Chief Stipe

A strong performance by Emily Margaret at Wingatui on Saturday could earn the stakes-winning filly a trip north to contest the Gr. 2 Norwood Family Wellington Guineas on March 16. The Kevin and Pam Hughes-trained daughter of Pins will line up in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes, and her connections have been pleased with her build-up. “She seems fine, she’s freshened up a wee bit,” Kevin Hughes said. “We have good paddocks here (Riccarton), so she went down to the paddock every day and just had a swim for a few days, with all these firm tracks, just to get the jar out of them a bit. “She galloped up on Tuesday and managing with a float trip under her belt she should be spot on for the day.” Hughes said riding tactics were the undoing of his filly in the Gr. 3 Desert Gold Stakes last month with jockey Samantha Collett entering a speed duel with Lisa Allpress, aboard outsider Miss Valencia, down the back straight, with the pair subsequently fading late. However, he was pleased with her last start runner-up performance over 1400 metres at Riccarton earlier this month, which Hughes said has readied her for Saturday’s contest. “She got murdered at Wellington with Lisa (Allpress) and Sam Collett going head-to-head,” Hughes said. “Next time she came out I said to Sanu (Toolooa, jockey) just to settle her. He did that very well, but I just don’t think the both of them saw that one (Taponisme) flashing down the outside. “It was a good run and it was good to get that one under her belt and hopefully it should have her back where she should be again.” Emily Margaret has had an extensive three-year-old preparation, which started back in September with victory in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes. Hughes is hoping his filly can add to that tally on Saturday. “She’s tough, nothing worries her,” he said. “She eats everything and she just progresses. She’s naturally a bit tubby, so that helps when you have got a big three-year-old season on you. “Robbie Hannam will ride her and she’ll settle in front, you can take her out if something has a crack. “She’s the highest-rated horse in the field and she’s best to just let roll and set her own pace and tough it out, especially coming up that bit of a dip at Wingatui.” Hughes is eyeing a return to Trentham next month with his filly if everything goes to plan on Saturday. “If she comes through the race well, then we will probably go and have a look at the boys in the Wellington Guineas,” he said. “That’s the plan, to have a good run there at Wingatui, hopefully we can win it, and then go up to Wellington. The travel doesn’t seem to worry her. She just gets off and carries on.” View the full article

So Thomaas have you been a wage earner all your life? Or are you living off the Capital Gains and "wise" investments of your family? We know you cant be living off your punting. How many Socialists will be at Cheltenham?

Defending title-holder Happy Clapper has been given top weight of 59 kilograms for the A$3 million Doncaster Mile, two kilos more than he carried last year and one kilo more than fellow eight-year-old Hartnell. The two are also Epsom Handicap winners over the course and distance, with Happy Clapper successful in 2017 and Godolphin’s Hartnell the winner last spring. Happy Clapper also ran second in the Doncaster in 2016 to Winx and was runner-up again a year later to It’s Somewhat. Trained by Pat Webster, Happy Clapper ran second to Winx in the Apollo Stakes on February 16 and will meet her again in Saturday’s Chipping Norton Stakes before heading to Melbourne for the All-Star Mile. Star colt The Autumn Sun is the highest-weighted three-year-old on 55 kilograms, six kilograms above the minimum for three-year-olds. In Sydney Cup weights also released yesterday, Melbourne Cup winners Almandin (2016) and Rekindling (2017) are the top two in the handicap with 58 and 56.5 kilograms respectively. Muntahaa, who ran ninth in the 2018 Melbourne Cup, is next on 55.5 kilograms, having been transferred from John Gosden to Lindsay Park. The Doncaster is on the first day of The Championships, April 6, with the Sydney Cup a week later. View the full article

A slot in the Everest is up for auction, with GPI Racing to offload the one it bought for Chautauqua. Auctioneer Inglis will manage the sale with those interested to submit expressions of interest over the next nine weeks. The successful bidder will act as ‘Slot Licensee’ (as referred to in the conditions of the race) from the date of completion of sale through to the date of payment of prize-money for the 2019 Everest. Greg Ingham’s GPI Racing was an original slot-holder and like the others, paid for three years. But with Chautauqua now retired, Ingham said the group had decided to make the slot available for this year with the 2019 edition worth A$14 million. “When we purchased our slot in the Everest, it was with a view to our champion Chautauqua competing in the race year after year,” Ingham said. “He is essentially retired, therefore we have decided to make the opportunity to be part of this great race available to someone else. “It is already an incredible sporting spectacle and we have loved being a part of it in its first two years and there is no doubting that the third renewal is going to be even bigger and better again.” Chautauqua finished fourth in 2017 but did not run last year. Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’Landys said he believed there would be “intense interest”. “It was always envisaged that the slots in the Everest would be tradeable,” he said. “Accordingly, we are happy that this part of the concept is being utilised as this adds even further intrigue to the race. “With prize-money of A$14 million, it’s potentially very good value for an owner of a horse that may be otherwise a fringe contender to get a start in the race.” View the full article

