Chief Stipe

So this time @the galah you are not joining @Archie Butterfly in inferring that there is some special Woodend potion involved?

I'd never seen Without A Fight in the parade ring before. Having told everyone to offload on the nose before seeing it in the parade ring I thought I'd have to hide for a month. He would have to be the worst walker I've seen. One leg in particular he barely lifts and trips over it. Had the vets confused but hell he can gallop!!!

Without A Fight should ‘have a crack' at Melbourne Cup redemption Mark Zahra celebrates after winning the Caulfield Cup aboard Without A Fight. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images By Gilbert Gardiner 07:29pm • 21 October 2023 Caulfield Cup winner Without A Fight has Melbourne Cup redemption on the agenda after a stirring triumph on Saturday. Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight lapped up the fast ground on Saturday and a perfect ride from emerging Cups specialist Mark Zahra to deny West Wind Blows. Reigning Melbourne Cup champion Gold Trip, set to back-up in the Cox Plate on Saturday, placed in a second straight Caulfield Cup – an ominous sign of more spring riches to come. Zahra, who won the 2020 Caulfield Cup on Verry Elleegant in front of empty grandstands, thanks to Covid restrictions, enjoyed the moment before a crowd of 25,121 on Saturday. • Mark Zahra denies great mate Jamie Spencer in Caulfield Cup epic Zahra, slugged a $50,000 fine for a whip breach in the Caulfield Cup, stamped Without A Fight's Melbourne Cup potential. "You've got to have a crack," Zahra said. "That was second-up from a spell. A great training performance from the Freedmans to get him right today so you think there's got to be a little bit of improvement. "In Brisbane (during the winter) I thought he won't run past 2000m so I said send him to the Cox Plate … he just came back so much more relaxed, so you've got to have a crack." Without A Fight and Mark Zahra (left) edge in front of West Wind Blows and Jamie Spencer. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images Zahra "pulled the right rein" last week, committing to ride Without A Fight despite a looming threat of opposing his Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip, and again on raceday. Calm. Composed. Cup winner, again. "It is good when you have the results at the end but you have to choose them beforehand," Zahra said. "What a moment. I'm so happy. "I don't really celebrate much but with the week I've had and the things that have gone on … had a beautiful run and he did the rest." An emotional Sam Freedman lauded Zahra's commitment to the horse. "What a call. He's pulled the right rein," Freedman said. "The horse is brilliant on top of the ground." Sam Freedman and jockey Mark Zahra kiss the Caulfield Cup. Picture: Michael Klein Freedman brushed off the veterinary drama around Without A Fight on Thursday and Friday. Racing Victoria vets deemed Without A Fight lame in mandatory pre-Caulfield Cup safety checks. The horse was cleared after a second inspection on Friday. "They made the right call. We were never worried," Freedman said. "As a trainer you would never send a horse to the races that you didn't feel was ready to go. "This horse, we know his so well and all the staff, they work tirelessly to get these results and so when you've got that nervous wait, you're feeling for them. "They're putting in the hours and it has been a tough enough six or twelve months … I'm sure the old man would be at home and getting a bit emotional." Freedman's father Anthony was involved in brother Lee's four Caulfield Cup triumphs in 1992, 1994-95 and 2003. On the 20th anniversary of family favourite Mummify's success, emerging iron horse Without A Fight added to the Freedman Caulfield Cup tradition.

Barely the width of a credit card between the first 3. Geez the Randwick track goes off badly during a day's racing. Need to be handy or forget it

I get notifications via email never in the app. The thing I hate about the notifications is that you still get them when the horse is scratched!!

All good Chazza. Obviously there is no correlation between surface, rail strike and injury.

Speaking of software any news on the $2m NZTR software upgrade? I wonder if that's where the apprentice claim and form info comes from.

The inference is it is an infrastructure problem when it would appear to be a software issue.

I've been complaining about it for years. You click on a horse and look at its detailed race form and then exit while still in the race field and you can watch and suddenly all the claims disappear. It's like they are somehow connected to the odds refresh.

But Chazza's stats says the track is brilliant! The problem Greyhounds have is the way that you vet dogs after a race and publish the results. Dog racing seems inherently problematic with regard to injury.

