Thomass

He became an even better Jock when he got Stu Laing on board as well... The first of NZ's Jockey managers he set the standard... And what an horrific injury he recovered from in Melbourne...

Exactly...without explaining your raisin de tear...moi does and doesn't expect 1000 pats and sycophantic hesi bow wows... My tipping record stands on its own...last 4 selections...2 tris a q and a winner...IN ONE Now believe me...if a neddy has been racing in superior class with distinction.....this directly relates to its superior chance in an inferior race...wtf knew? Nothing is more certain... ...the VALUE component then kicks in...especially in NZ conditions...When said superior performing neddy has been racing in UNSUITABLE circumstances... i.e. ISKANDER...recent racing on unsuitable wet tracks...previously an excellent 3L effort in an MAAT on a Premier day after being used up early from a wide draw...hitting the lead 300 out and weakening slightly...totally understandable Wayyyy over the odds mid weak at 30's Thats what you call investing on VALUE neddys with SUPERIOR form

Oh my..not you as well?? They have a term "facing da breeze" Believe me NOW...it's a NEGATIVE...mostly... The term is 'COVER' btw Obviously you haven't heard the mathematical term 'Pi' either Im adding up to 0.5 secs for 'Wide without Cover' and @ 0.25 secs for 3 wide Thats as standard...I also make allowances for overracing, unlucky, and slow outs et el Its what you call 'form analysis 101'...try it one day

Give us a brake! Pull grassi up for a change would ya....he's always calling moi every name under the sun...and you love it... Sometimes...na USUALLY always you seem to write whatever cooked into your noggin....without thinking Whats "FICTION" the closer slot...or the overarching fact bizzo??....can't wait

It's all under control koppa...ok? You have to admit though...that Winn has been simply amazing in the dock? When Tolley admitted she told every Tom Dick and her Sister Harriet about it...then the cleaner and the cleaners dog...just to make sure it got out...we knew who spilt ...although I nearly barfed when she admitted pillow talking her Hubby about it...can you imagine Tolley naked in bed without her war paint?? Yuck Let alone all of those Public Servants, with lifetime jobs, making sure the self righteous Knats get back in...by spreading rumour and innuendo ....just like you koppa

Maybe they're 'sun gods' waiting for the Transition of Mercury to pass before they're able to do anything useful?

Hallelujah brother...that's fine by me agreeing to disagree FINALLY... ...but don't you dear say EVER again that 'without cover' isn't a thang...ok?

As I say Bazz activated the 'imitation is the greatest form of flattery' thing of moi's BP... Ive banged him until the cattle comes home that City Oz form beats Keewee form every day of the week....especially that Star of the Seas form... Even your 'speed' stats would have confirmed that recent effort was SUPERIOR form back to INFERIOR class Its THE basis of ANY intuitive form analysis... I had VELADERO running 0.4 sec faster than anything else in that field and so it proved... As for this VALUE component...it's as basic as having milk with your cornies alors...it doesn't even need mentioning ...it's just that obvious to a punter with gravitas... ...and I've mentioned many times... when I identify VALUE I increase the Stake invested commensurate with each lengthened point... To the crux...and which separates you..a Sultan of Sophistry...posting 'selections' without informing your handful of sycophants...led by Hesitheshrew...of HOW you got there.. ...but patting yourself endlessly on the back....self flagellalating yourself and fellow Sultan wee Cee....silly and moi..EDUCATING the masses on how we get to ultimate glory and riches... not Bazz's "ignore the last 3 starts" and your "do the opposite and back the rail on a H11 at Whanganui" Which you called "seeking 'value" but was just the ULTIMATE crock of shit anyone ever did hear...

