Chief Stipe

Right so it's only for the winter months?

The TA stable or stud didn't own her. The Syndicate did and the rule of the Syndicate is that she is sold at Auction at the end of her career. You only have to look at the differences of opinion on BOAY to understand its a great rule!

I don't actually contradict myself. Bit I'm not interested in discussing the topic with someone who has no interest, no experience and basically is an anti-fan.

Correct Avantage sold for double that. $4.1m

You really are an "anti-fan" bullshitter. If you haven't valued her then how do you know $2.1m is too much? You didn't even know Avantage's 2yr old record! Why do you bother commenting on things you state you don't have an interest in?

My apologies it was worse than "half a brain" - the inference was that the people that did spend that much on a yearling didn't even have a "functioning brain".

Obviously as you don't have a clue about what you are talking about. Yet you have the gall to say some who have millions of dollars invested and 4 decades in the game have "half a brain"!!

That's what I said. If you didn't know Avantage won 5 as a two year old then you have no hope in hell in putting a market value on her.

Horse racing: Mastermind behind Ellerslie transformation not playing ‘I told you so’ card www.nzherald.co.nz The man who helped transform Ellerslie into a world-class racetrack says he is more nervous about tomorrow’s reopening than any other stage of the $55 million project. Auckland Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Paul Wilcox has overseen the installation of a StrathAyr track at the Auckland racecourse, the spiritual home of New Zealand racing. StrathAyr tracks have enormously superior drainage to anything seen in New Zealand racing before and theoretically should see Ellerslie always providing footing classed as “good” rather than “slow” or “heavy”. That should increase punter confidence and make for better racing and the relaunch has been one of the most anticipated in the history of New Zealand racing. AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME. Now it is here, with what was supposed to be a soft opening or test run at tomorrow’s twilight meeting, Wilcox says he just wants it to be over. “We were kind of hoping to have a nice quiet, almost undercover relaunch but that isn’t going to happen,” Wilcox told the Herald. “Not because we don’t have total faith in the track. Jason [Fulford, track manager] has that well under control, the nerves are more us reopening as a race club for crowds again. “We were keen to make that not a big thing but the interest in Sunday has been huge and I think we will get a big crowd in.” AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME. However many turn up on Sunday will be nothing compared with TAB Karaka Millions night on January 27, when Ellerslie will not only host New Zealand’s richest-ever race meeting but stage its official opening. “We were hoping to cap that night at 9000 people but it is creeping up toward 10,000, more likely 10,500 people,” says Wilcox. “It will be an amazing night and even having horses back here racing on Sunday will be amazing but we can feel the anticipation too. “There has been this really pent-up feeling in the racing industry with so many people wanting to get back racing here and now it is here we just want it to go well, which I am confident it will.” There were plenty of doubters during the depths of last year’s winter, when Ellerslie looked like a soaked quarry, that tomorrow’s meeting would even be possible this early. Wilcox isn’t playing the “I told you so” card and never has, being mindful to temper expectations through the installation process and sticking to the mantra that Ellerslie wouldn’t be racing until every safety box had been ticked. Track gallops, jumpouts and then trials have all drawn high praise from jockeys and finally the time has come. So massive is the reopening for the racing industry that it almost overshadows today’s huge Trentham meeting which hosts two Group 1 races. The $500,000 Cambridge Stud Levin Classic brings together an even, high-class field over 1600m with the fillies Quintessa, Mary Shan and even Impendabelle favoured over the boys. The $450,000 Berkett Telegraph is one of New Zealand’s great sprint races but minus Railway winner Waitak so the winner should come from his stablemate Dragon Leap, Bonny Lass or Shamus.

Or what? Her form line was 111121 as a two year old. There's 5 firsts in that form line. Hint: a 1 = a win.

But she won't be worth zero will she? A couple of black type wins and she may well be worth twice what they paid for her. Except that is what the market determined her value was. I know this is a difficult concept for you but there are other ways to approach purchasing yearlings. I prefer the looking for value approach but that's not to say that different approaches are not valid. How many horses have you purchased that have won races, black type or increased their residual value? Let me guess...🤔😏

You might not realise this but a filly doesn't have testicles. On a well bred stallion one testicle is worth a minimum of $500k. Remove them and you have a gelding with ZERO residual value. Now what residual value after racing does a well bred filly have?

Your point? I imagine that emoji you use quite often is the closest there is to a self portrait.

Soft 5 on the TAB site.

Yet it says its Good 4 on the fields page?!

MEETING NEWS Wellington RC | Saturday 13 January RACE DAY Race Day Weather: Fine Track: Soft 5 Moisture Meter: Rail: True Rainfall: No Rain Last 24 Hours Irrigation: Weather and Track updated at 6.37am Saturday 13 January Friday Afternoon Weather: Overcast Track: Soft 5 Moisture Meter: 34.7% Rail: True Rainfall: No Rain Last 24 Hours | 2mm Rain Last 7 Days Irrigation: 8mm Irrigation Last 24hrs Weather and Track updated at 3.50pm Friday 12 January Friday Morning Weather: Fine Track: Soft 5 Moisture Meter: 34.7% Rail: True Rainfall: No Rain Last 24 Hours | 2mm Rain Last 7 Days Irrigation: 8mm Irrigation Last 24hrs Weather and Track updated at 9.08am Friday 12 January Thursday Afternoon Weather: Fine Track: Soft 5 Moisture Meter: 34.6% Rail: True Rainfall: No Rain Last 24 Hours | 2mm Rain Last 7 Days Irrigation: 8mm Irrigation Tonight Weather and Track updated at 3.30pm Thursday 11 January Withdrawal Morning Weather: Fine Track: Soft 7 Moisture Meter: 34.5% Rail: True Rainfall: No Rain Last 24 Hours | 2mm Rain Last 7 Days Irrigation: 10mm Irrigation Lat 24 Hours Weather and Track updated at 8.40am Wednesday 10 January Nomination Morning Weather: Fine Track: Soft 7 Moisture Meter: 36.5% Rail: True Rainfall: No Rain Last 24 Hours | 2mm Rain Last 7 Days Irrigation: 16mm Irrigation Last 24hrs Weather and Track updated at 8.30am Tuesday 9 January Head Stipe - John Oatham 021 725 550

