Chief Stipe

"Deliver a platform of wagering stimulus across all codes." WTF does that mean? Especially when the TAB pushed marketing of the codes out to the codes balance sheet!

The NZ TAB monopoly has been the biggest problem for NZ Racing. To earn $100m profit they are talking $750m extra turnover. Dreaming! Imagine the increases in salary they will be thinking about. I guess they'll hire a Chief Geo Blocker.

So the Synopsis is? 38 pages tests my attention span.

Shame we didn't send some of the failed ratbag ex-cops that now work on our judiciary your way.

Yes I guess that's how OZ was populated.

What did karma do to you?

Well there are going to be a helluva lot of jockeys going to experience bad karma according to your philosophy!

Inevitable that if you ride long and hard enough an accident will happen. However not particularly nice to wish ill luck on anyone.

Inevitable that if you ride long and hard enough an accident will happen. However not particularly nice to wish ill luck on anyone.

More often it is because there is either a standout horse of champion status or nearly in the race. Plus a other 5 not far off. All with ratings at least in the low 100's. That's true international ratings of course.

But hadn't he already won the race before the falls occurred?

I said months ago that Allpress has appeared to have lost her nerve. There is a thread critical of her rides on BOAY started by someone other than myself. I recall her recently making comments like "you don't want to be on the onside of Riddell" etc.

"And if he hadn't had foot soreness over there he would have won the Japan Cup too."

Which stallion for Verry Elleegant? James Tzaferis@Jtzaf20 October, 2022 Verry Elleegant at Ascot (Image: Steven Cargill) Decision time is looming for connections of Verry Elleegant, who must choose what their next move is with the champion mare. With her racing career all but over after a series in inglorious runs in Europe, the only decision to make is whether she remains in the Northern Hemisphere to be served by a stallion when the breeding season commences in January, or whether she returns to Australasia to visit a local stallion before the season ends in December. James Tzaferis takes a quick look at some of the stallions who could be in the mix to cover the 11-time Group 1 winner. International Stallions Frankel - It is hard to imagine connections of Verry Elleegant not giving strong consideration to a mating with the horse many believe is the best to ever grace the turf and whose record in the breeding barn is equally as impressive. From his base at Juddmonte in Newmarket, the son of the great Galileo sires G1 winners for fun, including nine individual elite-level winners in 2022. This year alone, he's sired Arc winner Alpinista, Irish Derby champ Westover, French Oaks heroine Nashwa and Royal Ascot winner Inspiral, among others. Frankel's progeny are extremely versatile - who would argue such a mating couldn't produce a Melbourne Cup winner? Baaeed - Will connections consider a first-season sire for Verry Elleegant's maiden cover? If so, then surely they'd look no further than Baaeed, who bowed out of racing in a similar manner to the mare with an underwhelming performance on Champions Day. Like Verry Elleegant, his final racetrack appearance wasn't a true indication of his ability, which saw him win his first 10 races, including six at G1 level. Baaeed is the best-performed son of Sea The Stars, who is a champion sire in his own right. The Green Desert sireline has worked particularly well Down Under via the deeds of champion sire I Am Invincible. Epiphaneia - Many of Australasia's best G1-winning mares of recent times have been sold to Japan to begin their breeding careers and while connections of Verry Elleegant are unlikely to sell, they could yet consider a Japanese stallion. Epiphaneia, who stands as part of a massive roster at Shadai Stallion Station, could be an option if they do. On the track, he was a star with wins in the G1 Japanese St Leger and the Japan Cup. As a stallion, he's quickly making a name for himself as one of the country's hottest young sires and can lay claim to 2021 JRS Horse of the Year Efforia and G1 winner Daring Tact. Australasian Stallions So You Think - Coolmore's pin-up boy seems one of the logical options if Verry Elleegant returns to Australia to be mated. Like Verry Elleegant herself, his progeny are extremely versatile and have won G1 races from 1400m to 3200m. The So You Think - Zabeel cross is a ripper too, with 22 winners and four Stakes winners from 29 runners including G1 winners Think It Over and Nimalee. Shamus Award - Surely Rosemont Stud's Shamus Award would also be a part of the conversation if Verry Elleegant returns to Australia? The son of Snitzel has come of age with five individual G1 winners since 2019 and has proven his ability to sire classic winners and Cup winners in a similar mould to Verry Elleegant, with Duais, El Patroness and Incentivise headlining his growing CV. Almanzor - Will connections choose to take Verry Elleegant back to New Zealand to start her career at stud? If so, Cambridge Stud's shuttler Almanzor could be the right option for her. A three-time G1 winner over middle distances as a three-year-old, he's made an impressive start to life at stud in New Zealand and sired this year's Karaka Million 2YO winner Dynastic. His oldest NZ-bred progeny have just turned three and he's free of any Danehill and Zabeel influence as well, so there's plenty of upside.