The one that really really annoys me is the disappearing apprentice claims. If you click for more detail on a horse the apprentice claim disappears for the duration of your viewing. Been like it since the bought the damn app!!!

Ben Hope worked the oracle on Pure Courage at his 58th start in the first at Addington last night. Seems all the Woodenders plunged on the tote as well. PURE COURAGE - authorisation of 1st placing was withheld until driver R Reekie (HE'S TOUGH) placed 4th, had viewed the replays and confirmed he did not wish to proceed with a protest after receiving interference from PURE COURAGE early in the run home. Driver C Wigg admitted a breach of Rule 869(3)(b) in that she drove carelessly when shifting ground and striking the sulky wheel of HE'S TOUGH early in the run home which punctured. After viewing the replays and hearing penalty submissions the Adjudicative Committee imposed a fine of $250. When questioned regarding the improved performance trainer B Hope advised that he had made several gear changes since acquiring the horse in recent weeks, in particular a change to the gelding's shoeing and was of the opinion that the horse had appreciated being able to work in company with other horses in training.

Don't worry Chazza is onto it.

By Michael Guerin Trainer Cran Dalgety is worried about a host of tricky starting points for his team at Addington tonight. So he warns punters even though most of those he and wife Chrissie take to headquarters tonight are good enough to win they should be treated with caution. “We have copped a lot of bad draws and even have Casino Action (R4, No.11) having his first standing start, so we could have a few starting issues tonight,” says the in-form trainer. Team Dalgety begin their night with two of their more promising pacers on Ohoka Le Bron and Franco Sinatra in a strong R54-70 in which they are drawn the outside two marbles on the front line. “They are both really smart horse who we like a lot,” confirms Dalgety. “But they both obviously have bigger targets ahead so I think they won’t be rushing forward early. “That doesn’t mean they can’t win but it makes it harder. “Ohoka Le Bron is being aimed at a support race on Cup Day when some of his owners will be in town. “And Franco Sinatra is a really good stayer with a good horse’s record but he is drawn even wider so he will also go back and be better for the outing.” That would appear to give the well-drawn favourite Sinbad his chance to take a handy spot and be the one to beat after he got back and wide in the red-hot Flying Stakes last week. Casino Action has been racing some smart young horses lately but steps into handicap grade against horses he can beat if he behaves. But that is a big if. “It took him three trials to get his standing start ticket and he is still very much learning it. And he has barrier 1 on the 10m so he is a risk. “But if we get him going from a stand he has a whole range of new options like some of the coutry cup races so we have to start somwhere.” Defy Me (R8, No.10) is a handy three-year-old who also faces a barrier concern but one Dalgety hopes turns into an advantage. “He is drawn 1 on the second line and if I thought he was going to get the right run I’d give him a great chance. “The horse he follows out led early and rolled last start so the draw could work out ok.” The stable will debut Carving Up (R11, No.6) tonight and Dalgety thinks he is in the right race but still with plenty of improvement in him. The start will also be crucial in two of tonight’s biggest races, with the main handicap pace bringing together Cup contenders like Smiffy’s Terror against a highly-promising southern pacer in Street Art. The latter looks very a cracker for trainer Craig Ferguson and has won from a start will show punters whether he can take the next step tonight. The two-year-old trotters clash in Race 7 minus last week’s stunning winner Paramount Kiwi and manners will be the key after horses like Look To Da Stars and Bounce N Beyond cost themselves galloping in the Harness Million last Friday. An interesting newcomer is A Fine Patrick, the first son of wonderful mare Harriet Of Mot, with John Dunn opting to drive him rather than Bounce N Beyond. A Fine Patrick has had five trials including three this prep and opened the $2.50 favourite in a juvenile trot race with some real depth.

Not that I can find. Bit surprising in a way as Ritalin has been thrown around like confetti over the years. Easily detectable and has been tested for decades.