Of course you thought that...because you don't think...period 'wide without cover' is a thang...ok? Especially in Group racing where the pace is USUALLY on in big fields...and it's simply ridiculous to compare Harness racing..as you did...idiot There was no issue with going to the rail as he simply popped off it when he wanted... The fact was drawing a better marble would have allowed Opee a closer slot...and the overarching fact is that most races are won by those handy to the action... Suffice to say taking your own Jockey over is fraught with danger...locals know the idiosyncrasies of tracks and just general talk between Jockeys gives one knowledge on the day... Im betting the left that Opee would be left right out of any local knowledgeable discussion for the day... ...left to play on his device ...and talking to da wall

Yep...even Shorn Ritchie said... " how can we allow a whip to be used to make animals go faster" Then Mick Guerin...who by the way simply HATES this debate...and refuses to even acknowledge it... ...said..." oh last week when Shorn talked about the whip...Ive spoken to him and he didn't really mean what he said" Yea na Mick... wtf up...it's a 'thing' ok? But to the head thread and your question Koppa... Itd be very very easy...'yous make da rules and they abide by them' Restrict to 5 in total until a totes ban...heavily fined and suspended if 6/7 and other connections allowed to protest... ...any more than 7 and you're DQ'd Relly relly f in easy Koppa A G1 violation is just around the corner...it happened in the Telegraph this year but both 1/2 Jocks were guilty... Nabber McNab again...he's simply outta control this boy as well...needs a calm the f down lesson