Verry Elleegant officially retired Ryan Reynolds@Reynolds_R20 October, 2022 Verry Elleegant at Longchamp (Image: Steve Cargill) Champion mare Verry Elleegant has been officially retired and will be served by a yet-to-be-confirmed northern hemisphere sire. The announcement was made by her ownership group on Thursday afternoon, pulling the curtain down on a glittering career which saw her claim 11 Group 1s. Her crowning moment came in the 2021 Melbourne Cup, where she ran the fifth fastest time in the race’s history and destroyed a high-class field with James McDonald on board. Earlier this year, a majority of the ownership group decided to campaign Verry Elleegant in Europe after failing to fully fire during the autumn. She left Chris Waller's stable and joined Francis-Henri Graffard, but she couldn’t hit the heights of her Australian career, finishing down the track in a fillies and mares Group 1 on Sunday morning. Related Articles Which stallion for Verry Elleegant? 20 October, 2022 BREEDING That race was always considered to be the final time punters saw her on a race track with owner Ozzie Kheir telling Racing.com on Sunday it was more than likely her last race. That was confirmed on Thursday afternoon following a meeting with the ownership group. “Rest assured though the Verry Elleegant story is far from over and we now look forward to the next chapter in her remarkable story, her life as a mum,” the ownership group said in a statement. “The plan is to keep her in the pristine fields of France until she can be served by a leading European stallion in Northern Hemisphere time next year.” Verry Elleegant finishes her career with the equal 12th most Group 1s in Australia and almost $15m in prizemoney. “Verry Elleegant's lasting legacy won't be measured by her prizemoney or group 1 tally but more so by the joy and happiness she bought her legion of fans and her indomitable will to win that inspired us all,” the owners said. “Along the journey there were so many individuals that played a massive role in her success, but we would like to particularly thank the Chris Waller and his entire team including track rider Chris Harwood and strapper Rocky Mangat, jockey James McDonald and Francis Graffard and his stable for all their efforts in her European campaign.”

I've looked at it again and agree. I also wonder about the ability of those behind that "fell off".

Cuz continuing long recovery Tim Yeatman Tim Yeatman @TimYeatman 1:12pm Michael Walker Jockey Michael Walker (Image: Racing Photos) More than two months on from a sickening fall during jumpouts at Pakenham, popular jockey Michael Walker is continuing his long road to recovery. Walker has no recollection of the fall, which saw him airlifted to hospital with severe head injuries after his mount broke down in early August. After weeks in hospital and rehabilitation, the 38-year-old is continuing his painstaking recovery at home with his partner Lauren and their two young children. "It's a long, slow battle, but we're getting there," Walker said. "I've been going to the physio, psychiatrist, speech pathologist and am booked in to see a neuropsychologist next week." As for his future, Walker says the time will come when a decision needs to be made but for now his full focus is on continuing to get better both physically and mentally. "My brain is still a bit slow, the way I'm talking and that, I'm still probably four or five months off being able to drive, I'm up and walking around, the surgeons have done an amazing job, a miracle really," Walker said. "At the moment it's just day to day and taking the little steps forward, there will come a time where I sit down with Lauren and we discuss the future. "I'm a family man, I have a beautiful partner and two young kids - they are the priority, always."

MEETING NEWS Abandonment at Wingatui – Programming Changes Following the abandonment of today’s Otago meeting the following additions/alterations have been made to the upcoming Gore and Ashburton meetings: An Open 1200m race ($15,000) has been added to Gore A R65 1800m race ($14,000) has been added to Gore Only if numbers permit the Mdn 1200m race at Gore may, as first preference, be divided into a race for 3YOs and a race for older horses. Only if numbers permit the Mdn 1600m race at Ashburton will be divided into a race for males and a race for females (Pearl Race). In the event that race is not divided into a race for Fillies and Mares the first three Fillies or Mares home that are Pearl Registered will still be eligible to receive the Pearl Bonus. Only if numbers permit the Mdn 1200m race at Ashburton may as first preference be divided into a race for 3YOs and a race for older horses.

They are "worse than thought". Add in difficult tracks to ride on and well....

If he was working for you it would be enough incentive to do it!

But why deliberately do it? Gained nothing lost a lot.

How was it "blatant" as in deliberate? What was the gain? $1,000 fine and a six week holiday during some peak races for his Employer.

Geez I just saw a head on of Bosson's effort. Some of you guys do exaggerate!!!