Yes that is unfortunate and hopefully youre wrong about the sore horses, not sure how they could win though aiming to present a G4 to start the day with.
It'll be a typical of an NZ race they'll throw huge sums of money at it when they could have got the same field for far less, sounds like they'll be depending on the Aussies to spruce it up quality/interest wise.
Doesn't align to their beliefs is a funny way of putting isn't or can't win races for them, where is all the Opie is the best in the business spewed forth after every win in the Tangerine over the past decade or more?
Sharrock has coped it also from many quarters as he is walking out the door.
I don't think he is anywhere near as bad as some we have had recently and he has had a helluva a mess to walk into also.