Larney said he doesn't "crave the limelight" but in a weak moment he did for this beautiful life story... Work hard, play hard and you too can have a beautiful life... ...if you suk at life though...read this and vicariously dream how good it could have been if you hadn't been thrown off the rails through wine and woman and...rock n roll and party drugs...loser Lance and Bridgette O’Sullivan talk horse racing and wedding plans New Zealand’s Lord of the Reins, Lance O’Sullivan, and his wife Bridgette have found new passions beyond the heady days of Bollinger and BMWs. Words: Venetia Sherson Photos: Jane Ussher Lace O’Sullivan was 10 when he first set eyes on the property he would buy more than three decades later. He was on his way to Cambridge with his father, then one of the country’s leading thoroughbred trainers. They drove past Piarere in the Hinuera Valley near Matamata where, in ancient times, the Waikato River cut across the plains to the Hauraki Gulf. The river’s course now lies to the west, altered by the super-volcanic eruption that formed Lake Taupo more than 25,000 years ago, but its impressive legacy remains: a valley lined with towering bluffs of volcanic ignimbrite that dwarf the grazing dairy cows below. The grandeur of the stone cliffs entranced Lance (as it did Peter Jackson when he later chose the valley as the site for Hobbiton), but he was also captured by the beauty of a property reached by a long and grand steep driveway, fringed with cottonwoods. “I thought, ‘I’ll own that farm one day.’” He had a similarly prophetic moment when he met his wife, Bridgette. It was 1990, and they were both at a race meeting at Te Rapa Racecourse in Hamilton. Lance, then 27, was on his way to becoming New Zealand’s top jockey, and trainers were clamouring to have him wear their colours. On this day, he’d ridden several winners and as he was leaving the track he caught sight of a beautiful young blonde woman dancing alone on the grass beyond the birdcage. He was entranced. She explained she was a ballroom dancer, practising for a competition while she waited for her stepfather. Lance laughed, but he told his brother later that day that he had met his future wife. She was just 16. A few weeks after that meeting, the pair met again at a breeders’ award dinner. Bridgette says he gave her the glad eye. His version is she stalked him. They danced to the Blues Brothers and romance bloomed. But, while her family may have been impressed by Lance’s credentials at the racetrack, they were concerned Bridgette was still young and hadn’t seen the world. After she completed a two-year diploma in accounting, they organized a job for her with an electrical engineering company in Hong Kong. Coincidentally, Lance secured a contract to ride in the former British colony. They married in 1995. Bridgette’s passion for fashion came from her fur-wearing, elegant grandmother. She prefers simple style to frills, but she is partial to her Jimmy Choo stilettos. Twelve years and two children later, Lance’s second premonition came to pass. The couple bought the farm he had fallen in love with as a boy. The property, named Rockspring, sits high above the valley with 360-degree views, including the mauve-tinted Kaimai Ranges to the east and the wildlife sanctuary Maungatautari Mountain to the west. Hobbiton, a place of pilgrimage for hundreds of thousands of Tolkien fans each year, lies just beyond a hill. The 200-hectare property is a dairy farm with 550 cows, milked by farm managers. When Lance and Bridgette bought it, the original homestead had long gone, but there was a century-old red barn that once served as a livery for stagecoaches, a heritage-listed school (no longer in use), plus wide-girthed oaks planted by early settlers and kahikatea trees. There was also a splendid expanse of prime pasture. Piarere sits plum centre between Cambridge and Matamata, New Zealand’s equivalent of Kentucky, where thoroughbred champions are bred and raised to run. In this part of the country, Lance O’Sullivan’s name is still said with reverence, even though he retired from riding winners 16 years ago. Bridgette says that without a main house (there were two farmhouses on the property), it was a blank canvas. Their architect drew up plans for a beautiful south-facing hilltop home, but when she was away one weekend, Lance phoned to say, “We’ve turned the house around.” What he meant was that they had worked out a way for the house to face north by recontouring a large part of the hill beneath it. Not surprisingly, there are many horse-inspired objects in the O’Sullivan home — equine sculptures and paintings, plus pictures of Lance at the peak of his career. One room is taken up with trophies won in New Zealand and international race meetings. Another is filled with ribbons won by the couple’s daughters when they rode ponies. The hilltop house mirrors the grand scale and colours of the valley below, where massive rocky bluffs trace the former path of the Waikato River. There are wide windows, wide corridors and tall doorways. Bridgette says Lance is impetuous and persistent. “I’m a big picture person. I like to plan. Lance likes to jump in and do stuff.” Like the time he and a couple of mates knocked down the wall of the red barn after a chance remark by a guest that it would be an excellent place for weddings. More stories you might like: Andrea Bosshard talks about filming her father Kobi Bosshard for the new documentary Kobi a Life Work A striking aspect of the house, in addition to its elevation, is the size of the doors through which even basketball export Steven Adams would not have to stoop. “It’s in case we grow,” says Lance, who is jockey-sized and still weighs 55 kilogrammes – little more than his riding weight. Bridgette, also petite even in her highest Jimmy Choo stilettos, says he often forgets to eat. The main hallway is wide and paved with Italian limestone tiles. That’s not pretentious, but practical. Two dogs have the run of the place, and they have scratchy toenails. One of them, an exuberant golden cocker spaniel pup named Freddie, arrived three months ago and has still to win over Austin, a stately long-haired dachshund who has been a pet for 13 years. Austin went into a steep decline last year when his former companion, Jack, a labrador, died. Freddie was bought to cheer him up. “They’re getting better with each other,” Bridgette says. Racing consumed the couple for more than two decades of their married life. When Lance was at his peak, they were at a racetrack somewhere in the world most weeks. In 2005, Bridgette, who also has a racing pedigree (her grandfather was a bookmaker and her stepfather a trainer) was appointed an ambassador for Ellerslie Racecourse, a role she held for five years. She says it involved talking up the industry which, by then, was in decline. Her wardrobe, unsurprisingly, is still filled with elegant race-day dresses (“no special labels”) and hats, 80 pairs of shoes (“Lance counted them once”) and Gucci and Chanel bags, which are her weakness. For Auckland Cup week alone, she needed five outfits. But she’s just as happy in ripped jeans and a sweater. Her life now is entirely focused on the Red Barn wedding and function centre, which she and Lance began 10 years ago. The former livery where stagecoach drivers changed sweat-drenched horses for fresh steeds, has been given a modern makeover, but the original building is its heart. Bridgette has always enjoyed throwing parties and having guests to stay. The idea of hosting weddings appealed. “I love seeing people have a good time. It seemed like a good fit.” There were 71 weddings last year, plus other events, which means her pace of life is hectic. If a staff member falls ill, she is happy to step in. The couple’s two daughters, Georgia, 20, and Caitlin, 22, who are at Victoria and Waikato Universities respectively, also work at the venue during the holidays. The sisters love the racing industry, and Caitlin helps out with social media