Chief Stipe

Geezus Joe - have you got a hangover today? One was 2000m race the other was 1000m! Plus what was the point of riding Melody Belle out when she had no room!

So are you bagging the horse or the rider or BOTH Joe? FFS you make yourself out to be the expert of all things racing from riding to ownership to training. Go back and look at her previous races. Yes you could argue that Opie got caught napping on a slow pace when they started sprinting at the 600m but hell the knocks she got on the corner and then no room after what do you expect? I'm surprised Colgan didn't get pinged for that - Geez watch his elbows! As for "being the good rider that he is" I'm sure the Trainer and Owners of Tiptronic are really happy with Colgan today! TIPTRONIC (V Colgan) – Shifted outwards to avoid the heels of MELODY BELLE near the 1600 metres when over racing. When being steadied, TIPTRONIC went back onto THE CHOSEN ONE and SINARAHMA which were both hampered. Required veterinary treatment post-race after being gallop on during the running.

Just to put some perspective on this. Joe you bag NZ racing all the time. But I think there were more horses "Pre-race Tested" at Te Rapa than at Flemington yesterday. Pre-race blood for post-race analysis: Race 1 Selica (NZ), Brazen Song Race 2 Ingratiating, Birdsville, Mt Buller, Gimmie Par Race 3 Buffalo River (USA), Irish Flame (USA), Regardsmaree Race 4 Good Idea, Sikorsky, Coolth Race 5 Zou Dancer, Starelle, A Pinch Of Luck Race 6 Dadoozdart (GB), Holbien, Polanco, Skyman (GB) Race 7 Cherry Tortini, Brando (NZ), Aysar, Zac De Boss (NZ) Race 8 Bivouac, Halvorsen Race 9 Rich Itch, Ruban Bleu, Zakat, I'm Telling Ya Pre-race urine for post‑race analysis: Race 1 Silent Sovereign Race 2 Treporti, Frost Flowers Race 3 Widgee Turf, Takumi (IRE) Race 4 War Critic (NZ) Race 5 Personal Race 7 Tagaloa Post‑race samples from following horses: All Winners Race 5 Personal (2nd placegetter) Race 7 Aysar (2nd placegetter) Race 8 September Run (2nd placegetter), Swats That (3rd placegetter)

BULLSHIT Joe! Absolute BULLSHIT! Tell me how this report from Flemington yesterday is ANY different from what we saw from Te Rapa? https://www.racing.com/form/2021-02-13/flemington#/stewards-report Wasn't Bivouac the favourite in the Lightning? Bivouac Rider Glen Boss reported the horse would derive benefit from today's race. Rider Glen Boss was notified to ensure he rides all his mounts out hands and heels to the end of the race. Stewards were satisfied that Glen Boss's actions did not affect the result of this race. A post‑race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

I see Jonathan Riddell failed to meet the required weight for two of his rides yesterday. I guess we can expect the same treatment for him?

FFS Joe. Watch the race again! The ran the first 1200m in 1:16! Ran home in 46. 2:02 for the 2000m isn't a bad gallop on that track. Fastest 2000m of the day. WAIK-R08-130221.mp4

Bollocks. I suggest you watch the video again. She was caught a bit flat footed when they sprinted at about the 500m which isn't surprising given they had walked the first 1200m in 1:16! But she was knocked over twice on the turn. If you have watched her best wins she likes clear air and to wind up into it. Go back and look at all the form lines for her wins they all read the same. Wide at the 600m - 400m and improving. She was vet checked after the race and had been pre-race tested. What more do you want? A Spanish inquisition?

Did you watch the race or read the Stewards report? It was clearly evident to anyone who did both that at a critical point in time she was blocked for a run. Hell if Opie had forced the issue through that closing gap and injured her I'm sure the same critics would be hammering away.

That's not a case for one justifying the other. Bicarb's reputedly main benefit, although there is some doubt about its efficacy, is to aid in neutralising and/or preventing lactic acid buildup. That benefit is supposedly greater in horses racing over distance which Standardbreds do predominantly e.g. when was the last time you saw a harness racing under 1609m?

What by authorities "needling" the horse on race day and taking up to 6 vials of blood out of it?

Again what does it achieve that post-race testing doesn't? The bicarb argument is outdated.

Maybe the Trainers do Joe. But do the punters? You still haven't answered the question about what does pre-race testing actually pick up that post-race testing doesn't. Any research on what the effects of taking up to 6 vials of blood from a horse 2 hours out from a race? Then doing it again if the poor horse happens to win? To achieve what? Given the accuracy of modern testing the biggest issue is not failing to detect a substance but in getting a false positive due to the ability to pick damn near single molecules of a substance!

But not EVERY horse at EVERY race meeting in EVERY State. As for bicarb where is the evidence to show that pre-race testing is more likely to capture it within the time-frame that it would be effective? Where is the irrefutable evidence that bicarb "masks" the detection of other drugs?

The restrictions will come off when you stop writing in a childish manner. You don't do that on your Twitter feed so why do it here? You generally always piss off when you get called out on some of the outlandish crap you write so you were about due to throw your toys.

Yes but as I said it isn't her first offence in terms of misconduct is it?

Well you obviously didn't know BEFORE the race meeting that there would be pre-race testing. So that raises the question who did know and when? So it can't have had any impact on betting on that particular meeting. Now the next thing to consider does pre-race testing raise punting turnover? I haven't seen any evidence to support that contention. That aside where is the evidence that pre-race testing achieves more than post-race testing.

Not her first offence though.

LOL McGreevy has been associated with some weird science! https://www.sydney.edu.au/AcademicProfiles/profile/resource?urlid=paul.mcgreevy&type=cv "Positive attitudes towards feline obesity are strongly associated with ownership of obese cats." "Musical dogs: A review of the influence of auditory enrichment on canine health and behaviour." "Emerging issues in aquatic animal welfare and veterinary students' opinions regarding aquatic animal welfare." (An "aquatic animal" refers to fish in this instance). "A review of roadkill rescue: who cares for the mental, physical and financial welfare of Australian wildlife carers?"

Oh Melody Belle. Mmmm did Huey watch the race? In my opinion Melody Belle didn't get a run when she required it. The Stewards concur - refer below. If you look at her style she needs to wind up in clear running which she didn't have. I'd say Opie would have ridden her a bit more aggressively if she had been an 8yr old gelding but he looked after her. Why wouldn't you when she is probably worth north of $3m. From the Stewards report: MELODY BELLE (O Bosson) – Raced in restricted room rounding the final turn between CAMINO ROCOSO and TIPTRONIC with the rider dropping his left reign near the 300 metres. MELODY BELLE continued to be unable to obtain clear running before having to be steadied near the 100 metres. When questioned rider advised that when racing in restricted room the mare may have switched off to a degree. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any significant abnormality other than a minor laceration to the left hind coronet.

How do reconcile that research with Professor McGreevy's which shows the complete opposite i.e. using whips makes the horses go slower? Not that McGreevy's research isn't flawed and without significant bias which is understandable given a large part of his funding has come from the RSPCA.

Eh? Royal Performer is an 8yr old gelding.

I doubt it made one jot of difference to the punting turnover figures. If you are anything to go by no one knew before hand anyway.

Since I've called him out on it he has made it private so you have to apply to be a follower. Got 21 at the moment. Must have been a long list of subscribers to his betting tips! It isn't exactly an exciting read anyway. Unlike here where he writes like an illiterate failed comedian the style of prose on Twitter is "normal." Not an ellipse in sight!

Getting a bit slack on your Twitter feed Thomarse.

I might add though that Melody Belle was syndicated by Fortuna.