Chief Stipe

Well in this "New World" we have MMA Cage Fighting.

She was bought with the intention of targeting the MM race. As are most of the purchases by TA at the MM sale. I guess TA are trying to crack the formula. However there are so many weird rides by OZ Jockey's on TA or NZ horses. Not sure why.

Richards was also lamenting Bright Blue Sky’s run in the A$2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on Saturday. “I think she got galloped on or took a bit of a rough stride and Brett (Prebble, jockey) may have overreacted. She seemed to come through the race well,” he said. “Ashley Handley (travelling foreman) and our vet are pleased with how she has come through it all. “Unfortunately, it is just one of those things that happens from time-to-time, jockeys have just got a split-second decision to make. “We are disappointed with the way it all finished up because we had been happy with her. We will give her a break now and get her home and look forward to the next preparation with her.”

I might add it was the official NZTR news that called it a "renovation" rather than maintenance.

I agree with @Huey. Flemington seems to be able to do substantial maintenance every year. Not to mention of course what seem ongoing issues with Pukekohe over the years. Reminds on of the bend at Awapuni.

It's a dangerous path to go down @nod. Does racing horses at full speed further than they are designed to do on shyte tracks with crap riders hurt them?

MEETING NEWS 30 January Meeting Now at Ellerslie Due to renovation work on the Pukekoke Park track taking longer than anticipated the ATR meeting scheduled for this day will now be staged at Ellerslie.

I agree. I watched the race again yesterday and I counted Allpress's strikes - she got in her mandatory 5 and didn't do anymore in the last 100m. Yet apparently according to some armchair critics the extra two Elliot got in BEFORE the 100m made the difference!!! The difference might have been he went for home early and made it damn tough for anything behind him to get up. They would have had to have broken 22 seconds for the last 400m to do it! It was getting a bit annoying seeing Levante get back early and then wind up late to get beaten. If she bounces back from that win stronger then she'll win a good fillies/mares Grp race in OZ.

In my opinion the biggest animal welfare issue in NZ Racing is the state of the tracks that we force them to gallop on. Not far behind is the skill of those sitting on top of the horses.

Why bother? Doesn't it make them go faster? According to @Thomass two strikes equal 1/2 a length faster. If it hurts them why would they go faster? Be very careful what you wish for @nod it is the thin end of the wedge for the very small minority of activists. You example of taking a whip to a dog or cat is extreme. A padded whip striking a 500kg animal is hardly a comparison with a dog or cat! As for the "World has changed" - has it? I thought it took a majority to change the world or is it those who yell and protest loudest?

That will be the final nail for Cindy. I know many people that will not get the booster. She is believing her own propaganda which is always the beginning of a sudden end. BTW there is no way that the 95% figures of double vaccinated in Auckland is correct. We all know that there are more people in Auckland than official counts - add to that double counting of vaccination. So once again Cindy is either dumb or deliberately misleading. I'd say both. It cracks me up when the Government says we should trust the MOH and Medsafe. I've worked for the MOH and in my opinion they are more incompetent than most Departments. I got sent a bowel cancer screening kit in the mail. Followed the instructions (you have to pass your motion over a supplied sheet of paper which has something written in about 8 languages on it - I'm sure there is some cultural insensitivity that I have invoked!) and read the consent form. Went to sign the consent form and lo and behold there is nowhere to sign it!!!!! What's more the cardboard envelope that you put your sample in has one of those serrated pull tabs. When you close the envelope the serration comes apart. Having visions of my sample floating around in the mail bag I fixed it with some duct tape.

What do you expect when the Governments in OZ and NZ have first created a climate of extreme fear bearing to correlation to the risk of Covid. Then using propaganda to promote the concept that the only way to be safe and to have freedom back is to get vaccinated. Now those that have been vaccinated believe they are safe and anyone who isn't is dangerous. They cannot back down because they bought into the propagation of fear and that vaccination was the the silver bullet. I would back the mother's instinct in this case. I know of a similar example in NZ - however NZ has been so slow at vaccinating young children (thankfully) that the pro-vaccination father has changed his mind to the point he is now supporting the mother's human rights case to overturn the Education Departments proclamation that unvaccinated children can't attend school sporting events. How ludicrous is that ban when the biggest pandemic killing children is obesity!!! In my opinion the vaccination of children and the push for booster shots will be the turning point. I've already seen a significant change in friends who are double vaccinated. The majority will NOT be getting the booster.

@Thomass has really lost the plot. Add this to his blueprint - he says 2 strikes of the whip equals 1/2 a length advantage. Nonsense. Where's the "science" you refer to @Thomass?

I agree. It cost Elliot $2k in fines for each strike over 5. Doesn't include his 8 days of lost riding fees and stakes. I see Allpress got her allowed 5 in but elected to ride hands and heels inside the 100m.

