Chief Stipe

Heavy track conditions at Te Rapa could help star Wairarapa hurdler Zedeedudadeeko shoot for two big… (RSS generated with FetchRss)View the full article

Chris Waller will supply five of the seven horses to line up against Chautauqua in a special barrier… (RSS generated with FetchRss)View the full article

At the end of the day is swap you Winx for Kingston Town.

I went to a Catholic school and was educated by the Sister's of Mercy. Now there's an oxymoron in there somewhere.

Bollocks. Why not be the World's best at all three? We used to be for at least one of the three codes.

They need an AWT......... to F up.

I must add though "bring it on" isn't sport and an online forum about debating this stuff? As a West Coaster/Cantab I'm normally resigned to debating which Canterbury or Crusader team was the best of all time.

I assure I'm not a 20 something even though I have a skill at IT! My introduction to racing was in the late 60's - thanks Dad! Was on track to see Showgate, Empire Rose and others through the years. Saw more Harness champs in the flesh again thanks Dad. I've seen a lot of good races on TV or listened on the radio. Sunline, Kingston Town, Dulcify (was a favourite and a tragic loss), Altitude, Bonecrusher, the sprinter era of Copper Belt an co. I could go on. I like numbers and detailed stats. What I've seen from firstly Black Caviar and now Winx is incredible bordering on phenomenal. In my opinion Aussie racing is Wild West no holds barred. I think the last horse we produced that took it to them was Dundeel. I had hopes for Turn Me Loose. Anyhoo! What Winx is doing in today's environment is incredible. No other horse has done it. Are the rest mugs?

I heard that Kingston Town used to have special barrier privileges is that not correct? TJ is like Gai - they either survive the training regime or they break down and don't race. I believe the racing is more consistent and harder now than it was in the era of the champions you mention. Well in Australia. NZ it is the opposite!

Form guru Gary Crispe says super Winx can get even better RAY THOMAS, The Daily Telegraph August 20, 2018 9:39pm CHAMPION Winx has been unbeatable for over three years — but maybe the best is yet to come. Form guru Gary Crispe said it is conceivable Winx could still be improving after her outstanding return to racing at Royal Randwick last Saturday. Sydney’s super mare scored her 26th consecutive win — a national record — when she won the race named in her honour, the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m). Crispe analysed Winx’s win and has revealed the great mare returned a Timeform rating of 126, which is her second highest figure for a 1400m race. “I think this was one of Winx’s best first-up wins, certainly one of her best over the distance,’’ Crispe said. “There was a definite track bias to the inside last Saturday where the likes of (runner-up) Invictus Prince and others came through which only added to the merit of Winx’s effort.’’ Crispe revealed the highest Timeform rating Winx has returned at 1400m was her 128 rating after winning the Apollo Stakes last year. “Winx used that win to springboard to her peak Timeform rating of 134 in the George Ryder Stakes last year when she defeated Le Romain and Chautauqua by more than seven lengths,’’ Crispe said. Hugh Bowman and Winx take out the Winx Stakes in sensational style on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images “She also went to a 134 rating winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes earlier this year so the evidence is there that she is still racing at a very high level.’’ Trainer Chris Waller said after Winx’s win last Saturday that there was still improvement in the great mare fitness-wise, which suggests she is in for another dominant spring campaign. Crispe said although Winx is now a seven-year-old she is capable of improving her peak Timeform rating of 134 and move closer to legends Kingston Town (137) and Black Caviar (136). Jockey Hugh Bowman returns to scale after guiding home Winx to her 26th consecutive win. “I think anything is possible with Winx. You can’t underestimate her,’’ Crispe said. “Even though she is a seven-year-old mare she could still be improving.’’ Waller doesn’t want to over-race Winx this spring, suggesting she will be restricted to just four races culminating with the $5 million Cox Plate on October 27. Winx may not race again for a month with Waller nominating her next run as likely to be the Group 1 $500,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 15. If Winx wins the George Main, it will be her eighth consecutive Group 1 win, equalling Black Caviar’s record or successive major race wins.

