Chief Stipe

I wouldn't worry the best defamation defence is proving what was said was true.

Well it wouldn't be on your precious Champagne Turf would it? Afterall it has taken a "hammering". 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆

Why don't you ring them and get them to correct an obvious mistake? But I imagine @Huey has already done that plus NZTR have read his post by now...or perhaps in another hour when they lift the shutters for the day.

Well Ellerslie does have a training facility closer than Trentham but I made the same point about Ellerlsie. The major tracks in OZ operate a training facility. However the issue with Trentham is the number of other factors that are against it.

Obviously a mistake. Unless Dummy Myers had something lined up.

Yep and the only difference is the Comic Dog isn't basing his opinion on any analysis but on trying to keep onside with a group of blind OBC.

What posts? Apparently I have multiple identities over there.

Good luck for what? LOL @SLB2.0 and I have disagreed about more things than we have agreed on. My spells are crap obviously!

Is that a compliment? I don't disagree with everything everyone says let alone for the sake of it. That's your misinformation for what agenda I cannot fathom. People do but then I don't expect anything. Perhaps I am deluded. Expecting to pitch up to an online forum to discuss the issues facing a sport I love and expecting informed cogent debate...

Bollocks. You only post to have a go at me. What's the problem? Regardless why don't you post a cogent response to what I post on racing? As opposed to personal abuse. Don't you have any knowledge of racing?

But they didn't DO ANYTHING!! The reality is it LOOKS better because overall the CLASS of horse was better. Nothing in what they reported in the NZTR Meeting News points to anything being done differently.

Why does it matter so much to you Lane?

But how did they do it? In my opinion it was no different to the previous week except most of the horses were a big step up in class.

Yep. Not a horse trained at Trentham.

WTF are you on about Lane? We don't know each other from a bar of soap yet you are intent on having a dig at me? Why? You and Scooby make a lovely couple.

Weird actually running a forum where you moderate the hell out of it right down to deleting posts that you don't agree with or that "make me look stupid" or you just don't understand. Unfortunately that is symptomatic of the malaise that affects the whole industry. Envy, tribalism,...

If racing does return to Foxton then the Club needs to ensure it gets sufficient subsidies and support from NZTR to maintain the track infrastructure. Otherwise it will revert to the state that every other track is currently in.

Yeah I thought it was one of the longest in NZ. They don't seem to get round the bend that well though.

Te Aroha has a reasonably long straight isn't over 350m? About 380m? The corner is flat and a bit tricky to improve on. Bit like Ellerslie in that respect.

Doomben off: 2025 Qld wet weather claims latest race meeting www.racenet.com.au The latest big wet to hit south-east Queensland this year has caused more havoc to the racing schedule, with Doomben Saturday races called off due to a sodden track. Weeks after ex-Cyclone Alfred caused a brace of meetings to be postponed, and coming after the rich Gold Coast Magic Millions meeting in January was shifted due to a torrential rain, another weather event has seen Doomben unable to race. The Doomben track has copped almost 800mm of rain in 2025 and, for at least 24 hours, it had appeared unlikely it would race on Saturday. Officials had tried to put on a brave face and as recently as Friday afternoon they sent out advice to members they were "full of optimism" that they would be able to race on Saturday. But the call was made shortly after 6am Saturday that the meeting would not go ahead. The Bureau Of Meteorology had forecast the potential of up to another 50mm of rain on Saturday. 28/3/2025: Umbrellas and rain in the CBD of Brisbane. pic: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail Racing Queensland was shuffling some of Saturday's Doomben races onto existing future race cards, as is normal practice. The Eagle Farm track performs much better when there is significant rain, but it was never going to be able to be called into action on Saturday. With the Queensland winter carnival looming, Eagle Farm is being prepared for its peak periods of racing. Eagle Farm will be racing four Saturdays over the next five weekends, leading up to the Queensland Guineas meeting on May 4, prior to a short break ahead of the four Group 1 meetings over five Saturdays during the winter carnival. Those Saturdays are Derby day, Oaks day, Stradbroke Handicap day and Tatt's Tiara day. With Doomben off on Saturday, the Gold Coast provincial card that had originally been slated to be run on the course proper at night was shifted to be raced during the day on the poly (synthetic) track. On Friday, the $750,000 King Of The Mountain card was able to be raced although the Toowoomba track deteriorated to a heavy (10) during the meeting. Tony and Maddysen Sears-trained sprinter Steady Ready claimed the rich slot race, leading for home and clinging on in the final stages.