at Wexford Stables. Both are petite like their parents, and they were skilled riders when they were younger. Would the girls have ever considered being jockeys? “Not negotiable,” says Lance. “I don’t dislike my kids that much to let them do it.” What he means is, the life is tough, and the rewards these days aren’t great. It is said that top jockeys are born to ride, which gives them an edge over the thousands of journeymen who never make the premium grade. Lance had the pedigree, even before he rode his first pony. But his father discouraged him from hanging around the stables, probably because he knew the life was tough. “The family was pretty poor back then,” Lance says. “There were four kids under five. I remember a wheel once falling off the family car.” More stories you might like: How the couple behind Manurau built a thriving quail egg business from scratch He originally wanted to become a lawyer (“they had sports cars and good-looking girlfriends”), but once he started to work for his father, he was hooked. When he told his mother, Marie, who died in 2015, that he wanted to be a jockey she said: “I don’t mind if you are a garbage collector as long as you are the best you can be.” He didn’t let her down. His track record is impressive even by international standards. It includes 12 premierships and 2478 wins over his 23-year career. In 1989, he won the famed Japan Cup in world-record time on Horlicks, still one of his favourite mounts, along with Mr Tiz, the only horse to have three consecutive wins in the Railway Stakes, the country’s premier sprint race for thoroughbreds. He says some horses stand out. Something old, something new. The Red Barn, where stage-coach drivers once rested their sweat-drenched hoses, is now the venue for more than 70 weddings a year. “They are old warriors. If you go to war, you want to be on one of them.” For two decades, he was the country’s leading rider; no one has come close. When he retired, aged 39, he said there was nothing else to prove. He puts his success down to resilience and the ability to perform under pressure. “You have to be mentally tough. You also have to be a bit of a mongrel. Good guys never win.” He used to have a bumper sticker saying, “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose… until you lose.” During one race, when he dropped his stick (whip), he snatched another jockey’s. “It was never picked up. Back then other jockeys would never tell tales on each other.” But he has another side that has contributed to his success. “I love horses and have huge respect for them. A horse has to know you before it gives its best. I’d always take the time to pat them before I got into the saddle. Many jockeys don’t do that.” Memorabilia from colonial farming days rubs shoulders with an ultra-modern catering kitchen. The wedding business was started 10 years ago, when the couple’s daughters were at school, and Bridgette was an ambassador for Ellerslie Racecourse. “We didn’t get much sleep, she says.” Today, he still rises at 3.40am (“It used to be 3.35am, but I give myself a lie-in these days”) and heads to the stables and racetrack 10 minutes down the road where he watches ambitious young apprentices put horses through their paces. But, at 55, he’s looking to the future when he can spend more time working on the property. He inherited his mother’s love of gardening and sees his role as a caretaker of the land for future generations. In 1986, when he bought his first property, there was a single “dirty old pine” on a hill. He thought, “how can I improve this? So he began planting trees. He’s now planted more than 12,000 on properties he’s owned, including english oaks, dawn redwoods, kauri and kahikatea. At Rockspring, some trees are 600 years old. “I’d like to be remembered as the old guy who planted trees.” He’s also brought back bird life by declaring war on rats and possums. “When we bought this place there was no bird life. There was a beautiful stand of kahikatea, but it was deathly silent.” Recently he spotted seven kereru (wood pigeons) in a single tree. More stories you might like: Wood entrepreneur finds eco niche Bridgette and Lance look back on their early days of racing with affection, but not nostalgia. In the golden days, when the industry dripped with high stakes, Bollinger and BMWs, they were the perfect figureheads: he, New Zealand’s Lord of the Reins; she, the sport’s glamorous ambassador. She still remembers winning her first Fashion in the Field in an outfit she designed herself made from a Versace fabric. “I wore a hat that had a sort of antennae at the front.” But they don’t crave the limelight or flaunt their success. There is no helicopter parked on the lawn that stretches to a ha-ha with vast views of the valley. Bridgette once took part in something called Celebrity Wives, which she says was embarrassing. In 2005, she and Lance won Treasure Island: Couples at War. (Bridgette says they won because Lance is competitive; he says it was because Bridgette could hang upside down on a trapeze and remember hieroglyphics.) Lance was also asked to do Dancing With the Stars, which he turned down. “We live pretty disciplined lives,” Bridgette says. She says when he decided to quit riding, she was pleased. She worried dreadfully about injuries, especially if she wasn’t at the track to see him ride. When 500 kilogrammes of horseflesh stumbles and falls, the jockey rarely walks away unhurt. Lance has broken almost every bone in his body, including his femur. But she loved the loved excitement of the winner’s circle. The day before the interview, she turned 44. She and Lance went to the annual racing awards where Charles Road, a five-year-old bay gelding trained at Wexford Stables, won Stayer of the Year. She says: “The thrill never disappears.” MR AND MRS RACING: THE O’SULLIVAN FILE Where it started: Twenty-eight years ago when he saw her practising waltz steps at the race course. She says: “He laughed, but he told his brother he would marry me some day.” He says: “I thought it was funny seeing her dance. I also thought she was different from other girls I had dated.” High times: In 2006, Lance was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. Bridgette was the ambassador for Ellerslie Racecourse. Lance was later also inducted into thE Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2002 was awarded an ONZM for services to thoroughbred racing. Tough times: In a fall at Moonee Valley in Australia, Lance broke his femur. He was told he would never ride again and would walk with a limp. Bridgette was pregnant with their second daughter. He was back in the saddle within 18 months. Little known facts: He played junior rugby at Matamata College for three years because he could never pass the grade weight. She has a photographic memory, which helped them win Treasure Island: Couples at War in 2005. Lance’s thoughts on the racing industry: “It’s not the same today. Top horses and jockeys are heading overseas. Today 60 per cent of horses racing in Hong Kong are New-Zealand bred, but in the top tier, only 10 per cent are from New Zealand. However, I’m an optimist. If the industry does everything recommended in the report by Australian racing expert John Messara, things could be turned around.” BRIDGETTE’S TIPS FOR HOSTING A WEDDING • The success is in the detail. Every aspect has to be thought through. • Try not to say “no” to anything. It’s their special day. We once had a Ferris wheel on site. • Mitigate against anything that could go wrong. If there is a power cut, I have a generator on hand. • Fireworks are wonderful, but in summer on a farm, it’s too risky. • Flying lanterns look beautiful, but if they all end up on your neighbour’s property, you need to re-think. • Most memorable wedding: A bride who was a wonderful singer arranged to have a white grand piano near where they took their vows. After she walked down the aisle, she played the love song A Thousand Years. It was amazing. I still have it on my phone.