Getting back to the original post... Why were the Cambridge Synthetic Track trials cancelled and replaced by trials on turf at Taupo? Why has there only been two trial meeting in the last four months at Cambridge?

Still won 5 two year old races. Not many do that anywhere. Isn't Fastnet Rock proving himself as a broodmare sire? It helps. But they've also chosen her on type and conformation.

But the majority of expensive flops are colts bought with the intention of making a stallion. It only takes one good one to make up for a lot of duds.

Yes but he makes some good points about the handicapping system.

Charming. Tar everyone with the same brush? Obviously you frequent 5 star establishments.

Where are they now? Top lots from previous Magic Millions sales www.racenet.com.au Spending a fortune on a yearling doesn't always mean they will be a success on the track. We take a look back at the top five lots from the past three Magic Millions sales and see where they are now. 2023 MAGIC MILLIONS YEARLING SALE (now two-year-olds) I Am Invincible – Anaheed colt — $2.7 million Purchased by Tom Magnier. Hasn't raced yet. Zoustar – Solar Charged filly — $2.6 million Purchased by Yu Long Investments. Hasn't raced yet. I Am Invincible – Booker colt — $2.5 million Purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock. Hasn't raced yet. I Am Invincible – Flippant filly — $2 million Purchased by Tammy Rigney. Hasn't raced yet. Exceed And Excel – Ichihara colt — $1.8 million Purchased by Kia Ora Stud/TFI. Hasn't raced yet. 2022 MAGIC MILLIONS YEARLING SALE (now three-year-olds) I Am Invincible – Suspicieuse colt — $1.9 million Purchased by Tom Magnier. Suspect had three runs for Chris Waller for one third at Warwick Farm in a maiden. He's now gelded and trained by Mitchell Beer at Kembla Grange. He ran fifth of seven in a trial at Kembla Grange on January 5. Not A Single Doubt – Miss Admiration colt — $1.7 million Purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock. Unquestionably had three starts for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace for one win and a third. He ran ninth at Cranbourne in a three-year-old handicap over 2025m in November, beaten 10¼ lengths. He was sold online for $85,000 in December and is now gelded. He's now in the care of Neil Dyer at Kyneton and listed as spelling. I Am Invincible – Najoom filly — $1.55 million Purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock. Charm Stone has won three races from six starts, including two Group 3 wins for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. She is currently listed as spelling and last ran fifth in the Group 1 Golden Rose in September. Pierro – Ravi colt — $1.5 million Purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock. Pasima has had three starts for a second and two thirds. He ran second to Vanquished in the Magic Millions maiden on January 6. Snitzel – Sweet Sherry filly — $1.35 million Purchased by Badgers Bloodstock/Glentree Thoroughbreds. Madeira is yet to race and is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. 2021 MAGIC MILLIONS YEARLING SALE (now four-year-olds) Snitzel – Bonny O'Reilly colt — $1.9 million Purchased by Tom Magnier. Raced as Basquiat in Australia, winning a maiden at Doomben and placed twice in Group races, before being purchased at an online sale in November 2022 for $290,000. He now races as Pacific Warrior in Singapore. He's won one race from 13 starts in Singapore. His overall race record is two wins and seven placings from 23 starts. Kingman – Florentina colt — $1.8 million Purchased by Tom Magnier. Spanish Empire ran last in two trials in November and December 2022. He was subsequently gelded and is now listed as retired. Not A Single Doubt – One More Honey colt — $1.8 million Purchased by Tony Fung Investments/Phoenix Thoroughbreds. Man In The Mirror has won one race from seven starts and $97,775 in prizemoney. He ran second in the Group 2 VRC Sires' Produce in 2022. He was purchased by Lizzie Jelfs and Annabel Neasham Racing at an online sale in October 2022 for $135,000. He is now a gelding and won a trial at Warwick Farm on January 2. Not A Single Doubt – Soleil Brulant colt — $1.5 million Purchased by Tom Magnier. Diaco has had 18 starts for three wins and three placings and $85,525 in prizemoney. He was originally trained by Chris Waller but is now trained by Olivia Cairns at Beaudesert in Queensland. He was purchased at an online sale in March 2023 for $32,500. At his most recent start, he won a BM65 at the Sunshine Coast over 1600m. I Am Invincible – Maastricht filly — $1.2 million Purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Nxt Level Syndication. Greece has won one race (a maiden at Geelong in September 2022) from seven starts and $80,375 in prizemoney. She is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and is currently listed as spelling.

Won 5 as a 2yr old. Compact - similar to her mother who was a precocious 2yr old winning Karaka. Avantage did win a G3 at Rosehill and wasn’t that far away from winning the Arrowfield. I'm guessing they can see a lot of Avantage in her and the target is the Magic Millions in a years time.

Widely published that it was Yulong.

Brilliant information. Oh we wish in NZ......