Chief Stipe

All well and good but there are modern techniques that make that job easier and less subjective. For example if I felt my horse was fit and healthy but put in a shocker of a run I'd get its bloods done. If I found something was wrong then I'd treat accordingly AND test again. Horses are no different to people they can look happy and healthy but might only be operating at 90%. 10% off at the elite level and you are well down the track. I wonder if PCR and RAT tests will become part of the elite equine toolkit in years to come.

But some are restricted to ridiculously small amounts e.g. $20. Wouldn't it be great if the RIB published the betting analysis from yesterdays Stellar Delightful win?!

The stipes need one of these.

@curious if a horse returns a high Cobalt level AND a normal red blood cell count what is the performance enhancing effect of the high Co?

If, as you have posted, "never taken a blood" how did you determine when to give a Hemoplex IV and what happens to blood counts?

No I haven't. Rather leave IV's for a qualified vet to do. Even then seen one stuff it up in a bad way.

Is there an Iron (Fe) threshold?

I know punters that have experienced where their bet return is limited i.e. is less than the quoted price. They take the bet and the displayed odds don't change but they can't get those odds.

You didn't answer the questions @Joe Bloggs if Smith got 15 years why did Moody, Kavanagh and O'Brien get less? The latter two spending shit loads in court to overturn their penalties. Moods just walked away. As for 6000mg - one Vitamin B injection can do that! The Tasmanian Trainer Rhodes got a 5 year ban after one of his horses tested 19,000mg!

So Peter Moody should have got life? Or Mark Kavanagh and Danny O'Brien shouldn't have had their suspensions overturned by VCAT? Bearing in mind that Smith got done retrospectively as in charged with Cobalt offences for horses that raced BEFORE threshold limits were imposed.

Probably unlikely as the NSW Darren Smith still has 9 years to go on his suspension. Arguably his 15 years was way over the top for the crime especially given more recent cases.

But it happens whether a race is commingled or not. Plus would't you expect the distribution of the Aussie money to be similar to what the market was already?

MEETING NEWS Suspended & Injured Riders Updated at 7.09am Sunday 30 January Suspended Riders: Leith Innes | From the close of racing Saturday 5th February to close of racing Thursday 10th February Michael McNab | From the close of racing Saturday 5th February to close of racing of Friday 11 February Diego Montes de Oca | From close of racing Wednesday 9 Febuaruy to close of racing Wednesday 24 Febuary Lemmy Douglas | From close of racing Saturday 29 January to close of racing Saturday 19 February Lynsey Satherley | From close of racing Sunday 30 January to close of racing Friday 11 February Shaun McKay | From close of racing Saturday 22 January to close of racing Wednesday 2 February Tina Comignaghi | From close of racing Saturday 29 January to close of racing Thursday 10 February Diego Montes de Oca | From close of racing Saturday 29 January to close of racing Wednesday 9 February BB Hong | From close of racing Saturday 22 January to close of racing Saturday 5 February Akshay Balloo | From close of racing Saturday 29 January to close of racing 10 February Ryan Elliot | From close of racing Saturday 22 January to close of racing Monday 7 February Hazel Schofer | From close of racing Saturday 15 January to close of racing Thursday 27 January Injured Riders: Lisa Allpress | Out from 20 Jan until further notice with broken ankle Tegan Newman | Out until further notice Danielle Johnson | Out until further notice from Saturday 1 January Andrew Calder | Out until further notice from Saturday 26 December Liam Kauri | Out until further notice after a fall at Awapuni 11 December Craig Thornton | Out until further notice after a fall at Te Aroha 3 October Gary Walsh | Out until further notice after a fall at Te Aroha 3 October Emily Farr | Out until further notice after a fall at Te Aroha 3 October Elen Nicholas | Out until further notice after a fall at Te Aroha 19 September Barry Donoghue | Out until further notice from Saturday 26 June Chad Ormsby | Out until further notice from Monday 11 January Jordan Bassett | Out until for at least 3 months from Tuesday 24 November Not Riding: Bailey Rogerson | Out until further notice from Tuesday 21 December Sam Collett | Out until further notice from Sunday 17 October (Riding Overseas) Mubs Kareem | Out until further notice from Monday 7 June (Overseas)

Probably but they could still reduce their liability. Still seeing huge reductions in tote prices AFTER the horses have run at least 400m. Anyway $3.50 is a reasonable dividend albeit under's based on form for Stella's Delight. I can understand those in the know hammering the Fixed Odd's but I would have thought the Tote price would have held higher. What was the lowest FO price? What I find amusing is that the low price was spotted well before race time and yet some punters are complaining and going as far as unfounded accusations of doping/cheating. FFS they'll be expecting Stables to publish track work next! We used to love setting a horse for a good old fashioned punt. With an average horse it was often the only way to get a return! Took a lot of skill to do it.

Finally a time for the Desert Gold Stakes - 1:35.88. Faster than the Thorndon. With these sectionals on a D4 La Crique gave the rest no show and would be competitive in OZ.

Another problem is the TAB laying their fixed odds liabilities off on the tote - LATE!

@Enteebee you can call me all the names in the world - I don't really give a shyte. But what I do give a shyte about is you accusing NZ's leading stables of race doping. Show some balls and put your name to your allegations. Not that you really need to as you are quick to beat your chest when your horses win!

Plus eliminate the niggles that make the horse unhappy.

Correct - G Burgess is listed officially as the Trainer. However It was reported on the HRNZ site that it was currently domiciled at R & J Dunn's stable at Woodend. Which is just over 10km from Burgess. As with most of these going off half cocked beat ups some of the facts are conveniently overlooked. It was acquired by Burgess around the middle of last year. Mrs RM Low was the previous trainer - who essentially is an amateur trainer recording 8 wins from 183 lifetime starts since 2005! Burgess took it to the workouts in October last year. It ran third driven by himself. Then a trial 22 December driven by J Dunn. Didn't get the best of runs but ran on a little. Didn't do much racing at Ashburton 11 January after a good run but was definitely hanging. Then it wins yesterday. Change of gear. Didn't hang. Softest run of the race. It happens. A fitter and happier horse.

Hardly a cheap shot @Forbury. Don't you think it is a bit off for a prominent owner to cast aspersions or allegations against NZ's Leading Trainer without posting any evidence? Then hides behind a private Facebook page? Perhaps some should look closer at those who throw the first stones!

I watched the race and thought hell it didn't win all that convincingly with the softest run of the race. Doesn't say much for the rest of the field!

Some people look for ghosts. Neville Bennett has such a grudge about something. Wouldn't be surprised if it was him feeding Peter Proft all the crap. Perhaps a case of glasshouses and stones? If he has evidence of what he asserts then he should publish it.

Why isn't an issue for MPI to investigate?

The Dunn's must be getting pissed off with the idiots casting aspersions that they are cheats. It's not cheating to do what you are good at and that's to TRAIN a horse. No obligation to tell every punter that you've got your horse going really well.

I'd say nothing more than that. Mind you it doesn't take much of a bet in NZ to scare the bookies or to substantially drop the tote price. The Dunn's have a long history of turning problem horses around. They've made a bit of a niche out of it. Whereas unless a horse is really top notch the All Stars off-load problem horses. Been going on forever. I remember when my father owned a few he was always on the look out for horses that showed good sectionals but had gait or behavioural issues. Once you found the problem and solved it then you set up for the punt. Really stuffs up the punters that rely on their algorithms!