Chief Stipe

Trentham, Tauranga and Taranaki track management played a significant factor.

A test for the track. There has been over 75mm (3 inches) of rain since about 4pm yesterday Sunday to 8am Monday i.e. in 16 hours.

MEETING NEWS Whangarei RC | Wednesday 9 February Withdrawal Morning Weather: Cloudy Track: Dead 4 Rail: True Weather and Track updated at 8.37am Saturday 5 February Nomination Morning Weather: Cloudy Track: Dead 4 Rail: True | Irrigating Today Weather and Track updated at 8.50am Friday 4 February Please note this meeting will be run as a closed door meeting, essential workers only.

The Derby it is for La Crique. Racing Talented filly La Crique will contest the Gr.2 AJC Avondale Guineas (2100m) ahead of the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie Photo: Race Images - Peter Rubery La Crique confirmed on Derby path NZ Racing Desk 6 February 2022 Impressive three-year-old filly La Crique has had her immediate future confirmed as she gets set to tackle the boys at Ellerslie in both the Gr.2 AJC Avondale Guineas (2100m) followed by the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m). Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander met with owners John and Jan Cassin during the week to discuss the options available to the daughter of Rich Hill Stud stallion Vadamos, which included a possible Australian autumn campaign, with the decision taken to concentrate on the two New Zealand age-group features before most likely heading to the spelling paddock. La Crique, who defeated Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner and Derby rival The Perfect Pink at Ellerslie before producing a dominant performance to take out the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham at her last run, has thrived following her return to her Matamata base. “We were delighted how she performed at Wellington and how she has come through the race,” Katrina Alexander said. “Her work has been very pleasing and she is taking the racing we have given her in her stride. “I actually think the race at Ellerslie, where she fought back to beat The Perfect Pink, has really given her a shot of confidence and has taught her she has another gear when she gets in a dogfight like she did that day. “With that in mind we sat down with her owners and had a really good discussion about the options open to her, which did include taking her to Australia. “I have never been a fan of adding something on to a campaign and the sentiment was we would like to see her tackle the Derby here and then have a good spell before going to Australia at some stage of her four-year-old season. “She will go to the Avondale Guineas on the 19th and then to the Derby a fortnight later before heading to the paddock for a spell.” Alexander is hopeful that the weather will hold over the next few weeks as she feels her charge is a far better prospect on top of the ground as opposed to operating on a rain-affected surface. “The worst she has been on is a slow track which she copped first up, but all of her jockeys have said she doesn’t really like it,” she said. “The weather starts to get a little variable around now so a few more weeks of fine days will suit us as we work towards the Derby. “The Derby field is starting to fall into place and we think she is definitely the type of filly who will get the distance as I see a lot of her dam in her and she won up to 2400m.” La Crique is out of the five-race winning Dubai Destination mare, Destiny Cove who was raced by the Cassins and has produced the Vadamos filly along with her promising elder half-brother Bari. La Crique is likely to be joined in the New Zealand Derby mix by her stablemate Te Toki, with the son of Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino also making good progress following a runner-up finish behind potential Derby rival Marchand over 1600m at his last start. “Things went a little pear-shaped for Te Toki when we had to scratch him from the Karaka 3YO Classic on Karaka Million night,” Alexander said. “That meant he went a month between runs so he really needed that race at Ellerslie last week. “It was only a small field and while he got to lead, he wasn’t suited by that at all, so we were pleased to just get the race into him and move forward from it. “He is a horse you have to keep on top off as he is such a good doer and he had a decent blow after that last race. “I think we have him where we want him now and he is ready to go to the Avondale Guineas now. “It is a shame that our two have to clash like that before the Derby, but that is just what happens sometimes. “We are actually incredibly blessed to have two serious chances in a Group One feature out of a stable where we currently have just ten in work and normally about 14 at most.” – NZ Racing Desk

