Chief Stipe

Ironically the SAME distance as the winner Self Assured!

Freedman: My take on Cup concerns Racing.com 9 November, 2020 By Lee Freedman Much has been made of the way the Melbourne Cup has evolved since Vintage Crop first took it back Ireland in 1993, and JB Cummings famously and correctly said the Cup would never been the same again. But within this discussion there is now 28 years of evidence to support or debunk the views of where the Cup is at now. The fact is since the “internationalization” of the Melbourne Cup, Doriemus, Saintly, Brew, Ethereal, Prince of Penzance, Efficient, Vow and Declare, Rogan Josh, Jezabeel, Viewed, Shocking and Might and Power have been able to win it for Australasia (I’ve left Makybe Diva’s three wins in neither the overseas nor local category as she was, effectively, in both). This would suggest a fairly even split of results between the two hemispheres. However, in the last 10 years, eight have been won by overseas horses. The two main reasons for this appears to be the escalation of Cup prizemoney has attracted more of the overseas people and they have become a lot better at getting horses here that can win the race. Travel times have improved, quarantine improved and generally the knowledge of how to get the job done as well. This, however, cannot usher the “elephant” out of the room - the fatalities of imported horses. To be accurate there are two “elephants”. One is the fatalities, which are felt worldwide, the other is the thought that imports are winning too often and disenfranchising local owners. The most successful at the import raid are Team Williams. They are longtime supporters of the local thoroughbred product, that delivered Just A Dash, What A Nuisance and Efficient as Cup winners in the past, have now taken the import route in recent years. (I’m announcing they are friends and have been clients of mine) Team Williams, plus the O’Brien’s of Ireland, are making an art form of winning the Melbourne Cup. Let me assure you this is an expensive venture and the wastage in terms of horses that don’t make it puts the exercise well beyond the means of the vast majority of Australians. However it’s their money to spend and the rules allow. The genie is well and truly out of the bottle and not returning any time soon. But the other “elephant” is still wandering about the room. The first thing my wonderful Japanese assistant said to me here in Singapore the morning after the cup was: “what a shame about the death of the lovely horse”. The problem is 250 years plus of breeding in the UK versus 200 million years of continent Australia climate. European horses are different and are reared and raced in far more accommodating conditions in Europe than Australia. In other words, the tracks match their physiques. Blaming the Werribee quarantine facilities for all the woes of the imports is far too simplistic. I’ve recently curbed my enthusiasm for Twitter, but I dropped my guard the other day when I tweeted my approval for Macedon Lodge being used for quarantine. Not that I don’t think it would be excellent, believe me it would be, but for a racing industry that has performed so brilliantly during the COVID period and faces more COVID inspired challenges to be expected to spend many millions on satisfying the needs of a very few privileged for three minutes and 20 seconds on a November afternoon is not logical. Werribee is a good quarantine set up and believe me when I tell you from 50 years of hands on experience with racehorses, that sound horses don’t break down unless the surface they work on is flawed. Yes, the turns are tight but the horses are there for three to four weeks which wouldn’t impact on horses soundness to cause catastrophic injury. A different set up may be better but could it be quantified as to the eradication of fatalities? Blaming Flemington racetrack is similarly flawed. We have a harsh, arid climate in Australia and trying to manipulate track conditions every raceday to suit everybody is impossible. In the main, Racecourse Managers do a great job. We must stop blaming ourselves and put the responsibility of providing the race with sound overseas representatives back on those connections. The only way to ensure the integrity of the vetting of these horses is preserved, is by MRI science, before they even get on the plane. An independent process performed without fear or favour, that protects the Melbourne Cup and does away with opinion vetting. Yes, there will still be opinions on MRI findings but aren’t we continually told to “follow the science”? In discussions with some of my brothers, all respected and experienced horsemen in their own right, an alternative may be a mandatory six month training and racing period in Australia for these imports before they run in the Cup to acclimate to Australian conditions, and that’s a very sound proposal. But the argument against that would be that it would interfere with the Northern Hemisphere racing season which is true but really not the problem of the Australian Industry. To paraphrase a quote from a recently departed US President it should be “Australia First”. The “smart money” knows the fly in late hit run mission works best, but it also exposes the flaws in the current system and the fatalities are slipping through the net and for it to survive big changes need to be made. Believe me also when I say that no matter how wealthy and powerful the connections of these horses are, it hurts them the same as if they were a hobby trainer when a horse becomes a fatal statistic. We all love our horses, it’s just that powerful groups can deal with the collateral damage more easily, but I’m not sure the view of the Melbourne Cup fatalities in the eyes of the racing world, will afford the Australian Racing industry that luxury.

We've been told that one of the top trainers at Newmarket is an avid fan of AWT's but could their use in NZ lead to more horse fatalities? Read below Champion trainer Lee Freedman's view on why the European Melbourne Cup contenders are breaking down.