Hastings Race Scratchings R1: R2: 2 R3: 5,9 R4: 3,7,10 R5: R6: R7: 8 R8: 8 NZ TAB Meeting # 4 with the first of 8 races starting at 2:17pm Doubles: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 Trebles: 2-3-4, 6-7-8 Quaddies: 1-2-3-4, 5-6-7-8 Pick 6 starts on Race 3 with a Guaranteed Pool of $25,000 Track conditions: Dead 5 Weather: Fine […] Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Hastings Race Scratchings R1: R2: 2 R3: 5,9 R4: 3,7,10 R5: R6: R7: 8 R8: 8 NZ TAB Meeting # 4 with the first of 8 races starting at 2:17pm Doubles: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 Trebles: 2-3-4, 6-7-8 Quaddies: 1-2-3-4, 5-6-7-8 Pick 6 starts on Race 3 with a Guaranteed Pool of $25,000 Track conditions: Dead 6 Weather: Fine […] Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Two of Jack Harrington’s favourite girls are on their way back to the track, but don’t expect to see them out toughing it with the big guns this season. The young, up-and-coming trainer will begin the process of getting former Breeders Crown winner Renezmae back to the races after a long absence when she steps out at Wednesday’s Rangiora trials and open class trotting mare, Hey Yo came back into work last week after five weeks in the paddock. And for Harrington the sight of seeing them both back in full flight is exciting. “They’re flagship horses for me, so having them back around the place and in work is great,’’ he said. “They’re at different stages at the moment and we’re not rushing to get to anything with either of them at this stage.” Renezmae will step out in what will be the first of two or three trials for her before she heads back to the races having not been seen since the middle of last year. A good break in the paddock has worked wonders for the now four-year-old and Harrington said being able to give her that good break was a nice change. “We’ve been pretty busy with her since she was a two-year-old and she hasn’t really had that opportunity to get a good break,” he said. “But she’s had four months out and has come back in fantastic order, she’s really bulked up and I’m very happy with her work – she’s still a little bit round, but that will come off with a few runs under the belt.” With a 74 rating, placing the mare is going to be the hardest challenge for Harrington but he’s happy to potter around in the graded races for now. A race like the Four and Five-Year-Old Trotting Championship may come into reckoning should she exceed expectations in her return, but it was unlikely. Hey Yo was given a good break after her Auckland campaign in which not much went right, but Harrington isn’t that keen to get back up there with her anytime soon. “She just doesn’t trot quite as well up there; she went great races and most of them were in NZ records, but she’s better the other way around. “We’ll just potter around with her too and look to add to her credentials as a broodmare but there’s no real serious plans at this stage.” With his two trotting stars back in work and ticking along, Harrington is also working with a promising line up of two-year-old trotters. He’s got three engaged at Wednesday’s trials but has the most time for Musculature Metro, a Muscles Yankee colt who is a half-brother to Massive Metro. “We had to scratch him from Addington the other night because he’s got an abscess, but I think he’s the best of them at this stage.” http://media.harness.org.au/vic/MXM27081710.mp4 View the full article

Talented local filly Miss Labasa has been a big mover in markets for tomorrow’s Gr. 2 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes at Hastings. After opening at $18 on the TAB’s Final Field market for the $100,000 three-year-old fillies’ feature, the Swiss Ace filly has been tightened to $10. She is now the fourth favourite behind Imelda Mary ($2.70), Queen Of Diamonds ($3.60) and Sentimental Miss ($7.50). Miss Labasa began her career with three impressive victories, then took on the Karaka Million 3YO Classic at Ellerslie. After over-racing in the early to middle stages, she finished 11th. “She’s improved no end since her last start,” trainer John Bary told www.theinformant.co.nz “Her work’s been really good and she had an excellent hitout on the course proper last Friday morning. “We’ve applied blinkers and ear muffs, and she’s been relaxing beautifully in her work and really stretching out. “She’s drawn nicely in gate six tomorrow. If she settles in the running and sees the trip out, which I think she will, she should be right there at the finish.” View the full article

