Chief Stipe

https://bitofayarn.com Yes Wall Road. Do the Club Stables include any other trainers? Other facilities? I imagine Aaron would be quite keen to move to an up to date training centre.

Hayes: Ka Ying 'better than last year' www.racing.com https://bitofayarn.com In an ominous warning to his rivals and those waiting in Australia, legendary trainer David Hayes says the world's best sprinter - Ka Ying Rising - is back and better than last year. It comes after Zac Purton has declared Ka Ying Rising’s outstanding win in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 September) the equal-best of the champion sprinter’s stunning career. Extending his unbeaten streak to 13 wins, Ka Ying Rising brushed aside quality opposition under 135lb to triumph in 1m 07.63s – marginally outside his own track record of 1m 07.20s – despite being eased down by Purton as the gelding swept to his 14th win in 16 starts for David Hayes. The world’s top-rated sprinter will enter quarantine tonight in preparation for a tilt at the AU$20 million (approx. HK$100.34 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on 18 October after easing to a two-and-a-quarter length victory over fellow four-time Group 1 winner Lucky Sweynesse (126lb) and Divano (113lb). “To carry that weight against those horses at that speed first-up and do what he did, it’s probably the equal of any performance he’s put up, I think,” Purton said as the eight-time Hong Kong champion jockey advanced to a five-timer. “He’s come back in really good order. I said to David before the race that he just looks a different horse. He’s furnished really nicely and that’s what we wanted before we get on the plane and go down to Sydney. After starting brilliantly from barrier four in steady rain, Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of the Year settled second behind Bottomuptogether (115lb), who surged from the 800m to the 400m in 21.33s to string out the field, ultimately playing into Purton’s hands. “It went fairly smoothly. If I could have had that run pre-race, I would have taken it,” Purton said. “We got into a nice spot and Beauty Waves on my inside got fired up a little bit and got keen and Alexis (Badel) was looking to edge out, so I just felt my horse back on the bit and travelling, thinking about it. “But then Bottomsuptogether went and it had my bloke having to chase him midrace, which was not what I wanted. I wanted to have him travelling within himself but what it did – because he’d used a bit more energy midrace – he actually changed his leg for the first time in a long time when he came into the straight. Hopefully it’s taught him something. https://bitofayarn.com “When he did that, I thought ‘Game over’ and away he went.” After equalling the weight-carrying record he set last season in the same race, Ka Ying Rising is the first horse to win the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup twice. Hayes said: “We’ve been saying privately that we think he’s better than last year and I think that showed – the time he ran, the way he did it, the weight he carried. He’s bigger and stronger and probably better. “He’s always physically been a backward-looking horse and now I think he looks like a complete sprinter. So, yeah, he’s the best I’ve had. “The worry with this ‘prep’ was running with 135 (lb) at the start, but I didn’t want to go six months between runs, first-up in an Everest. Now I know we’ve got him there, we just maintain him and he holds form for a long time this horse. That’s why he’s a champion. “He’s a pretty good traveller and I’m very confident travelling him.” WATCH: Ka Ying Rising's comfortable winhttps://bitofayarn.com

Treasurethe Moment out of Makybe www.racing.comhttps://bitofayarn.com A colic attack has halted the spring’s new star Treasurethe Moment’s charge towards Saturday’s G1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington with the champion mare taken to a veterinary hospital on Monday for treatment. Trainer Matt Laurie released a statement on Monday morning outlining the “mild case of colic” with the Mornington trainer claiming the outlook for the remainder of the spring was still positive despite the setback. “Unfortunately, this morning Treasure had a very mild case of colic,” Laurie wrote on X. “This was identified very quickly and out of precaution she was taken to hospital for observation. “I can report she is in the best of care. She looks bright and her prognosis is very good. “We will look at other race alternatives in due course, always keeping her best interests as a priority.” The Yulong-owned mare has won her past nine starts – four at G1 level – and was considered a hot favourite to take her winning run to 10 this weekend. https://bitofayarn.com

Yes fairly predictable and well done to all that were nominated. Not as easy as it looks to be a National finalist.