Arc plans firm-up for Elleegant Andrew Eddy 10 November, 2020 Brae Sokolski is rueing Verry Elleegant's lost opportunity in her one and only Melbourne Cup start, but the wonderful Spring Carnival of his mare has confirmed his view that the Caulfield Cup winner should be bound for one of the world's greatest races next year. Sokolski's Melbourne Cup runners Verry Elleegant, Finche and Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet are all out spelling and while all three will return to racing in the autumn, next spring is likely to see Verry Elleegant a world away preparing to contest the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France. "We've always thought that she is going to be at her best as a six-year-old and she's a proven world-class mare who loves wet ground and deserves to be tried on the world stage," Sokolski said on Tuesday. "She'll be at the peak of her powers at her favourite trip and we'd love to see what she could do." Verry Elleegant finished seventh in last week's Melbourne Cup after getting well out of her ground for much of the race. The fact she finished on hard to record the quickest final 600 metres of the race proved to her connections that she could handle two miles, but Sokolski said she will never be tried over 3200m again. "That was her one and only chance at it and we thought she ran very well after getting too far back," he said. "She lost sight of the leader and just couldn't win from where she was, but she really finished off bravely." Verry Elleegant (NZ) Trainer C.J.Waller Age 5YO Sex Mare Colour Brown Prize Money $7,056,044 Last 5 14117 Career 25-11-5-1 POS Jockey Track Date DIST Race WGT MRG Odds 7 – 23 M.Zahra FLEM 3 NOV 20 3200m MELB CUP 55.5kg 3.8L $10 % 1 – 18 M.Zahra CAUL 17 OCT 20 2400m CAUL CUP 55kg 0.2L $5 % 1 – 15 M.Zahra FLEM 3 OCT 20 2000m TURNBULL 55.5kg 0.1L $5 % 4 – 7 J.B.McDonald RAND 19 SEP 20 1600m GEO MAIN 57kg 1.6L $2.20 1 – 16 J.B.McDonald RAND 22 AUG 20 1400m WINX STKS 57kg 0.1L $7.50 Given the path to an Arc for an Australian is virtually untrodden, Sokolski said a plan on how to get her to the race is yet to be determined. Firstly, Verry Elleegant will have a busy autumn campaign and one that looks most familiar for the millions of fans of former super mare Winx. Verry Elleegant will take a Winx-like path through races such as the Apollo Stakes, Chipping Norton Stakes and Ranvet Stakes on her way to possibly a Tancred (2400m), or like Winx, a 2000-metre Queen Elizabeth Stakes. "She's not Winx, but there's no doubt she's the best mile-and-a-half horse in the country," Sokolski said. She could then go to Europe early and run over Royal Ascot in June to prepare for the Arc in September. Sokolski said he felt Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet did not stay the 3200-metre Cup distance but that Finche, who shared the early lead with eventual winner Twilight Payment, could again go to the trip in autumn's Sydney Cup.

Yes an excellent track presented last Saturday and that involved some skillful management of irrigation options. Today's track a different story with the Big Boy upstairs playing a bigger hand. Nearly two inches on rain on Monday set the scene. Of course a Strathayr wouldn't have been affected as much and would recover quicker. Race Day Weather: Overcast Track: Slow 7 Rail: True Weather and Track last updated at 6.25am Wednesday 11 November Tuesday Afternoon Weather: Overcast Track: Slow 7 Rail: True Weather and Track last updated at 3.49pm Tuesday 10 November Tuesday Morning Weather: Overcast Track: Slow 7 Rail: True Weather and Track last updated at 8.59am Tuesday 10 November Monday Morning Weather: Overcast Track: Slow 9 Rail: True | 48mm rain last 48 hours Weather and Track last updated at 8.49am Monday 9 November Sunday Morning Weather: Raining Track: TBC Rail: True Weather and Track last updated at 8.51am Sunday 8 November

Surely the Deloitte report is being circulated to the members of the three clubs and we can get our hands on a copy. Or will it be distilled into a bullshit PowerPoint presentation for each of the 3 Special General Meetings to decide on?

Agreed it wasn't a fair standing start. Geez I remember we had two good horses and they would stand perfectly still but as soon as the tapes flew they would take two or three bounds to get momentum up and then be flying pacing. It took a bit of getting used to as you thought they had galloped away but they were intelligent horses. One had a 62 inch hopple which you could even let out to 64 on a fast track. Then hopple shorteners became the rage.

I hear what you are saying but Copy That wasn't that far away from the tape when the tape was released. The difference is that he was actually standing still while the outside horses were having a run at it. Then he started away very slowly.

Actually had another couple of looks and that first part of the stipes report concerning Tango Tara seems right. It and Ashley Locaz do impede each other and someone yells out. Purdon seems to make an early decision to walk away. Lamb actually says something in the audio at that point about ".....the outside....".

I must have watched a different race. I'll have to go back and have another look. I thought Self Assured went for the barriers and Mark Purdon was the first to turn away.

They're still writing it.

OK. I haven't seen the full proposal. If that is the case then they are relying on Avondale's assets to fund the Strathayr and to provide the seed funding for the $50m in yearly stakes payout.

They altered their Constitution to align with the move by NZTR to align with the disposal of assets as per the Racing Act 2003. They will require 3/5's of members to agree. BC10063556511.pdf

However if they go then what training facility to have you have left close to Auckland? Only Byerly Park. Then you are in the Waikato or Ruakaka. Auckland has lent Pukekohe $2m for refurbishing the track which must be paid back if the Counties ceases to be a training facility.

My bad.....I assumed that they didn't because of the motor racing track.

Full Sectionals for each horse available here: http://www.addington.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020-11-10_32_HRNZ_Race-11_Stridemaster-details-simple.pdf http://www.addington.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020-11-10_32_HRNZ_Race-11_Stridemaster-details-individual.pdf

In my day all horses had to be standing STILL before a start not SPRINTING!

Lightening Blue ran 10 seconds slower! What's that nearly 200m? Bonnie's Chance 14 seconds slower!

Yep a tick over 3:55. Good effort from Spankem. Just looked it up 3:55.2 Mile Rate: 1-58.2 Last 800m: 55.6 Last 400m: 27.6

Three out of four of the Group 1's.

Well the commentator said different even so they were running at the tape the first time round. In my day you had to be standing still! I'm not having a dig at the All Stars - the professionals they are they know how to manage things to their own advantage.

LOL. Oh dear did the Starter hand that one to the All Stars. The first run up the All Stars didn't get it right and turn away. So the Starter calls them up again and the outside All Stars on the outside of the front line are fair running at the tape when he lets them go!! All over then and the ALL Stars controlled it going 3:55!