Chief Stipe

There'll be lots of aftermaths.

The point I was making was she had that rating BEFORE today's Group 2 win i.e. are 3 Group wins in a row.

Advisory group call after pattern woes www.racing.com The appointment of an advisory group providing a crucial quality control mechanism could prove the answer to Australian racing’s pattern woes, in light of a recent ruling by the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) to not recognise black-type upgrades for 17 NSW races. It was confirmed in an article at the weekend by ANZ Bloodstock that the ARF had rejected the black-type upgrades for the 17 races, of which 15 have already been run and won in NSW. These include pop-up races such as The Gong, The Hunter, the Big Dance and the Five Diamonds and a juvenile race the Golden Gift, which was won by the current second favourite for the Golden Slipper Stakes in the colt North England. The implications of the ARF rebuke are already serious when considering the inflated or deflated value of the horses involved in the races and the matter of weight penalties and ratings to be carried into future races. Notably, some other states in Australia other than NSW have not taken into account these supposed 'black-type' wins and placings across the 15 races when assessing future handicaps and ratings. Racing Victoria’s chief executive Aaron Morrison said while competition laws meant it was impossible to return to previous pattern committees within Racing Australia (RA) determining black-type races, he suggested an advisory group could be set up. “I think without there being some kind of pattern committee quality control committee, it (the new Australian black-type guidelines framework) is ultimately going to be difficult to be supported by Asia or by other international bodies,” Morrison said. “We have unique challenges in Australia. We have a federated model where every state regulates racing. Under Australian competition laws, we could be deemed to be in competition with each other. “However, we are contemplating how there could be some sort of role for an advisory group outside of RA to play a role in the process. It can no longer sit within RA anymore because of the competition law issues, so it needs to have an independent element. “It would need to be advisory and influential only and we think there is an important place for it. “It is very challenging. On one hand, we’ve accepted the legal position around competition law issues with RA, so we can’t just go back to what it was. “We understand the reason why it had to be made more objective rather than subjective because of the perceived issues.” “But we still think there is an opportunity working with eminent industry figures that could have an advisory role to play in terms of overseeing the quality control of black type whilst RA and PRAs (Principal Racing Authorities) maintaining responsibilities in terms of decision-making of race day and the conditions of each race. “Those are decisions that can only be made by PRAs and RA.” Racing NSW has not commented on the ARF ruling, so has given no indication as to whether black-type status will be withdrawn from the final two of the 17 races in question. These races are the Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m), which had been slated for upgrading from Group 3 to G2, at Rosehill on March 29, and Gosford’s The Coast (1600m) on May 10, which had been scheduled as a Listed race.

Just shows you how screwed the ratings are for age group horses. Leica Lucy rated 77 after winning 2 Group 3's and 1 Group 2.

Depends if it was in the contract. It isn't always.

I'm sure Wightman will flick her 10% of the sale price which is the norm - will he not?

Not him.

I don't disagree it isn't a sensible move. However in terms of stupidity slagging off all and sundry bordering on slander doesn't seem that bright to me. But in this game people flip flop when it suits.

I didn't think I took a "pot-shot" at Wightman but then some are more sensitive than others. I was just highlighting the irony with a tad sarcasm! Hell from what I've heard if you posted a quarter of what Wightman has been writing on FB on the other channel you'd be gone...or would you?

Probably and I'm sure Lindsay would facilitate that conversation better than the other owner!

No brainer really. If the horse is anywhere near as good as some are saying then it won't be racing in the South Island again so it makes sense to sell to someone that is going to facilitate the horse getting the best opportunities here and in OZ. If it isn't up to the top level then he still wins for obvious reasons. It appears the irony of the outcome passes some by - for most of the last 3 months Wightman has been on FB slaying the very people he has sold half to.

You didn't watch her first two races then?

Well she has been racing since September albeit one race a month with two in February. Contrary to some naysayers that Slot field has a fair bit of class in it and it is the type of race where there are no prisoners. Essentially there is no where to hide. Plus if she doesn't get to the front the track might trip her up.

Note the change of colours too.

I guess when money is involved you sell your soul to the devil...or as Wightman calls them the OBC!

Yes and the one in the race is a reasonable chance as well.

Feroce - Super Seth x Corinthia (O'Reilly) 1st. Savaglee - Savabeel x Glee (O'Reilly) 2nd.

It's official @Huey there is something wrong with you. The ATR CEO Paul Wilcox said so. Basically he said if you weren't excited about Champions Day at Ellerslie - "there is something wrong with you"!

Not that it should make any difference but given what the owner has said on social media I wouldn't be surprised if the electronic egg timer is set to 90.0000001 seconds.

Wightman has NEVER hurt me - sticks and stones might bruise me but never name calling or personal abuse from someone I've never met. I have no "hurty feelings" - I do get pissed off with the likes of Wightman who denigrate all and everyone and then run for cover. Good luck to his horse. Geez at least Molloy would front up and have a go. Wightman just hands I his license.

We get what you think of the race but you are becoming boring. Do you have a different record?