NZTR Statement on Taupō Trials Abandonment and Investigation Following the abandonment of the Taupo Trials on Tuesday, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) acknowledges the frustration caused and accepts the outcome did not meet industry expectations. NZTR worked with Taupō Racing Club to identify what went wrong on the day, with findings to inform improved processes going forward. Taupō Racing Club President Terry Campbell said, “The Club would like to apologise to the racing industry for the cancellation of Tuesday’s trials.” “We have identified the issues and will ensure they are addressed ahead of any future meetings,” he said. The assessment found that the Track Manager, who is relatively inexperienced, did not receive the level of support and oversight needed to prepare the track. NZTR also identified gaps in its own processes, which failed to provide the Club with adequate operational guidance in the lead-up to the meeting. Issues with rail placement, grass length, and irrigation planning contributed to the decision to abandon. These areas require specialist knowledge and closer coordination between Clubs and NZTR. While it is encouraging to see new Racecourse Managers coming into the system, consistent national training and induction processes are lacking. The current reliance on individual Clubs to manage onboarding has led to varying standards. To address this, NZTR will: Increase the involvement of Regional Track Advisors in mentoring new Racecourse Managers; Provide Advisors with more time, tools, and resources to support Clubs on-site; Establish a working group of Club representatives, Regional Advisors and NZTR staff to strengthen national processes and share best practices. NZTR Chief Operating Officer Darin Balcombe said, “New Racecourse Managers are difficult to find, and we must provide them with stronger induction, training, and support systems.” “Preparing track surfaces for racing is a specialised skill that comes only with experience, support and proper training,” he said. NZTR accepts that earlier involvement may have avoided the Taupō outcome. Work is already underway to strengthen support, oversight and accountability across the tracks and infrastructure network. NZTR is actively undertaking a full formal review with Taupō Racing Club and Track Advisors and will share the findings as soon as possible. Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Contact: Catlyn Calder +64 027 252 2803 nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz

Yes but over 49,000 turned up to see The Everest.

