Chief Stipe

You expect Thad to be working on a Saturday? The apprentice bookie will be working on Monday as it's a public holiday.

You can't say Opie wasn't trying! Suspensions: O Bosson SWORD OF STATE Careless riding 1100 metres [Rule 638(1)(d)] Suspended 5-15/1 inclusive, 5 days & fined as below O Bosson ILLUSION OF PARIS Careless riding 1400 metres [Rule 638(1)(d)] Suspended 16-28/1 inclusive, 6 days & fined as below C Jones CASSIO Excessive use of whip [Rule 638(3)(ii)] Suspended 5-16/1 inclusive, 6 days J Fawcett THE BUZZ Careless riding 1750 metres [Rule 638(1)(d)] Suspended 8-15/1 inclusive, 4 days & fined as below Fines: O Bosson SWORD OF STATE Careless riding 1100 metres [Rule 638(1)(d)] $450 O Bosson ILLUSION OF PARIS Careless riding 1400 metres [Rule 638(1)(d)] $750 J Fawcett THE BUZZ Careless riding 1750 metres [Rule 638(1)(d)] $400 L Innes PRETTY TO SEA Overweight [Rule 330(3)(c)] $350 Warnings: O Bosson PRISE DE FER Shifting ground 300 metres [Rule 638(1)(d)] S Collett COVENTINA BAY Shifting ground passing 250 metres [Rule 638(1)(d)] V Colgan MASETTO Shifting ground 1850 metres [Rule 638(1)(d)] L Brennan MASETTO Presented runner without notified gear [Rule 616(2)] J Fawcett SON OF BIELSKI Shifting ground concluding stages [Rule 638(1)(d)]

That wouldn't be hard to do would it when they walked the first 700m in the Railway. Bit of a brain fade of a ride from McNab.

You are quite rightly assuming that TAB NZ don't consider themselves and their inflated salaries as being part of the industry.

You'll find those races are abandoned because there is insufficient money in the pool. If you check the betting regulations you will see the clauses that detail the required pool amounts.

I'll try and record it somehow. It is a very polished production and I'm picking it cost a bit to put together. They have all the good looking people participating so no CWJ smiles. Who is the good looking greyhound woman? They crossed the line though on looks and credibility with Thad Taylor sitting and talking at the bookie desk. Mackenzie played the casual dress code warm fuzzy CEO role to script. As for the $80m - I'm guessing if you challenged it they'll say it is in the Messara report or some such rubbish. Of course they are not quoting the DIA or Treasury assessments. Maybe they are smoothing the way for Grant Robertson to print some more money for them?

Not spinning anything just giving you the facts. Those facts look pretty impressive to me and anyone else who doesn't have an axe to grind. End of story.

Well for the one at Awapuni to pay its way they are either going to have to close all the other courses in the CD including Trentham and Hawkes Bay or magically find a shyte load of horses from somewhere.

That's the problem these turkey's have overlooked. If you look at the UK approach they tend to have AWT horse's and Turf horse's i.e. each sticks to to their preferred surface. I'm picking it is going to take those Cambridge trainers a couple or three seasons to work out how best to manage their training to achieve the same level of results. In my opinion training up a young horse solely on an AWT isn't going to develop horses with strong bone and ligament/tendon structure. Curious and Freda might have a different opinion as they have had hands on experience. I'm just looking at it from a theoretical perspective with an understanding that you have to stress horses to make them stronger.

You didn't read my post. I'll repeat they started slow this season largely due to Covid-19. The last 6 to 8 weeks they have been flying to the point where the last time I looked their UDR was over 0.4000. Which considering the number of starts is miles ahead of any other large stable. These last 6 to 8 weeks their UDR must have been incredible to drag their average up from earlier in the season. Their Group and black type wins are light years ahead of anyone else as is the total stakes won. Just checked again their UDR is 0.4060. Stakes won is $1,800,000. $800,000 ahead of the Dunn stable i.e. nearly double. Not bad for a so called "bad year". Geez they still may end up topping the stakes won table at the end of the season.

I disagree. They started out slow this season and I feel the Covid-19 lockdown impacted that start. However the last 6-8 weeks they have been flying and their UDR has climbed right back up.

A bit of reverse psychology on my part there!

What's obvious?

I doubt he will win the next either.

Come on Brodie don't tell me you are susceptible to the old Harness Rumour Mill?

I know Tim's father will be itching to become head stable boy!

Doesn't that caveat cover it?

I bet Khufu if not sore really felt that track. Strange prep if they had been serious about the Karaka Millions.

Those exact same things didn't stop Imperatriz!

I'm picking that that track at Ellerslie is rapidly heading towards a G2. Some horses are not handling it and Khufu didn't look like he did. Notice also how the jockey's are not going too wide on the track in the straight either. It will be as hard as concrete out there.

Exactly. Pontificating Professors sitting in University Ivory Tower's are somewhat divorced from reality. I have someone putting an expose together on this mob. So far it makes for interesting reading and there is heaps of controversy.

Interesting Khufu was talked up big time from the Waikato. Even Te Akau thought he was the horse to beat today and in the Karaka. Now he is unlikely to have enough $'s to even make the field. Maybe that AWT form isn't all that hot?

Did anyone else see the ad on Trackside imploring us to be bet with TAB NZ rather than with Offshore Agencies? Full marks I guess for promoting TAB NZ but I'm not sure who they are actually targeting. What are your views? If you are a new punter you may not even know that there are offshore options. If you are a big punter then you will punt with those that offer the best deal regardless of hometown loyalty. If you are a small to medium punter then you probably bet with TAB NZ anyway and maybe occasionally have a splash on something that the local TAB doesn't offer. In the advert it says we are losing $80m in revenue to offshore agencies. I thought Racefield's legislation was going to claw a chunk of that back. Is the advert an admission that things aren't going to plan? With regard to $80m "lost from the industry" at a takeout rate of 14% then that is over $500m (half a billion) that is punted offshore by NZ'ers. Of course that estimate would be greater if the quoted $80m was net profit. Is it really that much? I also see in the news section of the TAB NZ site that they are "pleased to announce the renewal of the commingling agreement with TABCORP Australia". I guess there must be some profit in that agreement.

Great interview on Trackside followed up with a great winning ride in the second at Ellerslie!