Nature Strip returns as well as ever Nature Strip won his first trial back for James McDonald and Chris Waller. Picture: GRANT GUY By Mitch Cohen 02:05pm • 17 January 2022 The road to the autumn and a potential Royal Ascot tilt began exactly how most expected for The Everest winner Nature Strip at Rosehill trials on Monday morning. The Chris Waller-trained sprinter was his typical self when coasting along in front and claiming his 900m heat comfortably in his first public appearance of 2022. Jockey James McDonald kept the star son of Nicconi out of trouble nice and wide on the track and allowed him to go through his gears at his own leisure, clocking 55.50 seconds (last 600m in 34.02) for the gallop. Richard and Michael Freedman’s Group 1 mare Forbidden Love kept Nature Strip honest up the straight with a strong effort to finish three-quarters-of-a-length away in second with Standout a further 3-1/2 lengths back. Nature Strip is a clear favourite to add to his Group 1 record in the coming months with TAB listing the gelding as a $2.50 elect for the Lightning Stakes and $4 chance for the TJ Smith Stakes. A galaxy of three-year-old stars were next to step out at the Rosehill trials including Godolphin gun Anamoe and boom filly Espiona as they took their first step towards Group 1 targets. But it was Group 3 winner Mallory, trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, which laid down an early autumn marker when cruising to a 2-3/4 length win in the 900m heat. The Not A Single Doubt filly clocked 55.92 (last 600m in 35.11) when putting a space on the talented Ranch Hand and Zethus. Caulfield Guineas winner Anamoe came through from last to finish on the placegetters heels while Espiona was given an easy time of it, finishing midfield alongside stablemates Fangirl and Roots. Espiona is the $2 favourite to win the Surround Stakes next month.

@Thomass you obviously didn't watch the race or you were wearing blinkers. The word is she jarred up bad on the very firm track.

My analysis found that he didn't actually cut costs. Just shifted them to someone else. Didn't address the fundamental cost issues either - the high cost system and broadcasting contracts. He had a chance to slash those or at least renegotiate when they were insolvent.

Someone would have told him it was a step up and used smoke and mirrors with the turnover figures to show the TAB was a "Multi-billion dollar business"! It'll take him at least 3 years to work out that actual revenue is much less than that and is the key figure. Hopefully his tenure at AirNZ educated him on yield management.

Contrary to what some online commentators are saying the review and changes is not being driven by Te Akau. A number of prominent trainers have expressed their concerns as have some Senior Jockeys. Not to mention the RIB seeking changes to remove the ambiguity. So what will the changes be?

Racing: Whip rules to be reviewed after heated week 17 Jan, 2022 12:00 AM3 minutes to read Opie Bosson recently copped a six-meeting suspension for whip use. Photo / Photosport Thoroughbred racing's controversial whip penalties are to be reviewed, with changes likely after a heated week. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing brought in new sentencing guidelines for whip use in September, and it has been the Racing Integrity Board's job to enforce them, but few could have foreseen the furore they have caused. The main concerns for jockeys, and also trainers trying to book the best jockeys for their horses, have been suspensions for repetitive infringement, even when those infringements don't warrant suspension. With New Zealand's senior riding ranks containing few big turnover-attracting jockeys, suspensions have also perplexed club officials who want the elite jockeys riding on Group 1 days. . The sentencing guidelines failed their most high-profile test at Ellerslie on January 9, when Opie Bosson was suspended for six meetings for his ride on The Perfect Pink because he used the whip on her in consecutive strides, even though he used it only four times in the race. The decision of the adjudicating panel in suspending Bosson was based on three prior whip sentences inside a six-month period, so was heavily influenced by NZTR's sentencing guidelines, even though Bosson's ride clearly did not warrant a six-meeting suspension, especially when that meant missing a Group 1 day. NZTR chief executive Bernard Saundry admitted to the Herald the guidelines need reviewing and that his organisation has received a lot of negative feedback, considerably more since the Bosson suspension.

Racing: Whip rules to be reviewed after heated week 17 Jan, 2022 12:00 AM3 minutes to read Opie Bosson recently copped a six-meeting suspension for whip use. Photo / Photosport Thoroughbred racing's controversial whip penalties are to be reviewed, with changes likely after a heated week. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing brought in new sentencing guidelines for whip use in September, and it has been the Racing Integrity Board's job to enforce them, but few could have foreseen the furore they have caused. The main concerns for jockeys, and also trainers trying to book the best jockeys for their horses, have been suspensions for repetitive infringement, even when those infringements don't warrant suspension. With New Zealand's senior riding ranks containing few big turnover-attracting jockeys, suspensions have also perplexed club officials who want the elite jockeys riding on Group 1 days. The sentencing guidelines failed their most high-profile test at Ellerslie on January 9, when Opie Bosson was suspended for six meetings for his ride on The Perfect Pink because he used the whip on her in consecutive strides, even though he used it only four times in the race. The decision of the adjudicating panel in suspending Bosson was based on three prior whip sentences inside a six-month period, so was heavily influenced by NZTR's sentencing guidelines, even though Bosson's ride clearly did not warrant a six-meeting suspension, especially when that meant missing a Group 1 day. NZTR chief executive Bernard Saundry admitted to the Herald the guidelines need reviewing and that his organisation has received a lot of negative feedback, considerably more since the Bosson suspension.

But haven't TAB NZ devolved most of the marketing function to the codes? So what is the point of this expertise? I don't seen any mention of his wagering knowledge or experience so I assume he has none. Same old same old I'm afraid. Until they get someone who knows how to increase wagering revenue they are are just wasting their time.

Who would know but I doubt many apprentices can actually count fullstop.

It has all to do with consistency in the pursuit of animal welfare in racing. The whip rules are not applied consistently and one racing jurisdiction deems it is in the best interests of animal welfare to scan every horse starting in the Melbourne Cup. So I guess you would support every ride in every race being subjected to scrutiny for adherence to the whip rules? In the interests of animal welfare that would be consistent wouldn't it?

She did run on in her previous start which was won by Coolangatta after not getting all the favours. As for being the lowest qualifier as often happens with these sweepstake races with all sorts of pathways into the field there were quite a few that got a soft entry into the field. She put in a short stride and semi-stumbled at the turn and Prebble sat up on her. I hope it was an over reaction rather than an injury as I reckon she'd pick up a good race over there especially in the autumn.