Rosehill Racecourse sale: Australian Turf Club vote on April 3 www.racenet.com.au The vote to determine the sale of Rosehill and perhaps the future of Sydney and NSW racing is in the home straight. Australian Turf Club members will on April 3 get to vote on the proposal to sell Rosehill for a reported $5 billion-plus. Debate on whether to retain or sell Rosehill has degenerated into bitter acrimony at times between the opposing sides since the proposal was announced more than 15 months ago. This decision is a momentous one for the ATC's 11,500-plus members. It seems almost unfair to burden them with such a defining decision on the future of Rosehill and perhaps the NSW racing industry but these are the rules, enshrined in law under the Corporations Act. Therefore, what are the potential outcomes of the vote? To quote a famous line from Kevin Bacon in the hit movie, A Few Good Men: "These are the facts of the case and they are undisputed." Cameron Happ - Last 28 Days • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The "No" vote would mean the status quo remains and Sydney racing retains its best asset, Rosehill Gardens, home of the Golden Slipper and Golden Eagle. Rosehill is situated in the geographical heartland of Sydney, albeit near an industrial area. Why it doesn't attract bigger crowds on major race days is a mystery with only 12,111 on track for the Golden Slipper last week. But that is a story for another day. A "No'' vote also ensures Rosehill remains as a training centre, too. It is currently home to about 450 horses. This provides certainty for those trainers with their businesses based at Rosehill, plus their stable staff, track riders and track maintenance workers. But the "No'' vote doesn't resolve one of the most critical issues facing Sydney racing – and that's funding. Wagering turnover is in decline and this is the primary source of revenue for the Australian Turf Club. This is not a problem confined to Sydney either – it's a serious challenge confronting the sport nationwide. This is why a "Yes" vote needs to be carefully considered. The Minns Government is prepared to purchase Rosehill Gardens for more than $5 billion and use the land to build a new suburb with 25,000 homes in the vicinity of a Metro rail station. • Rosehill Turf Talk: Stars align on a $12 J-Mac mount The ATC would then use the money to build a new racetrack and training centre, completely redevelop Warwick Farm and Canterbury, plus improve facilities at Royal Randwick. There would be available funds to finally build that hotel at Randwick which would provide an alternative source of income for the ATC. The rest of the money could be prudently and wisely invested, earning interest for Sydney and NSW racing to financially future-proof the industry for decades to come. So, is it just me or does the April 3 vote seem premature? Shouldn't more time be given to explore the potential of the Rosehill sale proposal, decide on a site for the new racetrack and fully develop those plans, thus giving ATC members and industry participants more clarity on what the future may look like prior to voting? After all, if you are going to build a house, you want to study the plans first. The Rosehill sale proposal is a one-off. It's a decision that needs to be considered on facts not emotion. Proponents of both sides of this debate want more information and who can blame them? It would be a shame if the industry did not get the opportunity to be fully informed before voting given the enormous consequences of this decision. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ WITH news Melbourne's wonder filly Treasurethe Moment could be switched to the ATC Australian Derby, Hall of Fame trainer Clarry Conners reminded me of the extraordinary feats of his champion Research. During the spring of 1988, Research won the Listed Furious Stakes then reeled off wins in the Flight Stakes, Wakeful Stakes and VRC Oaks – but she was only just getting started. In the 1989 Sydney autumn carnival, Research won the Storm Queen (now Vinery Stud) Stakes then seven days later beat the "boys" in the AJC (now ATC) Australian Derby. The remarkable Research then backed up the following Wednesday and won the AJC Oaks – her third win in 11 days! • Vinery Stud Stakes tips, runner-by-runner form analysis Research finished the season with four Group 1 wins – the Storm Queen Stakes wasn't upgraded to Group 1 status until 1992 – but her extraordinary season resulted in her being awarded Horse of the Year for 1989-90. Treasurethe Moment, who has won the Wakeful Stakes and VRC Oaks this season, is on a six-race winning streak and is the hot favourite at $1.60 to win the Group 1 $750,000 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. If she was to repeat Research's unique treble, she would need to race on three successive Saturdays. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ELLA Hazel, one of Treasurethe Moment's rivals in the Vinery Stud Stakes, has an interesting pedigree. The filly's sire, Dundeel, won the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes in 2012, and her dam, Maid Of Heaven, won the same three-year-old classic in 2017. Vinery Stud Stakes hopeful Ella Hazel bolts in at Wyong on March 12. Picture: Bradley Photos • Shayne O'Cass's tips, race-by-race analysis for 2025 Tancred Stakes day at Rosehill Gardens ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ATC has announced its longstanding feature race partnership with leading breeding operation, Vinery Stud, has been extended for another three years. Vinery Stud has had the naming rights for the Group 1 three-year-old fillies classic, which has the registered name of the Storm Queen Stakes, since 2013. • Tancred Stakes tips, runner-by-runner form analysis ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ City Of Troy, the super colt Irish training genius Aidan O'Brien described as one of the best horses ever to go through his Ballydoyle stables, will join the Coolmore Australia stallion roster in the spring breeding season. A son of unbeaten American triple crown winner Justify, City Of Troy won his only three starts as a juvenile including the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, earning a Timeform rating of 125 as a two-year-old which is bettered only by the incomparable Frankel this century. City Of Troy then returned as a three-year-old to win three Group 1 races in 2024 including his outstanding win in the Epsom Derby and against older horses in the Juddmonte International where he broke the track record. He will stand at Coolmore in the Hunter Valley at a fee of $49,500. • EXPERT TIPS, BETTING STRATEGIES: Australian Cup, Tancred Stakes, Vinery Stud Stakes ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ THEY SAID IT "Treasurethe Moment will go to the Vinery and it will be interesting to see how she goes when she comes up against the Sydney fillies. Then we will look at potentially going to the Oaks although we haven't ruled out the Derby. We don't have her nominated for the Derby so we will need to see how she comes through the Vinery before considering our options." — Yulong's Vin Cox. "Treasurethe Moment going this way around might be different but she is very good, so we will have to be on top of our game to be competing with her there in the finish." — John Sargent, trainer of Powers Of Opal. "Everyone knows Ryan (Moore) is a world class jockey and we feel he's a good fit for Switzerland. Chris (Waller) is happy with Switzerland and we do have a lot of faith in this colt so the TJ Smith Stakes is a very important race.'' — Coolmore supremo Tom Magnier. "The Arrowfield (Sprint) is likely to be Autumn Glow's next start. She's only going to have a light autumn and I would say she will go for a break after that then we will look forward to a big spring from her." — Arrowfield Stud's John Messara. "Mazu's had two good toughen up runs and he finds a wet track. We'll probably lead from that barrier. He's a good old competitor, his form over his last couple of preparations has been very consistent." — Trainer Joe Pride. "She has pulled up well without having a blow and Chad (Schofield) is happy with her. He feels she is holding her form well and if she can improve a length, she should be too far away in the TJ next week." — Rob Archibald, co-trainer of Sunshine In Paris. "That run doesn't look to have taken anything out of him by any means. He's nice and well in himself over the last two weeks and has looked in good shape. I'm very pleased with how he is heading into the race." — Adrian Bott, trainer of Tancred Stakes hopeful Vauban.

