Chief Stipe

Who would have known.

You don't always see the claim. Horse 1 has a 3kg claimer.

As Goebbels said if you are going to tell a lie make it a big one. There were heaps 9f decent race track surfaces in New Zealand and that's with a narrow definition of "decent"!

He's still drinking soup...probably through a straw.

I see Longines latest ratings have Imperatriz and the top rated mare in the world. Only two points below being the top rated sprinter. Although I fail to see how Private Eye rates above her. Perhaps my $5m estimate is well short of the mark!

World's Highest Rated Mare Set to Make History breednet.com.au reports: Champion sprinter Imperatriz, currently rated the world’s best mare on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, will be offered at next month’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast. The most globally recognised mare ever offered at public auction in the Southern Hemisphere, Imperatriz will present the rarest of opportunities when she goes under the hammer on Tuesday, 28 May. A winner of 10 Group Ones among 19 wins from just 27 lifetime starts, the daughter of champion sire I Am Invincible amassed almost $7 million in prizemoney during an incredible racetrack career. Six of her other wins came at Group level. During the 2023 calendar year Imperatriz won six Group One races – more than any other horse globally. She is the highest rated mare (by Racing Post Rating) to be offered at public auction – higher than the international sales ring sensations Lady Aurelia, Alcohol Free, Gamine and Monomoy Girl. Recently retired after yet another stunning Autumn campaign, Imperatriz will remain at Te Akau Stud in New Zealand, while her sales process will take place at the Southern Hemisphere’s leading breeding stock auction in Queensland. It seems fitting the next chapter of the remarkable Imperatriz story would be written from the same sales complex as she was presented as a yearling in 2020. Te Akau’s David Ellis took a shine to the daughter of I Am Invincible and he went to A$360,000 to secure her at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft. “There is no doubt Imperatriz will attract global interest and will be the headline act of the auction calendar internationally. Currently rated the world's best mare, her outstanding achievements speak volumes about her exceptional talent and tenacity on the track," said Te Akau Principal David Ellis CNZM. “She won more Group One races than any other horse world-wide in 2023, solidifying her status as one of the greatest race mares of recent decades.” “Imperatriz will go under the hammer where her fairytale career began. I remember when I first inspected her in the Bhima Thoroughbreds' draft. I was instantly taken with her, so in many ways, this is a fitting finale to a stellar career. There is no doubt that she is a rare and valuable gem," Ellis concluded. The news of Imperatriz’s upcoming offer at public auction will give buyers from across the world an opportunity to secure a true superstar of the turf. “It is a huge honour for our company to be able to present Imperatriz as an elite breeding prospect during the Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “Since selling Imperatriz in 2020 we have proudly watched on and celebrated as she established herself as one of the greatest sprinters in the world.” “It is incredibly rare that a mare of her calibre is offered at public auction and we can’t thank David, Karyn and Imperatriz’s connections enough for entrusting us with her journey to the breeding barn.” “A 10 time Group One winner during an electrifying career, Imperatriz established herself as the world’s finest sprinter and regularly broke track records – she was an elite racehorse and is currently rated as the world’s best racemare!” “Importantly nine of her 10 Group One wins came against all sexes – time after time she met and defeated the best on both sides of the Tasman,” Bowditch added. “She was an unbeaten two-year-old who just got better and better.” IMPERATRIZ’S GROUP ONE VICTORIES 2022 WRC Levin Classic (1600m) defeating On the Bubbles & I Wish I Win 2022 Waikato RC NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stks (1600m) by 5 lengths 2023 Waikato RC Railway Stks (1200m) on a good track 2023 Waikato Sprint (1400m) by 4.5 lengths on a good track 2023 MVRC William Reid Stks (1200m) defeating Bella Nipotina & Roch ’n’ Horse 2023 MVRC AJ Moir Stks (1000m) in track record time 2023 MVRC Manikato Stks (1200m) by 3.3 lengths 2023 VRC Champions Sprint (1200m) defeating Buenos Noches & In Secret 2024 VRC Lightning Stks (1000m) defeating Private Eye & Espiona 2024 MVRC William Reid Stks (1200m) on a heavy track

Ellerslie worked out well.

Seems if @TAB For Ever is correct there must be track managmemt plan (Strategy?).

I made that point above when referring to the NZTR document.

Plus the current architects of this strategy will be long gone. George has already jumped ship.

Please find attached the Summer Racing Revitalisation Strategic Plan for 2024/25 (I'm not sure you can call it a Strategic Plan for such as short timespan...anyway). I assume you have read it. Do you agree that the focus is on increased Stakes? Do you also agree that there is nothing in this strategic plan that addresses the fundamental issues? The biggest issue is getting horse numbers up - not to mention that most of this racing is going to occur on compromised tracks. The strategy seems to be, and you seem to agree with it, is that if stakes are increased and we have more and more limited entry novelty races plus increased top tier stakes the horse numbers will come. FINAL Strategic Summer Calendar Doc.pdf

I saw the Troika together at Elleslie recently. George, Sharrock and that Entain guy.

Thankfully NZ Harness Racing has so much more integrity.

Who gives a Michael!

So the suits at TABNZ and NZTR, HRNZ and GRNZ need to get their shyte together. Sharrock is missing in action! As for HRNZ... GRNZ... I can't name them to say they are MIA!

So are you "Just saying" that after 5 years...?

Where did I go "perilously close to breaking" my sites privacy policy? It would be very hard to do that in you case if you haven't actually given any details to release!!! All I asked is for you to state what association you align to and what your objective is. I'm putting my money on at $1.01 that you are anti Greyhound Racing and want it to stop. Back to the topic - if that happened you wouldn't have to worry about rehoming would you?

I've noticed there is a bigger delay between the onscreen action and when the app closes a race. Not much but you can get caught out. Different delay with OZ races.

Possibly. I keep forgetting we still have a trough in between!

But then will they still use the % of revenue for each code for the code distribution?

But Harness didn't have to compete with Thoroughbred racing on Sundays.

Yes and it seems that HRNZ were OK to have the Sunday monopoly ended. Wasn't that a concession they got for some other NZTR deal regarding stakes?

The pressure from ENTAIN must go on the code management soon. The honeymoon must be well and truly over by now.

Good questions for Sharrock too. I wonder if he has been taking trips to Qatar recently.

LOL i couldn't work out how to take a 1,2:1,2:F trifecta! Couldn't find the F option.