Such a shame MB had the horror draw though... ...Opee had to drop back instead of going forward being caught without cover.... ...and that was 2/3 clicks too far back to stay within bombing distance...of a very handy Mare who got the purrfect run...

Fraud...pffft Thats a 'punter' who encourages others to find 'value' doing the opposite to all other punters... ...like you and Bazzo encouraging poor f'ers to find it down in a Whanganui BOG rail Total bogheads

OH whoop de Doo.... You really are a Batchelor with no Princess wasting my time on crap like this eh? I prefer to work off the more user friendly Racing Vic site where they had no blinkers listed... ..ours of course was also inaccurate in saying Blinkers were on again... Reminder to moi...never trust websites again...and simply ignore your anal dissertations... ...the fact remains....Superior Sydney City form beats Sth Island/North Island every time... ...paste that on your ass

In this case it wasn't Asvin's fault but a very senior Jockey with a poor record Submission For Penalty: Mr Williamson said that Mr Jones had 3 previous breaches under this Rule in the last 12 months from 148 race day rides and said this was an average record. He said there was a little bit of movement from DE KONING but Mr Jones put Mr Goindasamy in restricted room which resulted in a fall. He referred to the JCA Penalty Guide which recommends a starting point of 4 weeks for careless riding causing a fall. He said there were no aggravating factors but some mitigating factors. Mr Jones said that any proposed suspension could start immediately. He advised the Committee that it took him 1 hour to decide to plead guilty to the charge. He said he would have liked another opinion but wanted the charge heard today. He asked the Committee to take into account the mitigating factors and added that when he shifted in he thought there was room to do so. Reasons For Penalty: The Committee carefully considered all the evidence and submissions presented. When reviewing the video footage we observed that Mr Jones looked to his inside when shifting inwards in a gradual manner. We found that Mr Jones permitted his mount to shift in 1 horse width when only 1 length clear of JUST TREASURE. As a result that runner was placed in restricted room, clipped a heel and blundered dislodging Mr Goindasamy. The consequential effects of the fall was that 4 trailing horses made contact with Mr Goindasamy. It was extremely fortunate that the injuries Mr Goindasamy suffered were not more severe given the circumstances of the fall. We note that following the incident which occurred shortly after the finish line on the first occasion the race was abandoned due to further safety concerns after Mr Goindasamy was unable to be moved. The obligation and responsibility is upon Mr Jones in that a horse crossing another horse must be at least its own length and one other clear length in front of such other horse at the time of crossing. This Rule is designed to protect the safety of horses and riders which is paramount. In our opinion the movement from DE KONING was very minor and we adopted the view that DE KONING did not contribute to the incident. In addition TIPPING POINT was racing in a 3 wide position and we were fully satisfied that it did not contribute to the incident. It was significant to note that when the fall occurred there was a clear gap between DE KONING, KATIE PERRIE and TIPPING POINT with all runners racing free from interference. The JCA Penalty Guide starting point for careless riding causing a fall is 4 weeks which we adopted. We deemed Mr Jones’ record to be substandard for a senior rider. We base this on the fact that this was his 4th careless riding breach from only 148 rides in the last 12 months. This is an aggravating factor.