Reefton I don't disagree that each of those horses you mention were champions. However the passage of time sometimes embellishes our memories. Take Kingston Town for instance you mention the number of "hard races" that he and others used to cop as if to say that Winx's has had a softer passage to greatness. I don't agree. In my opinion the last 26 races that Winx has won have not been "easy races." I wouldn't have minded owning anyone of the horses she has beaten (even Consensus!). She has so far raced 36 times for 30 wins and 3 places. Kingston Town's record was 41 races, 30 wins and 7 places. Not all of his race wins were "hard." Winx can only beat what turns up and if I had a good horse I'm not sure I would want to break his or her heart by pitching up to beat her. Hartnell springs to mind in that regard. As for Winx "not travelling" you forget that in those days the "big money" was overseas. Why travel when you can amass more than AUS$20m in stakes? Why take the risks? Yes Horlicks and Sunline travelled - they had to afterall they were NZ based. Kingston Town didn't like travelling much out of Sydney! I agree with your comment that Waller is a champion trainer. I don't believe that Winx is as easy to train and keep sound as her race record suggests. Racing the Sydney way round her action doesn't look right but I guess it could be her style and it certainly seems to work. Her sectionals on a wide range of tracks are phenomenal. What impresses me most about Winx is her race smarts. I know some retired jockeys will jump up and down when I say this but Hughie seems to only be on for the ride. She knows where the winning post is and seems to ignore the jockey nearly all of the time. Judging by how she sweated up after the Warwick Stakes when she ran 1:22.5 after a 32 second last 600m against the bias I'd say we have yet to see the best of her.

Rule Number(s): 869(2) and Whip RegulationsMr Renault, Stipendiary Steward, alleged that Mr O’Reilly used his whip on more occasions than permitted in clause (b) of the Use of the Whip Regulations on his drive FLYINGMASTERWILLIAMS in race 2, the PGG WRIGHTSON/ PICK & SHOVEL WINE PACE. Rule 869 provides as follows: (2) No horseman shall during ... (RSS generated with FetchRss)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(2) and Whip RegulationsMr Renault, Stipendiary Steward, alleged that Mr Williamson used his whip on more occasions than permitted in clause (b) of the Use of the Whip Regulations on his drive on TWO PLY in race 8, the GLAMOUR HOOVES RACING STABLES KUROW CUP. Rule 869 provides as follows: (2) No horseman shall during any race ... (RSS generated with FetchRss)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)Following the running of Race 8 (Sportz Bar 2060), an Information was lodged by Mr Goodwin stating that Apprentice Jockey D Hirini allowed her mount REVOLUTION to shift outwards when not sufficiently clear of CORNERSTONE which was checked. Mr Goodwin played the films and showed where Ms Hirini took the ... (RSS generated with FetchRss)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(2) and Whip RegulationsMr Renault, Stipendiary Steward, alleged that Mr Smith used his whip excessively prior to the final 400 metres within cl (f) of the Use of the Whip Regulations in race 9 the AIRPARK CANTERBURY TROT. Clause (f) of the Use of the Whip Regulations provides: “The whip must not be used excessively prior to ... (RSS generated with FetchRss)View the full article

Rule Number(s): NoneFollowing Race 8 (Sportz Bar 2060),a protest was lodged pursuant to Rule 642(1) by Mrs Allpress alleging that horse number 9 (REVOLUTION) or its rider placed 1t by the Judge interfered with the chances of horse number 7 CORNERSTONE), placed 2nd by the Judge. The information alleged interference in the ... (RSS generated with FetchRss)View the full article

Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase winner Justa Charlie has been side-lined with a tendon injury. (RSS generated with FetchRss)View the full article

Metric-mile features have become the focus for talented Manawatu galloper Shadows Cast. (RSS generated with FetchRss)View the full article

Trainer John Bell has withdrawn early favourite Julius from Saturday week's Gr. 1 Tarzino Trophy at … (RSS generated with FetchRss)View the full article

The next step for champion racehorse Lazarus has been confirmed with connections of the two-time New… (RSS generated with FetchRss)View the full article

Caulfield Cup-winning mare Jameka has been retired and will head to the breeding barn. (RSS generated with FetchRss)View the full article

This debate seems very similar to one I remember labelled "Black Sardine".......

Given what we have been drip fed so far about AWT's can't we pre-empt what is in the report to support them?

BOAY members - please post your questions that you would like Winnie and Messara to answer next week at the announcement. BOAY will forward them to both presenters prior to the announcement.

BOAY members - please post your questions that you would like Winnie and Messara to answer next week at the announcement. BOAY will forward them to both presenters prior to the announcement.