Chief Stipe

Top filly Legarto gives Waikato trainer Ken Kelso a first Australian group one win i.stuff.co.nz Exceptional filly Legarto overcame a nightmare run down the Flemington straight to deliver a first New Zealand triumph in Saturday’s A$1 million group one Australian Guineas (1600m). No New Zealand-trained horse had won Melbourne’s autumn three-year-old feature since its inception in 1986, but the outstanding daughter of Proisir rose to the occasion with an unforgettable performance. In her first start since losing her unbeaten record with a luckless fourth in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe on January 21, Legarto was eased back in the early stages of the race by Melbourne-based Kiwi jockey Michael Dee. She was travelling beautifully coming up to the home turn, but when the time came to make her move, Dee found a wall of horses everywhere he went. Legarto was stopped in her tracks more than once during a rough run down the straight that saw both Holymanz and Maximillius fall heavily towards the inside of the track, but she finally saw daylight in the final 100 metres and went into overdrive. With an astonishing late burst, she sailed past more than half a dozen rivals to score a win for the ages. Advertisement Advertise with Stuff “I thought I was behind a horse that would take me through and keep me out of trouble, but I ended up left in a pocket there for quite some time,” Dee said. “To Legarto’s credit, wow – she’s got a very, very good turn of foot. To get out when she did and finish over the top of them was an amazing effort. “She’s still on the way up, that’s for sure. She’s only lightly raced and should arguably be unbeaten. I think she can come back in the spring and could be anything.” Legarto’s Guineas triumph was the first group one win in Australia for Matamata trainers Ken and Bev Kelso, who have only half a dozen horses in work. “It’s huge,” Ken Kelso said. “I’ve said that we wouldn’t retire until we got a group one in Australia. We’ve only ever brought group one horses over here, and we’ve had three seconds, so it’s massive to win one. I just can’t believe it.” Legarto has now had seven starts for six wins, earning more than $1 million in stakes for an ownership syndicate that includes Ancroft Stud principal Phillip Brown and former Waikato Racing Club chief executive Tony Enting. She was a $90,000 purchase by Ancroft Stud from Highline Thoroughbreds’ draft at Karaka 2021. “She’s just an amazing filly,” Kelso said. “Probably 100 metres out, we thought we were going to run fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth if we were lucky. But she does things that other horses can’t do. She’s pretty special. “I think we’ll take her home now. She’s had a big season with two trips away – going to Christchurch for the 1000 Guineas (1600m) in the spring and then coming here. We have to chat to the owners, but as far as we’re concerned, we think she should probably have a bit of a break. Then we can think about coming back in the spring, and we can dream about things like Cox Plates and Caulfield Cups.” – NZ Racing Desk

Yes Legarto only the 6th filly to win the Gunineas. Imperatriz would have been harder to beat on a better track. JMac may have gone a bit early but circumstances left her on the pace and in front too soon.

You don't have an opinion on Legarto's win?

So NZTR effectively closes down the Westland Racing Club by removing its dates. Them lambasts the Club for giving back to the community the assets that the community largely created. The Wellington Racing Club sells off assets to a pie in the sky developer. NZTR doesn't say or do anything. Surely they'd like to see those funds go to a viable Racing club somewhere else?

@JJ Flash says he "was there and saw the carnage first hand". I guess he was in some studs hospitality tent the whole sale. The statistics say the sale was better than the 2020 sale which was described as phenonmenal. Given the economic conditions experienced over the last two years I would have expected much much worse. But then Flash still believes Mackenzie's restructuring of TAB NZ was a success when it was a mess and the latest financial figures show that. Flash seems anti-harness and I guess he was at the sales out of some preconceived goulish anticipation of seeing carnage. That's called observational bias. Did he take advantage of the carnage and make a few cheap value yearling purchases?

When did it ever offer a financial return?

FFS are you saying he's Yellow?

Yeah but geez I take any opportunity for a $1 with no live foal guaranteed.

$1 no live foal guarantee.

No he would be subject to anti money laundering rules.

When wasn't it like that? The only difference today is there are less horses going around.

Been Been watching both horse code sales for years and have learnt that viewing perception never meets reality. Some naysayers are not up to speed with the process whereby a lot of negotiating continues after a horse is passed in.

The only negative is for the Trotters. 2023 National Standardbred Yearling Sale – Christchurch Trotting Session Statistics 2023 CHRISTCHURCH TROTTING SESSION 2022 CHRISTCHURCH TROTTING SESSION 2021 CHRISTCHURCH TROTTING SESSION 2020 CHRISTCHURCH TROTTING SESSION Aggregate $1,044,500 $896,500 $1,106,000 $1,281,750 Average $33,694 $23,592 $35,867 $34,642 Median $19,000 $17,000 $31,250 $24,000 Clearance 52% 62% 69% 79% Catalogued 60 76 48 48 Sold 31 38 31 37 Top Price $130,000 Lot 174 (B.F) Muscle Hill - Paramount Faith $110,000 Lot 183 (B.F) Tactical Landing - Petite One $120,000 Lot 140 (B.C) Father Patrick - Rae Galleon $280,000 Lot 146 (Ch.C) Love You - Queen Kenny