Racing Last start Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) winner Levante (pictured inner) completed a pleasing exhibition gallop at Tauranga on Sunday before the meeting was Photo: Race Images – Peter Rubery Spate of abandonments curtail weekend racing NZ Racing Desk 6 February 2022 Inclement weather across the country has forced the abandonment of two further racemeetings with both the Tauranga meeting on Sunday and the Tauherenikau meeting scheduled for Monday called off without a race being run. The cancellations follow the abandonment of racing at New Plymouth on Saturday following the conclusion of race one that saw jockey Bridget Grylls take a tumble from her mount Madam Sass due to a slippery patch on the point of the home bend, caused by persistent rain throughout the morning. Thankfully both horse and rider were unharmed in the incident. Following an exhibition gallop by the Jamie Richards-trained Quattro Quinta and last start Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) winner Levante, raceday officials at Tauranga spoke with riders Joe Kamaruddin and Ryan Elliot regarding the effect that light misty rain had had on the racing surface. Both riders expressed safety concerns about a patch of ground nearing the 1000m mark with the firm nature of the ground underneath the surface a potential safety hazard. A delegation of senior riders and officials inspected the track and the decision was taken to abandon prior to Race 1 due to an inconsistent racing surface. Similar inspections took place on Sunday morning at Tauherenikau after heavy rain in the previous 24-hour period and a similar forecast for Monday causing grave concerns for the meeting. The track received approximately 50mm of rain through to Sunday morning with more significant rain to come. With some surface water on the track and inconsistencies with the surface, the decision was made, in the interests of safety, that the meeting would not go ahead. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing announced that a new race-meeting has been scheduled for Hawke’s Bay on Thursday February 10 with nominations for this meeting to close at noon tomorrow (Monday). The programme will be similar to that at Tauherenikau however with the rail out the 1000m races will now be 1200m while the 2050m races become 2100m. A maiden 3YO 1400m has been added to the programme after the loss of the Tauranga meeting, whilst the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) will become the feature event on the day. They also announced that the R74 1600m, Maiden 1600m and R65 2100m from today’s Tauranga meeting have had their scratchings re-instated and will be raced at Ruakaka on Wednesday. Co-trainer Ken Kelso, who prepares Levante with wife Bev, was delighted they could complete the exhibition gallop at Tauranga as it was touch and go as whether permission would be granted. “When we got there, they were inspecting the track and while I thought it looked alright, I did think they would definitely be cutting into it pretty quickly,” he said. “We spoke with the stewards and asked if they ran the first race and then abandoned the meeting, would we be allowed to gallop after that. “That wasn’t an option so we agreed to go before the first and I am pleased we did as it would have meant missing a crucial gallop in the mare’s preparation for this coming Saturday. “I do feel for the owners and trainers who had horses engaged at the meeting as it is an expensive exercise where no one comes out on the winning side when a meeting is called off like this.” Levante is set to contest the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday with Kelso delighted with how she has recovered from her Telegraph victory. “She got around as good as gold and looks very bright,” he said. “We know that a gallop like today is very different to a race as the riders are holding their heads and keeping them out of trouble, so we were thankful we could get her out there for a good hit-out. “I think we clocked her coming her last 1000m in a tick over a minute, the 800m in just over 46seconds and the last 600m in around 34 seconds, so it was very good work. “She will head into Saturday in good shape and without the worry of having missed a crucial gallop that could have been the case today.” – NZ Racing Desk

My understanding is that ultimately everything requires the approval of TAB NZ and that is affected by overseas timing commitments.

Geez what time did that Bullet Proof Boy run his last 800m in!

@hunterthepunter and @Rangatira have you both thought about getting a room together?

Perhaps they rang all the Trainers involved and the CD ones said they'd rather run on a wet track at Te Rapa rather than a swamp at Awapuni. Plus there may have been indications that being a week later more Northern 2yr olds would have been ready to nominate.

Well it is your favourite word and the members of it are as mysterious as your use of the term. Perhaps you cryptic post was more cryptic or idiosyncratic than usual for you.

For those who don't know @Joe Bloggs is referring to his imaginary friend the "CarteL".

King Of Swing creates history in Hunter Cup Luke and Belinda McCarthy celebrate King Of Swing’s Hunter Cup success at Melton on Saturday night By Adam Hamilton 01:41pm • 06 February 2022 0 Comments MORE history awaits champion pacer King Of Swing. Having become the first pacer to win two Hunter Cups and two Miracle Miles, he is favourite to be the first three-time winner of the $1 million Miracle Mile at Menangle on March 5. And it could be the last race of his stellar career which already has him seventh on the all-time Australasian stake-earners list at $2,786,046. Connections have declared he will be retired to stud at the end of this season, meaning the Miracle Mile or Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park in July will be his swan song. King Of Swing is one of eight two-time Miracle Mile winners, but none have been able to add a third since the race started in 1967. Co-trainer and driver Luke McCarthy declared the seven-year-old “at least as good as ever” after he took advantage of a perfect pole draw and dictated last night’s Hunter Cup to beat emerging star stablemate Spirit Of St Louis. King Of Swing strides away to win the Group 1 Hunter Cup on Saturday night at Melton (image: Stuart McCormick) He blasted home in closing splits of 54.2 and 25.9sec at the end of a comfortable 1min56.7sec mile rate for 2760m, the slowest Hunter Cup since former Kiwi great Smolda won in 2016 in a 1min57.3sec mile rate. “Sure, he had a lovely run in front, but he did that so easily. He felt great,” McCarthy said. “I know there was a bit of talk around about whether he would be able to lead or not, but I never doubted it. He’s almost impossible to get past when he’s in front.” The stats back it up with King Of Swing leading in 36 races and winning 33 of them, including his two Hunter Cups and two Miracle Miles. He drew poorly and had to sit outside the leader and winner Lochinvar Art when third in last year’s Hunter Cup. Now it’s back to Sydney and his favourite track, Menangle, for a Miracle Mile qualifier on February 26 and the Mile itself a week later. King Of Swing has raced 19 times at Menangle for 16 wins, two seconds and a fifth. But incredibly, he is unbeaten in 10 starts over a mile at the track, including four times at Group 1 level and the two Miracle Miles. Luke McCarthy looks to the crowd as King Of Swing crosses the line in the Hunter Cup “He’s a great horse, as good as I’ve had anything to do with, his record shows that,” McCarthy said. “But there’s no doubt the mile at Menangle is his absolute sweet spot. It’ll be great to get him back there.” Spirit Of St Louis underlined his stunning emergence when he followed a trio of major Victorian Country Cup wins – Bendigo, Shepparton and Ballarat – with a slashing second last night. “He’s amazing. That was some effort to do some early work like he did and still pull some ground off ‘King’ late in a 25.9sec last quarter,” driver Jack Callaghan said. “He’s absolutely flying.” He will get another crack at King Of Swing in the Miracle Mile, as will champion mare Amazing Dream and comeback star Lochinvar Art, who ran third and fifth respectively last night. While King Of Swing and Spirit Of St Louis will go through the qualifiers at Menangle on February 26, Lochinvar Art is set to tackle the Group 1 Newcastle Mile on February 18. “He’s definitely going to Newcastle,” owner Kevin Gordon said. “It’s my home town and I really want him to race there.” Lochinvar Art, who beat King Of Swing in last year’s Hunter Cup, found the task of sitting outside the “King” at just his third start back from 11 months on the sidelines with injury beyond him. He tired late, but was only beaten 7.1 metres. “We knew he wasn’t back to where he left off, he’s still building,” Gordon said. “It’s another step in the right direction and getting back to sprint racing is ideal now. Give him a better draw and some more racing and he can turn the tables in the Miracle Mile.”