Brion, Four Other Suspensions Lifted by HIWU 'I am hopeful these are steps forward to handling things in a better way'—Brion By Lauren Gash Today, 3:31 PM The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit lifted the provisional suspension for trainer Keri Brion because a horse in her care, Chasing After You, allegedly tested positive for the drug cocaine. The suspension was lifted pursuant to HIWU Rule 3247 (e), "If it considers it appropriate to do so on the specific facts of the case, the Agency may lift the Provisional Suspension." The testing came after Brion shipped Chasing After You into the Presque Isle Downs receiving barn for a Sept. 19 claiming race. The 3-year-old Three Diamonds Farm-owned filly by Speightstown finished the six-furlong test in 1:10.18, three-quarters of a length ahead of the field. "It's not over, HIWU is doing their study," said Brion. "I don't know the details as to how it goes from here, but this is a relief. I am hopeful that these incidents are steps forward to handling these types of things in a better way." Other recent suspensions for banned substances, which were lifted, include: R. McLane Henriks—cocaine positive Aug. 16 with Princess Javoncia at Penn National Carlos Milian—hydrochlorothiazide positive July 29 with Junglherly Love at Parx Racing Javier Morzan—metformin positive June 24 with Lady Liv at Delaware Park Guadalupe Munoz Elizondo—metformin positive June 11 with Quinton's Charmer at Sunray Park A hearing for each of the five cases will be forthcoming. Brion added: "My big thing is, I shipped out to Presque Isle Downs, with my own help into the receiving barn. We train at Fair Hill and ship to every track we run at. We're not stabled at the track we run at. Holding trainers 100% responsible with zero tolerance for any medication or drug finding is very difficult because we don't have control over the cleanliness of the receiving barns. Most times, the receiving barn is not sanitary. It's been a tough week. I had to spend a lot of money to retain a lawyer, which rocks your whole world. I hope these cases can be helpful moving forward, so this type of thing doesn't have to keep happening to people that are good for the game."

Another interesting report. Clears from a horse in 24 hours. actavet_2023092010039.pdf

From 1949 to 1964 it had been reported 38 times in horses. 176.full.pdf

Yes - in a large proportion of our children who are prescribed it for "behaviour disorders". Common name of methylphenidate is Ritalin. Quite a few teenagers will be popping Ritalin as they cram for the end of year exams.

He postponed his roadshow.

The Newmarket in March. Very insightful. Would you take In Secret at $3.50?

Aren't you getting ahead of yourself? A race at Moonee Valley first called the Manikato Stakes.

Ominous signs for Imperatriz rivals www.racing.com In an ominous sign for her rivals, Imperatriz has gone to a new level since her blistering Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) win at The Valley last month, according to assistant trainer Ben Gleeson. The track record-breaking sprinting star had a look at Flemington on Tuesday morning in preparation for a likely tilt at the G1 Champions Sprint (1200m) and was ultra-impressive. "She was fantastic," Gleeson said of the piece of work. "It was a very smooth morning out there, Sans Doute led up Imperatriz … Imperatriz sat three to four lengths off her, I was standing in the clock tower and as they went past me Imperatriz just let rip. "I haven't seen her work as impressive as that and she's put in some good gallops. We had a super morning out." Mick Dee was in the saddle for the Flemington hit-out and was equally as impressed with the seven-time G1 winner's work. "He was pretty chuffed I think with the way she worked … he's a man of simple words and he just said, 'Wow, she's going as good as I've known her to be'," Gleeson said. "In the week-and-a-half since her win, she's really recovered well but she's come on plenty, she's now dappled up all over. "I think we'll get to Cox Plate Day and she'll just look incredible. We'll take her to Moonee Valley on Tuesday for Breakfast With The Stars and give her one little hit-out there and she'll be spot on." Despite lucrative offers, Te Akau and trainer Mark Walker opted to bypass The Everest and remain racing Imperatriz in Victoria, a move which will be more than justified if she can add another G1 win to her already daunting page.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing will reschedule its 2023/24 Roadshows now set to be held in February 2024, the same time as last year, although the specific dates are yet to be confirmed. This decision stems from the recent election that took place last Saturday. Before conducting the Roadshows, NZTR wishes to ensure it has a clear understanding of any potential alterations that might affect the racing industry due to a change in government, so that we can better inform our stakeholders and participants. NZTR appreciates your cooperation and will announce the new Roadshow dates as soon as it becomes possible to do so. Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Contact: Emma Thompson +64 21 071 2929 nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz

Where? Which jurisdiction? $1.85m bet on it in NZ.