Chief Stipe

116 horses trialling tomorrow at Foxton. Some nice well bred 2 year olds stepping out. Will it be abandoned? Should the Taranaki Jockey Club move there? https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/50937/Meeting-Overview.aspx

How does the move to March limit the number of colts? I would have thought it would be in their favour. For that matter is the NZ Derby a race you really want to target with a Colt?

Yeah well @Freda if it was done in a gallops race Noel McCrutcheon would say well done to the Jockey holding his line!

The horse galloped because the outside horse tried to push him down to the pegs. Another 20 metres and there wouldn't have been a gap on the inside. For the situation that was described in the judicial decision there ISN'T an applicable rule. What I do see is a trend where Drivers are just rolling over and not bothering to contest anything when charged.

But the rules don't actually state what you describe. Certainly not the rule that Crawford was charged under.

Are you seriously comparing the odds of winning Lotto where every number (horse) has an even chance of winning with picking the winner of a horse race? Mind you that might be how you pick your race winners.

What rule says that? Certainly the rule under which Crawford was charged doesn't say that.

I just had a look at the rule under which Crawford was charged 869 (4). It states: Now I can't see how this rule applies at all to how Crawford drove his horse. If anything the driver trying to push him in should have been charged. I guess if you pleaded guilty you can't appeal but Crawford now has a black mark against his name that will mean any infringements in the near future will carry penalty weighted more because he has infringed in the past. Staying in the one out train when those leading it are going to improve their position is good proactive and competitive driving. So what if a competitor is posted three wide! Happens all the time in gallops and I'm surprised that Noel McCrutcheon adjudicated in this fashion. I suspect that this is another charge initiated from the RIB "Bunker" i.e. someone sitting in a studio watching the video and applying a theoretical view of the rules.

So why wasn't the driver of the horse in front of Crawford also charged? He had space inside him.

You could argue that Crawford DIDN'T break his horse the other driver did.

Are you not allowed to stay off the rail in the one out train when there is a space inside you?

Hawera HRC 23 February 2022 – R6 – Jordan Crawford ID: RIB7558 Respondent(s): Jordan Crawford - Junior Driver Applicant: Mr A Dooley - Stipendiary Steward Adjudicators: Mr N McCutcheon Persons Present: Mr Dooley, Mr Crawford, Mr S Abernethy assisting Mr Crawford Information Number: A18253 Decision Type: Adjudicative Decision Charge: Failed to Concede Position Rule(s): 869(4) Plea: Admitted Animal Name: HIGHVIEW ROCKN ROLL Race Number: R6 Hearing Date: 23/02/2022 Hearing Location: Hawera Racecourse Outcome: Proved Penalty: Junior Driver Jordan Crawford is fined $200 SUMMARY OF FACTS Mr Crawford admitted a breach of Rule 869(4) in that he failed to concede his position to “OUR GRACIE” passing the 1600m which resulted in his horse “HIGHVIEW ROCKN ROLL” breaking and losing considerable ground. Mr Crawford in the presence of Mr Abernethy said that he understood the Rule, charge and confirmed that he admitted the breach. Mr Dooley showed film replays and said that “OUR GRACIE” had a clear advantage over “HIGHVIEW ROCKN ROLL”, but that Mr Crawford attempted to hold his line when he should have gone down to the marker pegs. He added that as a consequence “HIGHVIEW ROCKN ROLL” galloped. Mr Crawford and Mr Abernethy said that the films showed clearly what had happened. DECISION As the charge was admitted, together with the video evidence, it was found proved. PENALTY SUBMISSIONS Mr Dooley said that Mr Crawford is a Junior Driver with a clear record. The Penalty Guide was referred to. Mr Abernethy asked that his record and Junior Driver status be taken into account. REASONS FOR PENALTY All matters relating to penalty were addressed with a fine of $200 considered appropriate for the breach of Rule 869(4). PENALTY Mr Crawford was fined $200.

You only have to watch the first 400m to see what happened. Jordan Crawford was charged with holding his line and not going down to the marker pegs and breaking his horse up HIGHVIEW ROCKN ROLL.