Moroney dreamed of 2000 Cup win www.racing.com Mike Moroney's name will be forever found in history as a Melbourne Cup-winning trainer, but Moroney also furthered Cup folklore like few others with the win of Brew in 2000. Most Australasian-based trainers grow up dreaming of Melbourne Cup glory, but it was not a matter of mere daydreaming or wishful thinking for the popular Kiwi horseman, as he woke one morning in 1998 trying to make sense of the night's events. In a dream, he saw a horse called Brew win a Melbourne Cup by two lengths, carrying saddlecloth No.24. What he found immediately strange was that the jockey was wearing a black cap with Moroney's stable colours of pale blue and black sleeves, instead of the traditional red cap. Brew, who found his way into Moroney's stables the following season after a failed overseas sale, only won his way into the Melbourne Cup field in 2000 via his Saab Quality (2500m) victory three days earlier. There for all to see in Melbourne Cup publications around the world were his jockey's Cup colours of pale blue, black sleeves and a black cap. As it had turned out, Moroney's Victoria Derby winner of the previous season, Second Coming, was considered the best hope in the 2000 Melbourne Cup and so his jockey was given the red cap to wear. He ultimately finished third, with the Jack Denham-trained Yippyio splitting the Moroney pair. Brew carried saddlecloth No.24 for his young jockey Kerrin McEvoy and he won by two lengths. WATCH: Brew's 2000 Melbourne Cup win

Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Michael Moroney dies www.racenet.com.au Australia's greatest jockey Damien Oliver has led the tributes for "gentle giant" Michael Moroney after the Melbourne Cup-winning trainer died in his sleep on Thursday morning. The popular horseman, a stalwart of Victorian and New Zealand racing, won the Cup with Brew in 2000. Moroney last year defied a battle with serious illness to make a training comeback. The prolific Group 1 winner was at Caulfield last Saturday to witness Coeur Volante win the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes. • Michael Moroney opens up about the three ‘bullets' he dodged Moroney's Ballymore Stables confirmed the sad news on Thursday. "Michael not only had a special knack with horses, but with people," Ballymore posted on Facebook. "He was loved and respected by his staff, his owners, his beloved partner Karen and his family. "He will be remembered for his kindness, his willingness to share his time, expertise and his passion for the sport of horse racing. "He was a wonderful father and very proud grandfather, a member of a tight-knit family and circle of friends. He was a much loved member of the racing community and an outstanding conditioner of horses with a host of Group 1 wins, premierships and well deserved awards." Michael Moroney celebrating Brew's Melbourne Cup win in 2000 with jockey Kerrin McEvoy and part-owner Paul Moroney. Picture: Colleen Petch Oliver, the 129-time Group 1 winner who retired in 2023, linked with Moroney for many big race successes and Group 1 triumphs. But it was the man himself rather than the trainer who Oliver will remember most fondly. "Mike was just such a lovely bloke, I would describe him as a gentle giant," Oliver said. "He was just such a terrific fellow. "We had a lot of success together, a lot of it was due to our connection with (owner) Rupert Legh. "Mike's forte was generally with the stayers although he could certainly train any type of horses. "We had a lot of success and good times together. "When Mike set a horse for a big race, he was really good at that sort of thing." Three-time Melbourne Cup winner Oliver had his last Melbourne Cup ride in 2023 and it was for Moroney. Alenquer finished 21st in Oliver's swan song Melbourne Cup ride. As recently as 2017, Oliver had ridden a Group 1 winner for Moroney when Tivaci scored the All Aged Stakes in Sydney. Oliver said his favourite elite wins for Moroney came on Sarrera, who won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Group 1 Doomben Cup in 2008. "Sarrera was a good horse and so was Tivaci and they are a couple of horses that I won Group 1s on for Mike that come straight to mind," Oliver said. Damien Oliver with Michael Moroney at Randwick in 2008 when Sarrera won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Hall of Fame trainer John Hawkes described Moroney as a "real gentleman". "I had a lot to do with him at Flemington, he was just a good bloke and a wonderful trainer. It's very sad," Hawkes said. Prominent breeder John Messara said his passing came as a shock. "I'm shattered. I've always found Mike to be a nice bloke, very easy to deal with, and he achieved so much as a trainer," Messara said. "I was only talking to him yesterday (Wednesday) as we have Plymouth running on Saturday. I couldn't believe it when I heard the news.'' Trainer Gai Waterhouse said Moroney was loved by everyone. "Adrian (Bott) and I send our condolences to the family of the late Mike Moroney who passed away today. A great man and a trainer loved by all,'' Waterhouse said. – more to come – with Ben Dorries and Ray Thomas

Yeah I know that's the case especially stayers. I was just making the point that if you wanted to scam the Stipes for the barrier cert then there were a number options. Ultimately thought that could bite you in the arse. I assume Ears Back will be having a good gallop Saturday morning and a dose of Regumate.

I don't think they are delicate flowers at all but a good gallop can quieten a horse down. Otherwise why don't you give them a good gallop every morning?