Sydney track managers don't hesitate to irrigate within 24 hours of start time especially based on raceday weather forecasts. We seem to be fixated on producing a D4 on raceday morning instead of focussing on a track that can be used based on the weather forecast. That said what would people rather have a D5/D6 or no races or roll the dice?

You could say this is where our tracks are headed. VID-20210528-WA0000.mp4

I remember having a long chat with a very good CD Jockey - Hayden Tinsley about CD tracks. He surprised me with his ratings. He rated Taranaki as the worst. That threw me as my horse had won the G3 Taranaki Cup on it. But it was the first F1 rated surface that day. It probably would have been that yesterday if the rain hadn't arrived. He rated the best as Hawera. My view being that it was a peaty bog track. But he said it was the fairest and most consistent track over all the ratings. Looking at it now I'd say it's stuffed too!

Earlier someone mentioned that OZ seems to cope better. Well they still have abandonments BUT they continue to reinvest in upgrading and maintaining their tracks and are fortunate that their climate is not as variable as ours. Needless to say they haven't looked to close good racing surfaces down either.

The AWT's were never going to fix the problems we have been experiencing in recent weeks or even prior. Trainers don't really want to race on them other than during the winter and a couple of weeks either side. For example you'll never see a Thornden or a Guineas run on them.

Well it has been a chestnut that I've been banging on about since 2006 after having walked quite a few tracks on the morning of raceday that my horse raced at. So that's 16 years. The worst one's were Ellerslie, Taranaki and Te Rapa.

Yep Gural loves clean racing. From the Meadowlands website directions for horsemen: Lasix Information The renovated Back Paddock, now with gates on the stalls, will serve as the receiving barn and include a Lasix Stall where the medication will be administered. Issued by Dr. Barbara Greene, New Jersey State Veterinarian: All horses racing on task must report directly to the Back Paddock and will be treated with Lasix FOUR (4) hours prior to post time for their race Each horse must have a representative bring the horse to the designated treatment stall and witness the Lasix administration. Your horse will be scratched r late or if there is not a representative with the horse for treatment

Sorry to hear about your mood. So you went straight to the C's and T's? Page 7 and page 30. But that's because the so called PED's aren't actually PED's. Hence both Robinson and Fishman getting done for "mislabelling". There hasn't been a positive because Vitamins, minerals and amino acids aren't tested for!!!!!! I'll repeat again the only PED that has been admitted to is Clenbuterol. Robinson and Fishman were both con men. Fishman will be lucky to survive prison - the people he was dealing to have connections that don't like being conned. Yet Gural has been inconsistent in his approach hasn't he. Not only has his operation not found any PED's through testing but he has given an amnesty to the Trainer/Owner Adrienne Hall that admitted she had bought these so called "PED's" off Fishman as long as she gave evidence in court. The evidence she gave was basically "Yes I bought these stuff of Fishman and I didn't know what it was just that he said it would make my horses go faster." So the Feds have had samples of the so called PED's now for months - where is all the retrospective testing and charges? So you are accusing John Curtin and Peter Tritton of cheating and being corrupt?

I doubt they maintain water budgets. Looking at the Hawera Trots it was evident that the track hadn't had any water on it for a long time. The other issue of course is that many tracks don't have good irrigation systems nor cheap water to access.

Sand based - couldn't go wrong.

That was more than 30 years ago. The problem has been no investment in renovating and resting the tracks periodically.