Chief Stipe

That's not what it says on the NZTR site.

28 black type wins last year not 33. Do your figures include OZ black type? What's your point?

Yeah even a taxi driver can train a champion.

I'm asking you.

We appreciate your posts that highlight the achievements and the factors that Te Akau have excelled in. Or do you have a more erudite analysis that you are keeping from us all that proves otherwise?

So conceivably there could be a difference in assessments.

Sorry don't get it.

Your point?

You'd be a fool not to target over $3.5m in stakes on one day.

Not that many actually. I'd rather have the stakes and Grp wins. $41k average stakes per win.

So you'd find 6.35 quite good then. Isn't it better than any Hong Kong trainer? Not to mention the 33 Group and Listed winners which is 3 times the next trainer. Which reflects in the stakes which are more than double anyone else.

Karaka Millions meeting receives massive boost loveracing.nz New Zealand’s richest raceday will be further enhanced in 2024 with stakes increases and the launch of a new partnership announced for New Zealand Bloodstock’s iconic Karaka Millions Twilight Meeting. The prizemoney for the feature three-year-old race for sales graduates will be boosted to $1.5 million from 2024, an increase of $500,000. The feature two-year-old race for sales graduates remains at $1 million, while the addition of a $1 million four-year-old mile race, open to all horses, takes the six-race card for the Karaka Millions Twilight Meeting to a whole new level. In another exciting development, NZB and TAB, the New Zealand betting brand operated by Entain Australia and New Zealand, have formed a five-year partnership, securing TAB the naming rights to the TAB Karaka Millions Twilight Meeting and its two lucrative incentive races for graduates of the Karaka sales. New Zealand Bloodstock’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook is delighted to have the iconic New Zealand brand onboard, noting that both parties share similar ambitions for the Karaka Millions and the wider racing industry. “The energy and vision that the Entain team brings to this partnership is a breath of fresh air and we look forward to working with them as we continue to grow the Karaka Millions raceday and series,” Seabrook said. “NZTR getting behind the Karaka Millions with the increase in stakes to $1.5 million for the three-year-old race, plus the addition of the $1 million four-year-old race to the card is tremendous. “They have identified the Karaka Millions raceday as one of the most important meetings on the racing calendar and this support will only help it grow further.” Invigorated by its recent strategic partnering agreement, Entain recognises the universal appeal the Karaka Millions holds for punters and industry participants alike. "We have watched the Karaka Million grow from its inception in 2008 to the blue-riband raceday it is today,” said Cameron Rodger, Managing Director – New Zealand, Entain Australia and New Zealand. “We know this raceday and the yearling sales that follow are hugely important to the fortunes of New Zealand racing and breeding, New Zealand Bloodstock is a great success story in New Zealand racing, and we’re proud to partner with them for this amazing event. “We’re also establishing a Travel Incentive Scheme, which commits up to $150,000 towards a scheme developed with New Zealand Bloodstock to attract Australian-based horses to run in the Karaka feature events. Having Australian-based horses in these races will create a great opportunity to grow the audience in Australia.” Held on the eve of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales Series, the Karaka Millions not only showcases high-calibre thoroughbreds to elite industry participants, it also draws one of the largest and most diverse crowds. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Bruce Sharrock acknowledged the broad appeal of the Karaka Millions. “It is another positive development for the industry, the three-year-old race and the meeting as a whole has become one of the true features on the racing calendar,” he said. “NZTR embraces the continued elevation of this race and meeting, and working with NZB to achieve this is great. “We also congratulate Entain and NZB on the partnership formed, which will continue to grow the entire week and further develop the success of the sales and racing event.” The TAB Karaka Millions Twilight Meeting will be held on the eve of the Karaka 2024 National Yearling Sales Series, Saturday 27 January 2024. Kicking off the week-long selling extravaganza, Book 1 of the National Yearling Sales Series will commence the following day at the Karaka Sales Centre from Sunday 28 to Tuesday 30 January, followed by Book 2 running from Wednesday 31 January to Friday 2 February.