The same applies for the Pacer Yearlings in CHCH. 2023 National Standardbred Yearling Sale – Day Two Pacing Session Statistics 2023 CHRISTCHURCH PACERS SALE - DAY 1 2022 CHRISTCHURCH PACERS SALE - DAY 1 2021 CHRISTCHURCH PACERS SALE - DAY 1 Aggregate $3,643,000 $3,953,000 $3,016,500 Average $51,310 $51,338 $44,360 Median $36,000 $35,000 $31,000 Clearance 74% 77% 62% Catalogued 106 105 122 Sold 71 77 71 Top Price $240,000 Lot 277 (B.C) Bettor's Delight - Hartofdixie $260,000 Lot 295 (B.C) Bettor's Delight - Fight For Glory $240,000 Lot 289 (B.C) Bettor's Delight - Bonnie Joan

I see the usual doom merchants are talking about "carnage'" and "bloodbaths"at the Standardbred Yearling Sales for 2023 (e.g. @JJ Flash). The reality isn't all that bad. The Auckland Sale was well up on median and average although the clearance rate was down about 4%. Over 138 yearlings that is only 5 less sold and I'm sure the clearance rate will pick up as behind the scenes negotiations continue. 2023 Auckland Session Statistics (at end of selling) 2023 AUCKLAND SALE 2022 AUCKLAND SALE 2021 AUCKLAND SALE 2020 AUCKLAND SALE Aggregate $5,116,000 $5,971,000 $5,370,500 $4,348,000 Average $60,905 $61,557 $50,192 $46,255 Median $46,750 $55,000 $40,000 $36,250 Clearance 69% 75% 82% 73% Catalogued 128 138 134 131 Sold 85 97 107 94 Top Price $300,000 Lot 74 (B.F) Captaintreacherous - Goodlookinggirl $260,000 Lot 66 (B.C) Bettor's Delight - Double Twist $300,000 Lot 122 (B.F) Bettor's Delight - Major Reality $250,000 Lot 122 (B.C) Captaintreacherous - Hi Ho Silver Lining

The only advantage I saw in the creation of the RIB behemoth was that it offered a chance to restructure and to cut out the rotten wood. But just like Mackenzie with the TAB restructure an opportunity was lost. Now both organisations are hamstrung by employment laws.

Then the previous boards and Racing Ministers should be blamed for hiring ex-Policemen. The basis on which people seem to been employed is that Racing is fundamentally corrupt. When in reality it isn't.

I can't see what the problem was that deserved a Stipes advisory anyway FFS. Stewards P Williams (Chairman), N McIntyre

The Stipes are now sitting in what is essentially the pie room watching videos and telling drivers how they should drive. Those doing the watching and laying the charges have next to zero understanding of driving a horse. The absolute minimum requirement for a Stipe should be to have completed the full amateur driving course and qualified to race as an amateur. Perhaps then some of these ridiculous charges would cease. There should also be no extra punishment for defending a charge and being found guilty either.

But your premise is built purely on fantasy. That's where it fails. Your opinion of two races is only an opinion. Nothing more. Now we have a behemoth of an organisation chasing ghosts where there aren't any. INCA FOUND NOTHING!!! No evidence of mass fraud involving race fixing. It isn't as if fixing a single race in NZ would be all that easy or financially rewarding anyway. $14 million plus of industry and tax payer money spent, the utilisation of modern surveillance technology and technology and they found NOTHING. Now the same failures are spending vast sums of money looking for something that isn't there or handing out the equivalent of parting tickets or speeding fines. Meanwhile those with an agenda to close racing down are being fed with BS. So someone gave a horse a punch in the stomach? The cries of animal abuse rings from all the forums and the woke media is fed more tripe to feast on.

Then you are sadly out of touch with those trying to train and race horses. The RIB has an ex-cop culture which isn't much above the old traffic cop level. They are still spending large on INCA and now spend time in the broadcast bunker watching HD video over and overlooking for the slightest misdemeanour to fine. The new recruits don't have any extensive racing experience and what they do have probably amounts to "I like horses and I patted a pony once".

Good stuff Gammalite. I'm guessing @Basil has never seen a young horse being educated. It's not called "breaking-in" without reason. From my observation 1 in 10 young horses resist the process for a long time. Normally until both man and beast are near exhaustion.

We've discussed your statistical probability calculations before and a year 10 student at High School could do better. Again what is your motivation? What is your actual involvement in racing? Post the method and calculations of how you arrived at you 1 in 7 million. Let's have some peer review. In my opinion your motivation is solely to destroy racing and or you belong to a very small but vocal group of embittered owners/punters.

Hell wouldn't the industry be so lucky that the general public was sitting in front of Trackside all day. The only reason this is an issue in the general public (if they actually give a damn) is because the likes of you have made it so. Which raises the question what is YOUR motivation?

Then what do you suggest should be done? I doubt you've ever been in a stable. Some horses when they are race fit are so lit up they will try and kill you. We all know what happens to the dog that bites don't we. They are euthanased. Most of the time if corrective training had been done earlier they wouldn't bite.