The following was posted online by Aaron Bidlake who I believe has stables are currently about 1km from the Hastings Racecourse. He makes some very valid points for the doom and gloom anti-racing types to take on board. __________________________________________ It's not right in Flaxmere, only just on the edge. Flaxmere isn't as bad as every seems to be making out either, I drive through every day and often go in to the shopping center and haven't lost the wheels on my car yet. I think done right a new track would be brilliant, the current venue facilities are very old and tired and will cost mega dollars to get up to a decent standard. Build a track that is state of the art, 1200 or even 1000 straight track so you can try them out before going to Melbourne. Build a restaurant so owners can watch their horses work and then have a nice breakfast, bring their grandchildren along and actually think this is pretty cool and then thats your next generation of racing fans. Right now, no racecourse would be very enjoyable to come and watch your horse work, Is there any track in the country now where as an owner you could come to trackwork in the morning, watch your horse work and then enjoy the morning looking out a window in a heated cafe/restaurant? I'm not sure if thats in their plan, but maybe it should be. I know everyone is scared of change, and history is great to look back on but if we don't do change then the whole racing game will be history. I have been in the Hawkes Bay about 18 months, I've been amazed how many people actually have some idea or at least loosely follow racing compared to the Wairarapa where I have moved from. I guess in Masterton they closed Opaki as a racing venue 40ish years ago and by doing that the town just slowly loses interest, hence my hate for centralized racing. You take something away from people and they just don't follow it. I have heard a few trainers make noises about relocating here to Hawkes Bay if they were to build a new track with training facilities ect, but I guess you don't know that until it actually happens. But with an early spring here, what's not to say some of those bigger stables won't use the place to set up a satellite type stable to get those horses ready for the spring racing.

You are only talking about one part of the problem and ignoring all the other issues. The camber isn't just the only issue. Drainage, stuffed soil, start location, crossing, stables, access for floats, grandstand, public access...the list goes on. As for Wightman he does think there is a problem but his solution is to get a mole plough out behind the back of a Massey Ferg. The current site is becoming increasingly landlocked. Weren't some of you Canterbury Naysayers wanting to shift Riccarton to a greenfields site once?

Where were you 20 years ago? Haven't you done your homework? Instead of trainspotting whip strikes open your mind and actually read the articles you and I have posted as well as the site pictures and understand the range of issues. Shoulda coulda- well it didn't happen and the whole existing site has major problems and needs capital investment. Stop listening to the conspiracist Wightman aka @Transparency.

So what do you suggest just chuck the towel in? Can't do nothing.

Focussing on the negative again. Point was you are at least in the sun. The prevailing wind is from the west.