Transtasman trainer Mike Moroney will shoot for a fourth victory in the $1 million Gr. 1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on Saturday. Great Command (1996), Cut The Cake (2003) and the outstanding Xcellent (2004) are the previous New Zealand Derby winners for Moroney, who recently trained the 50th Group One winner of his career when On The Rocks took out the Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa. This year his hopes rest with the Ocean Park colt Arrogant, a last-start placegetter in the Gr. 2 Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa. “We thought it was a really nice effort in the Guineas,” Moroney’s New Zealand training partner Pam Gerard said. “He did all of the hard work in front and was stuck down in the worst part of the track, but he stuck on really well all the way to the line. “We’ve been very happy with him since the Guineas and he’s going into Saturday in great condition. “You never really know with the step up to 2400 metres, they’re all trying it for the first time, but the way he relaxes in his races and finishes them off gives us a little bit of confidence.” Arrogant will be ridden by Cameron Lammas and is rated an $18 chance in the TAB’s fixed-odds market. Surely Sacred is the $3 favourite ahead of Vernanme ($5.50), In A Twinkling, More Wonder and Sword In Stone (all $10). View the full article

Rags-to-riches filly Imelda Mary will be out to continue her rich vein of form when she contests the Gr. 2 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes at Hastings tomorrow. The Wayne Hillis-trained filly has been a revelation this term, winning three of her past four starts including a dominant last-start victory in the Gr. 2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic at Te Rapa. The Matamata trainer is pleased with the condition of the daughter of Ferlax, who he purchased for just $3,500 as a yearling and subsequently named after his elderly mother. “There has been a bit of improvement in her since her win at Te Rapa but we have just been maintaining her really,” Hillis said. “She’s up and fit and racing keeps ticking her over. “She is quite a tough filly. She has been to Christchurch and back for the Guineas and she had a little break after that but only a couple of weeks.” Imelda Mary, of whom Hillis shares ownership with family friends Chris Delamore and Ross Robertson, has been racing since August. The improving filly broke her maiden at Matamata in December at her 12th career start after six starts as a two-year-old, including a down-the-track performance in the Karaka Million. “We paddock train as soon as the weather is alright, so around the beginning of November right through till around the end of April, so they have plenty of time to relax,” Hillis said. “She always gave me the impression she would come up as a three-year-old. “I thought she was a three-year-old more than anything and I wasn’t going to run her in the Karaka Million but I wanted to give her a few runs for education. As we got closer to the race we thought she was going to make the field, so we thought we may as well have a go given the prize-money. “I have always been waiting for her to get up in distance because I thought she might show something but I didn’t know she was going to be this good.” Hillis said Imelda Mary would likely be ridden forward of midfield from barrier seven tomorrow. “At anything less than a mile she had no early speed to take a position and it has only been in her two distance races that she has got a bit handier,” he said. “She shouldn’t end up too far back from seven, but if she does end up back in the race she can come on from there.” Safely through the Lowland, Hillis said Imelda Mary would contest the Gr. 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks at Trentham on March 16, although that may not necessarily be her season finale. “She is nominated for the Australian Oaks (April 13) and all going well we will press on to there and that will be her final. We will just go race by race to see how she is handling it. It is only four weeks after the New Zealand Oaks so she wouldn’t need a run in between.” Hillis said Imelda Mary rated up with the better three-year-old fillies he had trained. “Final Destination won a couple of Group Ones including the New Zealand 1000 Guineas and this one isn’t far behind her, while Boulevardofdreams and Kainui Belle were also pretty good,” he said. Hillis said he was getting great pleasure out of seeing the filly named after his mother, Imelda, footing it with the country’s best three-year-olds. “She’s getting on and has got dementia now, so I thought I would name a horse after my mother and it is just fate that she has turned out good,” he said. “Dad trained and racing is all we did when I was born, so she has been in racing herself all her life and this is giving her a real kick along.” View the full article

Last year’s Auckland Cup winner Ladies First will continue on a path towards the Gr. 1 Sydney Cup despite finishing 10th in the Gr. 1 Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic at Otaki on Saturday. “The run was a pass mark,” trainer Allan Sharrock said. “We are happy the way we are tracking. She looks really well. She went super first-up (when sixth in the 1600-metre Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes) and they often throw in one like that, so I’m not too worried at this stage.” Ladies First will have one further start in New Zealand, the Gr. 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie on March 9, before heading across the Tasman to contest the Gr. 2 Chairman’s Quality at Randwick. “She’ll now go to the 2000-metre race at Ellerslie at weight-for-age, through that into the Chairman’s and then a week later the Sydney Cup,” Sharrock said. View the full article