Waller has done a great job with her as well. Many trainers would have tried to train her quirks out of her or adjust her style too quickly. He has let her have her own style and over time it has subtly adjusted. Hard to say if that has been age or training! It was good to see she now seems to have a crowd following. Listening to the commentators they said the crowd was roaring and applauding and many come out of the stands. I noticed like a lot of good horses she knows she is a winner and was throwing her head high in the air when JMac was patting her. Sorry if I wax lyrical about VE but I've followed her every race since that watching her maiden win at Ruakaka.

Winx, regarded by many as the greatest of them all, casts a very long shadow but Verry Elleegant is certainly building a race record that is comparable to the great champions of the turf including: #Verry Elleegant scored her 11th career Group 1 win. The only mares to win more majors are Winx (25), Black Caviar (15), Melody Belle (14) and Sunline (13). #She took her career earnings to $14,638,244 which moves her above Makybe Diva ($14,527,110) and into fourth position on the all-time list. #She became the first Melbourne Cup winner to return and win the Chipping Norton Stakes in the same season since Rain Lover in 1968-69. #Waller trained his 10th Chipping Norton Stakes winner in 12 years, equalling the record held by the late Tommy Smith. It’s the measure of her greatness that Verry Elleegant can return from a successful Melbourne Cup campaign and win second-up in a 1600m weight-for-age race. “There are no other words for it but to say she is freakish,’’ Waller said. Verry Elleegant found another gear late to stave off the challenge of outsider She’s Ideel. Picture: Getty Images “I wouldn’t say she bounces through her campaigns, she puts everything into it but she is so tough, so resilient.’’ On that theme, Verry Elleegant’s jockey, James McDonald, also marvels at the mare’s ability to race at a high level season after season. “I just can’t believe every time we turn up for a preparation she just seems to get better and better. I know it’s crazy to say but she literally is,’’ McDonald said. “She just turns up, doesn’t matter what conditions, what distance, she’ll perform really well. It’s hard to believe she won a Group 1 over seven furlongs and two miles but anything beyond 2000m she’s running top three. It takes a very good horse to beat her. “For her to pull out all stops at these kinds of trips is incredible. Obviously the wet track has helped her but she’s a star, she’s an absolute star. I’m so lucky to be a part of it. “I think she should have won a Queen Elizabeth by now if things went right. Hopefully she’s well on track now.” James McDonald was all smiles as he returns to scale aboard Verry Elleegant. Picture: Getty Images Verry Elleegant, a rising seven-year-old mare, could be having her final Australian race campaign with talk of taking her to France for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe later this year. But Waller’s more immediate focus is the Sydney autumn carnival with Verry Elleegant set to race next in the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 19 before the Group 1 $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) back at Royal Randwick on April 9. “That has always been the plan,’’ Waller said. “Obviously the All-Star Mile was there and that might have been back on the cards had they not run today and that’s how things can change. “But it was always the plan to go to the Ranvet, and then the Queen Elizabeth so three weeks-three weeks, it just works out perfectly.”

Every point - that's what makes the sport interesting. I doubt there has been a mare as competitive and as versatile as this. She seems to be getting better as well. Yesterday she pinged out of the gates and was handy. JMac rode her a peach - got her back under him without her fighting him, eased her along the rails, then eased her off the rails to be ready to pounce down the outside. Or at WFA and Handicap and sex/age group. Or so many different tracks. Or win their maiden at Ruakaka. All but 2 of her 36 starts have been in Group races - 31 of those in Grp 1 (24) or Grp 2 (7) races.

She's back! From a Group 1 win in one of the toughest 3200m races the Melbourne Cup on a Good 1 track to today winning the Chipping Norton on a very Heavy 10 track over 1600m. Takes a very special Champion to do that. Her condition looked even better than last season.

Not wishing to take this Thread off piste but Verry Elleegant must rank as one of the all time greats. Eleven Group 1 wins from 1400m to 3200m.

As did Williamson's horse run unplaced. So you are saying hand up, then go and attack again and end up parked in another speed battle. Do you think Williamson should be charged for whipping his horse 10 times in the first 800m?

You assume I or anyone else cares. Suggest you go back to your Mr Ed reruns.

About sums up the level of your education.

It is obvious you don't know one end of a horse from another so who cares what you think is or isn't relevant. Still banging those woke drums? BTW if I did have an "elitist, entitled mindset" you wouldn't be allowed to post your crap on BOAY.