16 more professuonal NRL teams in Australia. The point which seems to have gone through to keeper with you is that Rugby had to go professional in order to survive. The question should be asked why it is dying in Auckland? The issue there is Rugby is dominated by Secondary School Rugby which can attract thousands. But that's where it seems to stop.

Newitt humbled by Jenni journey www.racing.com With 33 Group 1s already on his CV, the hunger remains for jockey Craig Newitt as he looks to add to that tally aboard star mare Pride Of Jenni. It may have been a few years since his most recent top-level success, but heading into Saturday's G1 Australian Cup at Flemington, Newitt is confident Pride Of Jenni will be the horse to give him more. "It's been about nine years since my last Group 1 winner, so I'm starting to get very excited because I've got no doubt that she's going to deliver me another one," he said. "This is what we get out of bed for every morning at 4am, to find these sorts of horses and race at the elite level. "She's basically the banner horse for Victorian racing at the moment … to be associated with a champion mare like her, I'm very grateful and I don't take that for granted." A father of five, Newitt married partner Breaana in January, with his happiness off the track reflecting in his work. "We're in a very good place at the moment, I truly believe I'm probably riding as good as I ever have," he said. "One thing I was always taught, you never lose your ability, it's just in this game it's the opportunities that you get." WATCH: Hear from Newitt Newitt acknowledges Pride Of Jenni could be the one to bring further G1 chances his way. "If more doors open, (that's) more than welcome," Newitt said. As a parent, Newitt also recognises the sentimental importance the Pride Of Jenni journey holds for the Ottobre family, who lost their daughter Jennifer to a brain tumour in 2015. "To have five boys of my own, I couldn't imagine what they went through, so to be able to live the Jenni legacy with them, I'm sure with years and years down the track, we're still going to be talking about Pride Of Jenni," he said. The mare has also inspired his own boys to follow the sport more closely. "Not many of them were interested in it before Jenni came along, but my eldest one is starting to get a bit of Jenni fever, which is good and my seven-year-old is mad anything!" Newitt said. "It's very exciting and very humbling." Family also provides an important outlet away from the track. "I think every jockey needs a hobby, most of my days off it's either driving to basketball or football training," he said. "Even this Saturday, Jenni's not in until (Race) 8, so I'll be at my under-10s semi-final for basketball this week. It'll be a nice getaway for a while then, come lunchtime, we'll then tighten the screws down and hopefully get Jenni home." Newitt has already won two Australian Cups - in 2006 with Roman Arch and 2007 with Pompeii Ruler - but Saturday's edition holds a unique test, given Pride Of Jenni's running style. "She's one that you ride her, not the race," he explained. "A lot of times you've got to ride the race as well as your horse. I think you've just got to get her into her comfort zone, she cruises along at sectionals most horses can't travel at and sustain it." WATCH: Pride Of Jenni's Peter Young Stakes win