Hong Kong favourite and dual Group One winner Pakistan Star has joined expat New Zealand trainer Paul O’Sullivan’s Hong Kong stable. The erratic galloper has been transferred from Tony Cruz’s stable, along with Pakistan Friend, following a decision made by owner Kerm Din. O’Sullivan is excited to have such a high-quality horse join his barn and is looking forward to targeting some Group One races this season with his new acquisition. “When it comes to Group One horses, I am a bit light at the moment so I didn’t hesitate at all,” O’Sullivan told the South China Morning Post. “It’s nice to have runners in the big races and he’s only six, so there is plenty to go with him. “He has been well followed, when he’s good he’s great but when he’s bad, he is disappointing. He is hard to get a line on. “I’ve got no plans for him at all, it’s only just happened, so I will have to look at what is coming up. He is a little bit hit and miss, so we will see how we go with him.” View the full article

Rule Number(s): 870(3)Breaking Horse RegulationsFollowing the running of race 7, the Sims Pacific Metals Mobile Trot 1700m an information was filed by Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr Mulcay instigating a protest pursuant to rule 870(3). The particulars of the information are that HEAVYWEIGHT HERO (placed 4th) galloped in excess of 150m over the early ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 870(3) Breaking Horse RegulationsFollowing the running of race 7, the Sims Pacific Metals Mobile Trot 1700m an information was filed by Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr Mulcay instigating a protest pursuant to rule 870(3). The particulars of the information are that WAR MACHINE (placed 5th) galloped in excess of 150m inside the final 400m ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 870(3) Breaking Horse RegulationsFollowing the running of race 7, the Sims Pacific Metals Mobile Trot 1700m an information was filed by Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr Mulcay instigating a protest pursuant to rule 870(3). The particulars of the information are that MAJESTIC ONE (placed 5th) galloped in excess of 150m over the early stages ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)Following the running of race 1,Valchi Downs an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638 (1)(d). The Informant, Mr Oatham, alleged that Mr Waddell permitted his mount EFFERVESCENT to shift in near the 250 metres when insufficiently clear crowding THE HELIX which was forced in crowding LOWRIDER which ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869 (3) (b)Following the running of Race 3, the Masterguard Pace Pace, an information was filed by Stipendiary Steward Mrs C Tibbs against Open Horseman, Mr L McCormick, alleging a breach of Rule 869(3) (b) in that Mr McCormick, when driving SHADOW DANCER, shifted outwards when not entitled to causing ONEDIN SMILER, ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Bettors Delight? They take time don't they?

I have some sympathy for the caretaker. They had nearly 25mls of rain on the Thursday and Friday prior to raceday. The 8mls the caretaker put on wouldn't have made a hell of a lot of difference. They hadn't had any significant rain in the previous 3 weeks. Imagine the uproar if the 18mls they got on the Friday was only enough to wet the surface and the races were called off after Race 1 because a horse slipped. All comes back to soil structure. If it's stuffed then you don't have any buffer either way. The 8mls probably helped rather than hindered. I don't think any of our tracks could take an inch of rain in the 24 hours prior to raceday without a downgrade. I agree Freda with regard to the dirty paddock and rough fence. Surely there are still some farmers on the committee that take pride in the appearance of yards and paddocks.

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Don't you think they tax us all enough now as it is?

If the Government needs more money to fund infrastructure then well and good. However it seems ludicrous to on the one hand reduce the real revenue earning side while taking more and more of a smaller pie. For example what impact does the virtue signalling decision to stop oil and gas exploration have on the economy and privately funded investment in infrastructure? One estimate is a $30 billion loss to the economy - even the Taxinda and her mob agree that it is north of $8 billion. So lets go set up another tax and hammer those who actually do invest in the economy and have built their own infrastructure. I don't disagree that there is a degree of equity in having a CGT but to use the revenue gained to fund more socialist policies is sheer folly. I see a corollary with the racing industry. Do you see any attempt by the Government to spend more efficiently and cut costs and so have more money to invest in revenue making infrastructure? Just like the NZRB.

My main objection it is yet another tax from a Government that is closing down revenue creation e.g. Oil and Gas in Taranaki.

But if the Art person buys a piece of artwork for $100k and sells it in two years for half the original purchase price (ok it was a bad piece of art) then should they be able to claim the loss as an expense?

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