Chief Stipe

A nutty conspiracy theory. When so many of the Chinese Government Elite like a punt you won't see threats to Hong Kong from within. It is unlikely either the Chinese and anyone else will engage in war close to Hong Kong. A bigger threat would be if Governments of the horse exporting countries of the world agreed to ban horse exports to Hong Kong in retaliation for actions elsewhere.

That's an easy task when you only have two race tracks and a highly closed system funded by a secure monopoly on the wagering activities of a very large population. I guess you'd prefer the closed system model in NZ?

Isn't that a call made by the Trainers of 95%+ of the yearlings bought at the K1 sale? I guess now Richards won't have DC to apologise for....just himself.

Isn't that the model all the top Oz trainers use? Ciaron Maher spent over $15 million at the Magic Millions sale. Which is only the first sale of the season!

"Wrong again" about what specifically? Right so the club does buy horses and resells them. Is it 10% of the total or more? So Richards may be able to utilise the services of Te Akau in purchasing stock FOR permitted members? Either way the point is Richards will have a lot more to manage than just training. As for the HKJC being world leaders I can only assume you mean in terms of wagering revenue. Very easy to do that when you are essentially the only approved gambling outlet in a very large population where gambling is a cultural phenomenon. The HKJC may not select fools not that anyone has suggested Richards is a fool. However is it not true that more than one trainer was approached to train by the HKJC and were turned down? A difficult time politically to be heading to Hong Kong.

World leaders in what exactly?

Yes it is obvious - that's why I said SELECT his horses NOT BUY them.

So have they been racing over 3211m or 3189m for the 3200m?

Ummm your point?

I guess in the vernacular of one @Joe Bloggs "a lot of wanking went on" at the Magic Millions Raceday on the Goldie. Last Saturday’s Magic Millions meeting on the Gold Coast reached an incredible $77.4m (turnover) up 33 per cent from two years prior.

Were there a few breakers?

Didn't Paul O'Sullivan win the Trainers Premiership in NZ eleven times? How many times has he won it in Hong Kong in 18 years?

Well I wouldn't go as far as some and predict he'll be so successful he'll win a premiership up there. It's a totally different kettle of fish Hong Kong. High Temperature, High Humidity, horses stabled most of their lives - no spelling in the lush green paddocks of the Waikato. What he did and learnt in the Waikato won't transfer to Hong Kong. My understanding is horses are pre-bought by the HKJC and then auctioned again I.e. you don't get to pick and choose the type you want but have to buy from what the HKJC vendors purchased. Perhaps Jamie will fly DC Ellis up to select his horses! How much scope does a Hong Kong trainer have to source their own horses? Add to that the distance between family and friends back in NZ. The politics of working with the Chinese and the cultural nuances.

I realise that. I only asked why he let go of the reins rather than holding onto the horse.

Well Opies ride in the 2yr old race was superb. Anyone who follows racing at Ellerslie knows once you get caught in the cheap seats there isn't much that can be done. With regard to OTB if you recall he's been caught wide before and has been driven up to get a possie. Yesterday the luck didn't go his way. It happens and happens quite frequently at Ellerslie such is the shape and slope of the track.

The criticism of Opie doesn't say much for the rest of NZ Jockey's given how far back that pack is.

I'm willing to take a bet that he will be back in 2 or 3 years. OZ was his next step not Hong Kong.

Perhaps. But the armchair experts here were criticising Elliot a couple of weeks ago for not going forward. The risk is always that someone inside you will go as well. That said I don't think OTB is a true miler. Plus I don't like those side winkers/rolls or whatever you call them. They are neither one thing or another. Richards is putting them on more of his horses which I think is the wrong thing to do.

You underestimate the power of the team. He will have a lot more management stuff to worry about rather than focussing on training. Time will tell.

Still they broke 1:07

Whatever your view or opinion on the various aspects of the Karaka Millions Night you can't deny that they have attracted a crowd and created a party. Reminds me of Wellington Cup Day in 2001.

Amarelinha was far too short in that race over 1400m back from a spell.

Richards is going to have to step to another level in Hong Kong 8f he is going to be successful. In NZ he has a proven team behind and around him. Honkers is a different kettle of fish.

Once again you show you have no idea on a wide range of subjects. Well most things actually. When can we expect your next erudite posting? Bit like your Labour Government all promises and no delivery. Such is your socialist manifesto.

That's not good. Why didn't the Jockey keep hold of the reins?