El Vencedor (NZ) Crowned 2024-25 Sport Nation Horse of the Year Six years in the making, El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) now stands as New Zealand’s champion. The Cambridge-trained galloper was crowned Sport Nation Horse of the Year for 2024–25 at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s black-tie Awards dinner in Hamilton on Sunday night, proof that some champions simply need time to flourish. At six, El Vencedor reached spectacular new heights, becoming the only New Zealand-trained horse to win three Group 1 races this season. His dominance saw him secure 45 of the 55 votes cast for the sport’s ultimate honour. He also claimed the Champion Middle Distance Horse - sponsored by Happy Hire Award, and was a finalist among the nation’s top sprinter-milers. Other equine champions included, Champion Two-Year-Old - sponsored by Entain Australia & New Zealand: La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth), Champion Three-Year-Old - sponsored by TAB New Zealand: Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel), Champion Sprinter-Miler - sponsored by Taylor Perry Insurance Consultants: Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj), Champion Stayer - sponsored by Sandfield: Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) and Champion Jumper - sponsored by New Zealand Jumps Racing: West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu). In the people categories, Premiership stars Craig Grylls (Jockey of the Year - sponsored by BcgCrave) and Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson (Trainer of the Year- sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds) added New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards silverware to their tally, while Shaun Fannin claimed his fifth Jumps Jockey of the Year - sponsored by Rothley Recruitment title. Cambridge Stud proprietors Sir Brendan and Jo Lady Lindsay took out Owner of the Year - sponsored by TAB Racing Club. The evening also recognised some of the sport’s most influential contributors. Ross Coles received the prestigious NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing after a remarkable 60-year tenure as Clerk of the Course at Ellerslie Racecourse. Two-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer, Sheila Laxon, was honoured with the NZTR Award for Outstanding Global Achievement. While Stephanie Hyde-Richards (New Zealand Stablehand of the Year - sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga) and The Guerin Report (LOVERACING.NZ Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content) rounded out the accolades. The battle for Trainer of the Year provided the night’s closest finish, with Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson just edging out Stephen Marsh by five votes, who himself trained El Vencedor. While mares have dominated Horse of the Year honours in recent years, El Vencedor broke the mould, being just the third male galloper to win the title in the past decade. El Vencedor climbed the ranks through his early years, however, his breakthrough came at five with a maiden Group 1 win in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie Racecourse. By six, he was near-unbeatable, winning five of his 11 starts in 2024–25, all at Group level, with four of those victories by more than three lengths. That streak included a stunning Group 1 hat-trick, capped by a repeat Bonecrusher triumph where he started a red-hot $1.40 favourite. Bred and raced by Mark Freeman and David Price, El Vencedor (Spanish for the victor) is by Shocking and a brother to Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) winner Chocante (NZ) (Shocking), as well as a half-brother to Hong Kong Derby winner Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma). Ironically, El Vencedor’s career almost never happened in New Zealand, he was earmarked for Hong Kong after trialling impressively as a two-year-old, but failed strict vet tests. That twist of fate proved golden, with the gelding amassing $1.48 million in stakes this season alone and more than $2 million in total career earnings, while delivering unforgettable moments for his connections. El Vencedor began a new campaign on an encouraging note when running fifth in the Group 1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday 6 September. A champion by name, and now officially by title, El Vencedor is New Zealand’s Sport Nation Horse of the Year. 2024-25 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards - sponsored by Sport Nation Final Results Jockeys’ Premiership - sponsored by OnTrack: Craig Grylls Trainers’ Premiership - sponsored by Stable Books: Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson (Te Akau Racing) Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership – sponsored by Iron Horse: Lily Sutherland Owners’ Premiership - sponsored by Bello Vida: Cambridge Stud Newcomer to Training – sponsored by gavelhouse.com: Barbara Kennedy NZB Filly of the Year: Leica Lucy LOVERACING.NZ Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content: The Guerin Report Other finalists: Aidan Rodley, Andre Neill, Entain Media Branded Video Content Team, Joshua Smith, Ziba Creative. Champion Two-Year-Old - sponsored by Entain Australia & New Zealand: La Dorada (53) Also: Return To Conquer (7) Champion Three-Year-Old - sponsored by TAB New Zealand: Savaglee (37) Also: Leica Lucy (10), Damask Rose (5), Alabama Lass (3), Captured By Love (1), Willydoit Champion Sprinter-Miler - sponsored by Taylor Perry Insurance Consultants: Grail Seeker (34) Also: Alabama Lass (12), El Vencedor (5), Here To Shock (5), Provence (1), Crocetti Champion Middle-Distance Horse - sponsored by Happy Hire: El Vencedor (51) Also: Snazzytavi (5), La Crique (1) Champion Stayer - sponsored by Sandfield: Willydoit (41) Also: Wolfgang (6), Mehzebeen (5), Blue Sky At Night (2), Trav (1) Champion Jumper – sponsored by New Zealand Jumps Racing: West Coast (56) Also: Berry The Cash (2), Jesko (1), Billy Boy New Zealand Stablehand of the Year – sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga: Stephanie Hyde-Richards (employed by Autridge Racing) Also: Lucinda Aitken (Sharrock Racing), Gee Saejorhor (Champagne Racing Stables) Jockey of the Year - sponsored by BcgCrave: Craig Grylls (54) Also: Sam Spratt (5) Jumps Jockey of the Year - sponsored by Rothley Recruitment: Shaun Fannin (51) Also: Joshua Parker (8), Portia Matthews (1), Kylan Wiles Trainer of the Year - sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds: Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson (Te Akau Racing) (30) Also: Stephen Marsh (Marsh Racing) (25), Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott (Wexford Stables) (1) Owner of the Year - sponsored by TAB Racing Club: Cambridge Stud (35) Also: Tony Rider (6), Denise Bassett and John Elstob (4), JML Bloodstock (3), The Oaks Stud (3), Waikato Stud (2), Gerry Harvey (1), Pencarrow Thoroughbreds (1), Kim & Peter McKay, Kelvin & Vanessa Tyler NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing: Ross Coles NZTR Award for Outstanding Global Achievement: Sheila Laxon Sport Nation Horse of the Year: El Vencedor (45 votes) Also: Savaglee (3), Leica Lucy (2), Alabama Lass (1), Captured By Love (1), La Dorada (1), Snazzytavi (1), West Coast (1) Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing

It's a no brainer. I'll post soon about the day and night I spent a year ago in Hastings when they abandoned the races after race one. Great night with Butch, Lethal, Smithie and the other locals. All passionate about HB racing.

The above photos are of tracks that EVERGREEN have done recently. https://www.evergreen.com.au/

https://bitofayarn.com Pakenham Racecourse Tynong, VIC https://bitofayarn.com Townsville Racecourse Cluden Park, QLD https://bitofayarn.com Caulfield Heath Track Caulfield, VIC Eagle Farm Racecourse Ascot, QLD https://bitofayarn.com Port Macquarie RC Port Macquarie, NSW Belmont Chute Relocation Burswood, WA Warrnambool RC Inside Grass VIC Mornington RC Inside Grass VIC Emergency Repairs VIC / NSW / QLD / WA

I agree. I'm not sold on the "sand based Evergreen track" though. Must do some research on that technology. If it is like Ellerslie and Awapuni it won't suit all horses. I hope the new property has a water well and/or water rights/consents.

Great save by the Goal Keeper.