Mark Walker brings up 200th winner – BOAY Racing News www.racenews.bitofayarn.com Mark Walker brings up 200th winner Michael McNab returns victorious aboard Angels Wings at Awapuni on Thursday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Mark Walker is in rarefied air after becoming the first New Zealand trainer to record 200 domestic wins in a season at Awapuni on Thursday. Te Akau’s head trainer went into the synthetic meeting requiring two wins to reach the mark and his eight-strong team duly delivered. Redsheis brought the Matamata horseman within one win, and Angels Wings brought up the double century in the colours of Fortuna Syndicate. “It’s great to get that milestone of 200 wins in a season today, and to get another win for Fortuna Racing,” Walker said. “John and Jessica Galvin, who own the business, are very good friends of everyone at Te Akau and it’s thrilling to get the 200th with one of their horses.” Walker wasn’t done for the day, with Treaty Of Paris and Star In The Sky adding to his winning haul in the subsequent two races, bringing his season tally to 202 wins. It has been a remarkable return to New Zealand racing for Mark Walker, who won five New Zealand training premierships for Te Akau before setting up stables for them at Kranji Racecourse in Singapore in 2011, where he added another four Champion Trainer titles. Te Akau principal David Ellis is proud of Walker’s achievements and the success the stable has had this season. “Karyn (Fenton-Ellis, wife) and I are very proud to have achieved this and have to thank Mark Walker and all the staff, here at the farm, and at the stables in Matamata, for all their hard work,” Ellis said. “When I won my first race in 1978, if you’d said to me that we’d have 202 wins during a season in the future I would have thought you were on something. “It’s an unbelievable thrill and the team that we’ve got, horses and people, is just incredible. Each stable has its own foreman and assistant foreman, who all communicate so well with Mark, Sam (Bergerson, incoming training partner) and Reece (Trumper, racing manager), and they’re all just very professional in their attitudes to what they do. “The four winners today – Redsheis, Angel Wings, Treaty of Paris, Star In The Sky – were sourced from different places, with one bred at Te Akau, one bought at Karaka, and two from Magic Millions. “They were all beautifully ridden by Michael McNab, who is riding in outstanding form and deserves his place at the top of the premiership, and it’s a thrill to be associated with such a great team.”

So is there a variance between Vets? Does one vet diagnose more injuries than another?

Do they rotate Vets at tracks?

What exactly?

What are you suggesting @Yankiwi now that they race without rails and chase a drone?

Thanks. Although you recognising it isn't much of an accolade.

Sure. If he did the the instructions were wrong.

I'm not bashing JMac. Like all top jockeys they occasionally ride a shocker and that ride on Imperatriz was a bad one. He rode her like she was invincible and went for home far too early. Especially on a filly that has a great turn of foot.

Poorly ridden by JMac when beaten into 2nd. The point is we are unlikely to see her racing in NZ again.

Did they both have injuries? What's classified as an injury anyway? The dogs are performance athletes and some are going to experience muscle injury. But is a sore muscle that heals in 10 days really an injury? Your focus seems to be entirely on rail hits without a comparative analysis with all vetted injuries.

But what is the "injury" rate for all dogs that are raced? You don't know that because not all dogs are vetted after each race. You can't make your conclusions until you know that. Vetting every dog that hits a rail is a nonsense. Why not vet every dog that finishes a distant last?

Or they have doubts that the website access will remain available when people want to use it.

Then why doesn't it say that? Instead it says you can download a form!!!! That isn't an online system. Don't "think" or "assume" that "most trainers" understand. Why couldn't the communication be clearer? It isn't as if they haven't hired more people to manage things!!!! HOW DO I COMPLETE THE STABLE RETURN FORM? You can complete a Stable Return Form by downloading it from the NZTR website here.