot over winter with the poly, so there are some long, cold days and they keep going for us.” Durrant has overseen the Riccarton barn from its inception nearly 18 months ago and he has been delighted with its progress over that time. “It is approaching 18 months of a full-time stable down here for us,” he said. “It has taken a while to get systems and everything into place to be able to create a good environment down here for the horses, and we have got a pretty good system now. “They come in and they settle in really well, and I think that is a key to it when they come down here.” While their wins didn’t contribute to Te Akau’s South Island tally, Durrant said his biggest highlights this season came over New Zealand Cup week. “Captured By Love winning the Group One (New Zealand 1000 Guineas, 1600m) was up there, also Mehzebeen winning both the Metropolitan (Listed, 2600m) and New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) was pretty special.” Durrant also experienced a professional highlight this season when promoted to assistant trainer to Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. “That was a great surprise when David (Ellis) spoke to me about taking onboard that role,” Durrant said. “I have to thank him a lot, he has supported me for years now and I am forever grateful to him, Karyn (Fenton-Ellis), Mark (Walker), and Sam (Bergerson).” Their southern haul was also instrumental in Te Akau securing the National Trainers’ Premiership, with an overall tally of 131 wins, 27 ahead of Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh with just one meeting to go at Cambridge on Wednesday. “We try our best all year round,” Durrant said. “Even the last couple of months we have really surged ahead with the poly racing, which always helps. We have got quite a strong poly team down here over the winter to keep us going.” Durrant is enjoying life in Christchurch, and he is excited about the new term, with spring racing just around the corner. “It is a great place to live and train, and I am looking forward to the seasons to come,” he said. “We had a grass gallop session this (Tuesday) morning and we are starting to get on better tracks. You can definitely see the end of winter and it is exciting.” Main photo ~ Perfect Scenario

Good to see you have come out of the dark side! NZ Racing must be on the up with you finally on board. I gather you have a share in a fine animal.

I'm not bitching and moaning about NZ Racing constantly.

Jess you haven't actually made it very clear what your pont is.

Poor old @Freda - she's such a fragile individualin her older years. How condescending of you.

So you stated a fact but what does it have to do with the Topic? Or anything for that matter. The reality is Te Akau as an entity don't actually very many horses at all. Their horses aren't leased they are owned by syndicate members. Just like Fortuna. Now there are others who Lease horses and don't actually put any dosh up front.

Really? By your own admission you are a sports better. You don't care about horse racing unless you can find seen value bet somewhere. Unlike you I'm optimistic.

It is a separate syndicator i.e. owner but the horses are selected and bid on by Ellis and trained by Te Akau trainers. No different to Go Racing. What is your point? Te Akau is a Corporate Brand. Probably they only one in NZ Racing.

Are you serious?

You are splitting hairs. Both Mark and Sam are employed by Te Akau. When running a large corporate organisation such as Karyn and David do ALL employees deserve credit for the success of winning the Premiership. Mark and Sam would be the first to acknowledge that their success is due to the effort of a very big team. But then let's split hairs over a headline.

Aren't you and @Freda splitting hairs? That aside the point you are trying to make escapes me.

@curious was your open letter about YOU or the industry? I gather you have checked out because you now believe your previous morality was wrong. Horse racing has always been for our entertainment just as point to point, show jumping, polo and don't forget the fact that for centuries we have "broken in horses" to aid aid human endeavour. Why we don't we rehome all racehorses and treat them like pets? Yeah Na they are linebred species bred to race and contrary to what the Anti-racing types are spewing most of them love doing it.

Bullshit - you're Anti-racing. End of story. Horses have always fallen in jumps races especially maidens. You're just dog turd picking the worst bits probably because you have a bee in your bonnet about no longer being able to lose your money at multiple betting agencies. As for "the second to last fence at Te Aroha", @Thomass 's selective pictures from wide angles and anecdotal quotes i.e. no facts I would argue is just another angle bh Anti-racing types. Its sickening to see it being aided and abetted by some who have short memories, who supposedly enjoyed "racing at its best" and readily pocketed the spoils not that many of them dis that well even when things were "great". Who now approaching their day of reckoning feel guilty and have bought into the woke nonsense from a minority. Of course the irony of the Greyhound racing being banned seems to escape most. The biggest abuse of dogs is by the mahority of pet owners who overfeed them with crap food. I guess it keeps Vets busy.

@Newmarket post was spurious in the first place Just more negativity from him.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AFmhrAqzT/ 🎥 The moment it hit him... We had the 2025 Property Brokers Cambridge National Breeding Awards professionally filmed — but what that doesn’t capture is this: the raw reaction of Steve Davis realising the NZTBA Personality of the Year sponsored by Entain AU & NZ bio is about him. Caught on camera by someone in the crowd (who was in on the secret), this is the moment our MC of the night became the man of the night.Congratulations again, Steve — a truly deserving recipient. 💫#NZBreedingAwards #PersonalityOfTheYear #SteveDavis

I see @Freda @curious @PeterLambFan you support @Newmarket comments about Te Aroha. What was actually wrong with the Jumps? @curious is it like the whips yet another racing thing you have a gripe with?

Have you got anything positive to say about racing at all? There was nothing wrong with those jumps races at Te Aroha. Quite frankly I'm get pissed off with you whinging anti-racing types. You knock everything. Come back when you have something positive to say.

How was it a "disaster"? You obviously know zero about horse racing or even horses for that matter. Have you ever ridden a horse in your life? Do you know what they are capable of doing physically? Suggest you take up Sports Betting. Most contact sports are cruel.

Another bad night on the punt Forbs?

So bet on everything else she doesn't pick?