Chief Stipe

Assuming by indirectly you mean the likes of my Imperatriz posts? Are you suggesting we shouldn't comment on the best sprinter in OZ/NZ that happens to be trained by a New Zealander? BTW she was bought at the Magic Millions sale which the likes of @Joe Bloggs attests is a second rate sale. Only 20%? Geez I'll have to try harder. Jokes aside is it all that surprising when they win about 20% of the NZ black type races. BTW what % of your posts are on the same topic? You must have that figure at your fingertips since you appear to be keeping a tally.

It makes perfect sense to me as it would at the very least enable a comparison and/calibration with the turf track. Obviously from @Freda comments depending on management of the surface the firmness differs. If I was a trainer I'd like some quantitative measure of that. At the very least it would eliminate some of the arguments from some of the trainers.

I've said it many times before I've never been a sycophant to anyone (anyone who knows me will attest to that) and as for naivety with regard to racing I lost that decades ago. Now you keep kneeling at your altar of socialism and think bitter thoughts.

The feedback from [ local ] riders who actually RIDE on the polytrack, is inconsistent. However one opinion that seems to be almost universal - I say almost because there will be one who disagrees - is that the surface is vastly better after rain. That does indicate that irrigation would probably be a good idea, especially in the very hot, dry summers we regularly experience in Canterbury. The surface should be consistent and to achieve that it needs to be managed relative to rain, irrigation and temperature and the mechanical fluffing of the track. I assume it is never ever rolled with a heavy roller. If it isn't managed consistently relative to those variables mentioned then they should be using a penetrometer on it before every race meeting.

You've just proven that the necessary daily maintenance is probably not occurring. I suspect you aren't a cost accountant afterall as you've only looked at one figure in the accounts. With a training centre that is touted as having 1,200 horses in work I'm surprised they haven't made a profit. They were before the AWT and arguably could have funded their own AWT rather than getting a handout from the Government taxpayer. You are being surprisingly loose with your description of depreciation as well. Unless you aren't a very good accountant you'll know that depreciation is a mechanism by which the cost of replacement of a capital asset (or in the case of the AWT renovation when it is inevitably required) at the end of its economic life has been funded by offsetting against profit. So the question is from your analysis has the Cambridge Jockey Club increased their cash assets sufficiently to fund future renovation? Bearing in mind they started with a sizeable lump in the first place. If they haven't then not only will the AWT be a White Elephant but a millstone. With Riccarton and Awapuni given they don't have anywhere near the horse population they are a millstone from day one. (There's a pun in their for Riccarton). But what do you expect when there was clearly never any business plan done. Now that the asset grab plan doesn't have any potential of success will another handout be required?

Says the permanently cynical tall poppy slayer with an anti-Matamata bias.

Ellis is running close to 20% stakes winners from the Magic Millions. No one else is close. However Coolmore own zero % of the Avantage filly. What was Bromley's ROI?

But how many was he the major share holder in? He bought quite a few duds. Actually more duds than good ones. His best two were bought by Ellis. His first horse was Madame Shinko and he wasn't a majority share holder. I doubt any "breeding expert" would have selected her being out of a Lanfranco mare.

But back to the Topic. Coolmore own zero % of the Avantage filly.

Really? You have zero idea what happened and why. Who was Bromley's first horse? Or more importantly how many of Bromley's few good horses did he actually select?

I said rare - you inferred often. How many years are you going back? So who bought Princess Coup?

Investing in Commercial Property and them Bloodstock would be a challenge for most.

Proof?

Actually quite rare. Although strange things happen if you want to run in the sales sweepstakes races. Afterall why bother paying commission PLUS an entry fee!

Um this post?

Umm but you did...about your first post on this thread.

Coolmore ISN'T selling shares. Te Akau is! Dim wit. $60k even you could buy 2.5%!

Knowledge. Coolmore wouldn't syndicate a filly like that and there are only a few players that would invest that much be it in NZ or OZ.

But should it be?

Ummmm the one at the top of the list? The point is not all the best 2yr old are at Karaka. Why? Simple really - they are not eligible. Not based on performance bit because they were sold and/or breed somewhere else.

They own Zero %. I know and I have a fair idea who owns a big share.

I posted an assessment of the Top 20 from an independent website. Do they have no idea either?

I'll say once again that arguably the top 2yr old won't be at Karaka. The top 3yr old won't be. That's the downside of sweepstake races based on limited entry criteria.

The ones below the average. Duh!

One colt doesn't make a summer.