Lethal Innes rode it. But that was the season BEFORE. Not the 2022-23 season.

If you want to see what the top trainers are doing in OZ (a couple in NZ are on to it as well) look at Ciaron Maher's (CMR) Bong Bong operation. https://www.ciaronmaher.com.au/sports-science-and-data Recovery Recovery strategies at CMR, including the use of Hypoxic Chambers, 24/7 monitoring, electromagnetic pulse therapy, and hyperbaric chambers, are essential for enhancing horses’ adaptation to training, accelerating repair, and preventing injuries.

Yep and the likes of Becks Nairn are making it harder for you. Most townies haven't a clue about horses. We had one you couldn't keep a cover on no matter what the temperature was. If it had been human it would have been a permanent member of a nudist colony! Not only could you not keep a cover on it you couldn't stop it from rolling in mud! Tough as and was never sick. Unfortunately some SPCA and MPI types are just as bad as the townies. Remember the furore when some townies were on the Interislander ferry and saw into the top of a stock truck. They complained about the starving dairy cows because they could see the hip bones!!! Here is a cow with a good condition score:

Alleged. But as I said above the conspiracists find something online and then start a rumour to explain why someone is successful. Of course the authorities take any "allegation seriously". They are obliged to no matter how rediculous the allegations are. Hence we end up with debacles like INCA when they take things TOO seriously. The "fridge gas" Xenon use is so implausible on many facets - cost and access to to Xenon for example. Expensive and not easy to get. Let alone the technology required to administer it in sufficient volume to have an effect. I'm sure some muppet wasted their money trying it. They would have been better to have spent more on customised feed and modern authorised anti-arthritic drugs. Do you have a reference for that? But I know how the allegation probably came about. The most significant research on the use of Xenon has been in Anesthesia research where Xenon displaces Oxygen but in a safe way. They weren't tents they were Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers. I believe Waller used them. Definitely Maher did. It isn't the Xenon that causes any therapeutic affect. It is used to displace oxygen just like in anesthesia to simulate high altitude training at sea level i.e. high altitudes have less oxygen and the body adapts by producing more red blood cells. Also the pressure is lowered. That use has been banned. Now the flaw in the rumour is that Xenon is very very expensive to use and is hard to purchase. Xenon is only available through licensed sellers of which there are very few in Australia. Before you say it - no you would find it very hard to get it via Temu The use of hyperbaric chambers to induce simulate EPO has been banned. However I think some stables still use them for therapeutic reasons by increasing the concentration of oxygen to enable quicker recovery post racing/training and to aid injury recovery. Exactly. Where's the Xenon? But in the mean time the conspiracists tar everyone. Yes every trainer is experimenting within the rules. As @Gammalite has posted before they have a moral duty to do so in the interests of their horses and their owners. Some of the treatments available today, although expensive, have proven to be a god send for trainers. For example the joint treatments which prevent wear and tear (arthriits), pain and the more recent ones that actually reverse damage. I know a number of horses 40 years ago that would have benefited from such treatments. I tell you now that if we could have kept some of those horses injury and pain free the records we see today would have gone then not now. LOL we used to try everything. The buzz at the time was Green Lipped Mussel powder which we used to sprinkle into feeds. The irony of that was the actives in that powder have been proven to be useful but when delivered by other means. That is compounds such as mucopolysaccharides and chondroitin. Today we have drugs that stimulate joints to produce cartilage repair and synovial fluid production. They're expensive but they are NOT performance enhancing. They just allow horses to perform to their potential without pain.

I see the usual hardcore on NZ's Anti-Racing forums are finding every reason they can to trash the idea. However they are bereft of any ideas themselves. Yet the same lot would have more money poured into the likes of Trentham! Lets face it $77m will only buy 60 houses in South Auckland which is about 4 hectares. Or less than two years of yearlings for Chris Waller.

Pennyweka? Mind you it was a great year for NZ bred and sold yearlings. I Wish I WIn, Mr Brightside, Kovalica, Atishu...

Yep. Then Nanny State has had the unintended consequence of most people needing to be mothered and forgetting how to have fun! I honestly don't think a grandstand matters. I can remember some of the best days I had at the races I was in a Marque on the inside of the track (Trentham), feeding and drinking from the boot of a car at Tauherenikau, standing on the tow bar of a horse float at Waterlea and recently under an umbrella at Matamata. The boot parties at Hororata and Motukarrara were pretty good too. Recently I saw a scaffold grandstand for Sail GP which was as good as any. Not to forget the big days at Kumara where the "Grandstand" is the size of a dolls house and sits about 200 people! You can get marques bigger!

Includes Sharp n' Smart, Prowess, Waitak, Warsaw (sold for $2m to Hong Kong), Wild Night ( @nomates), Legarto, Sacred Satono.