Some of those plonkers were surely raised on plonk? This is a very good reason to bring back compulsory Military training for lost souls... ...assholes in their case

We all know you CANT read but you're taking the piss with this ...surely? I said Blinkers On...not First time....it hadn't raced in Blinkers in its last 5 starts at least...before coming here... The oustanding 3rd on unsuitable ground 6 starts ago.. was behind STAR OF THE SEAS... ...who, a few starts later finished 4th in the G2 Tramway and 3rd in the G1 Epsom Thats winning form back to the Sth Island with a number of gear changes Pitty recognised he needed... Even Bazz could see Sydney City form like that was OUTSTANDING The other reason these Aus superior form horses are so under bet is due to the fact they've not built up a following over here... ORAKEI OVERLORD being another case in point... Dont EVER query me on Gear again... ...you're completely at sea with anything to do with form analysis let alone gear

Oh my...missed this tripe ..what's this have to do with Babby? The BP is actually FORM ANALYSIS 101...a complete and utter mystery to you and not so Curiously...Bazz... Superior MAAT races on Premier Day...agin actual race winners...back to mid weak...after running superior times in superior races... wtf knew it could be so easy? Like VALADERO on Saturday? Ive bent your lugs until they're red raw with the spanking about this AUSTRALIAN form is SUPERIOR to ours..as Nth Island form is to Sth...as Japan form is to all Sth Hemisphere form... V's superior Sydney City form was recent...Pitty chucked the Blinkers On and along with the change of scenery it was like a new horse after arriving here...very unlucky 6 days previously...on the quick back up...another of moi's niches WTF knew Sydney City form is superior and that horses ain't robots and enjoy a CHANGE of scenery...and gear?? wake up

One of the worst falls I've ever seen...and simply miraculous he came out alive let alone minimal damage... Theres no doubt things have improved with NGH on Board now....then you've got Walsh down South... ...but without an establishment like Sth Africa's Apprentice School its always going to be a risky business... more so than it needs to be...

QUIET you mean Fish? Poor Opee even got asked the question 3 starts back about his soft cock ride... ...it's been the quietest lead up of all time and it's a wonder Vella puts up with being associated with such a 'quiet' fellow owner... ...who insists on being 'quiet' if you know what I mean?

Maybe Pitty got into Millsy's ear and told him to leave watering out...or else? Its one of his bugbears...but what a day they had!

Imagine! Its a life lesson though holy... ..some peeps accept actual HORSEMEN...know wtf they're doing... ...other 'horsestatsmen' try to tell the Pros they don't know squat... ...and don't know what their neddys require..to make said neddys 'go faster' Its called 'arrogant twatsmen'

https://mobile.twitter.com/Racing/status/1192294395506094080

What he says.... “I think it should be water off a duck’s back, you shouldn’t worry about it.” Retiring jockey and VJA Chairman @StephenBaster weighs in on jockeys getting trolled on social media. 1:15 8.1K views

Oh that... They say Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery And you really did that when you followed moi's Blue Print at TA Recent MAAT form back to mid weak... ...and BLINKERS ON first time on a Maiden who had previous form at TA... Both Blue Printers...it was a momentous day on the punt...as almost every day is Next time can you insert SOURCE: THOMAAS at the bottom of 'your' tips..when they're really mine thanks