FeelTheFear

What's with Te Aroha on Wednesday. The last 8 of 11 races are over 1400m. Two are over 1200m and the first race 2200m. Any stayers around?

Yes KC tested positive to Hordenine. However, taken orally as in food it was not illegal. 8 other horses that week also tested positive and it was found that a feed merchant had added willow branches and leaves to the feed mix. Hordenine injected into a horse will increase heart rate and alertness etc but the effect only lasts 20 minutes. Orally, it has little effect. "Hordenine is an ingredient of some plants which are used as feed for animals, i.e. in sprouting barley. After ingestion of such feed hordenine may be detected in blood or urine of horses which in case of racing horses may be the facts of using prohibited compounds. Results of some experiments in pharmacological models show that hordenine is an indirectly acting adrenergic drug. It liberates norepinephrine from stores. In isolated organs and those structures with reduced epinephrine contents the hordenine-effect is only very poor. Experiments in intact animals (rats, dogs) show that hordenine has a positive inotropic effect upon the heart, increases systolic and diastolic blood pressure, peripheral blood flow volume, inhibits gut movements but has no effect upon the psychomotorical behaviour of mice. All effects are short and only possible after high doses which are not to be expected after ingestion of hordenine containing feed for horses. A measurable increase of the performance of racing horses is quite improbable." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8582256

La Figlia's breeding figures and her offspring weren't very flash. Too many missed, slipped or not served seasons. Perhaps that is why the family weren't bred to more adventurous sires?

From what I gathered in a quick search, horses owned or bred by the Austins from La Figlia. La Figlia was by Taipan II, owned and bred by the Austins. 5 starts as a 2yo/3yo, best was 11th. They bred 5 foals from her, she slipped twins first off and was not served or slipped foals (apart from her 4 live foals) 1982-1994. Named foals Donatella (Beaufort Sea), La Baraka (Balmerino), Delizioso (Palatable), Lantic (Antic Boy). The 5th foal by Antic Boy died 1994. Donatella raced twice for a 2nd and a 1st. Grant Cooksley rode. Bred 5 named foals. Tintorella (Kingdom Bay), Tofenella (Kingdom Bay) 1 win, Romanella (Waikiki Star), Duenna (The Jogger), Kiss Me Red (Carolingian). La Baraka 26 starts for 2 wins, 3 2nds and 6 3rds. Ran 5th in Listed Warstep Stakes at Riccarton. Bred 4 named foals. Vanitoso (Varikos) raced in Sing. as Air Bank, Four Gees (The Jogger), Mehrts (Varikos) raced in Sing. as Anteater, Deeday (Victory Dance). Delizioso owned by Ms T Cameron Lantic owned by Canterbury Stud Ltd. 6 starts, best finish 4th.

I don't know but from all accounts the drugs played havoc with you. Now being looked after by Her Royal Rubberness, Princess Blowup.

I thought the gates were closed on a Sunday. Someone needs to speak to the staff

I'm mardigras as well, I'm also curious and so is my mother

La Mer beat Uncle Remus in the 1978 International Stakes at Te Rapa, ending his 10 straight winning runs. Unfortunately, Uncle Remus was struck by a wind affliction and never won another race.

just a quick look... Olgiata had 3 producing daughters, La Balsa, dam of La Mer; La Figlia; Lucky Bid dam of G1 NZ Oaks winner Zepherin. Zepherin was dam of G2 winner Glenview (AJC Surround Stakes; STC Tea Rose Stakes) and granddam of Victory Magic (3rd 2016 Hong Kong Derby to Werther). Glenview bred G2 placed Lord Of The Pines and was granddam of G2 winner Zazzman who ran 3rd 2004 Melbourne Cup.

LA MER: Dam of Listed winner Cipriani. Granddam of G2 winner, G1 placed (The Oaks) Bahr; G3 winner Clerio; Listed winner Ascot Isle 3rd dam of G1 winner Nahrain (Belmont Flower Bowl Stakes); Listed winner Baharah Ancestress of G1 winner He’s Our Rokkii (Toorak Hcp); Listed winner Alamer; Listed winner Noogoora Burr; G1 winner Little Jamie - Marshall Spirit (HK) (Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes; Joint top colt 1999-2000 NZ Free Hcp) She is also 4th dam of Benbatl, winner of the G1 Ladbrokes Stakes on Saturday.

Jock Caddigan had nothing to lose and said catch me if you can. Despite slowing the last bit Kotare Chief ran a phenomenal time of 3:16.63. A time when NZ stayers were indeed true stayers.

This brings back memories Won 24 times out of 43 starts, as well as second 5 times and third 6 times in 1200m to 2400m. 1979 Horse of the Year and 1977 Filly of the Year in New Zealand.

Caulfield race 2: Duca Valentinois should have a strong finish. Violate at $10 (Bet Easy FO) will get back but expect a move before turn and can finish strongly.

Give him space...It's all about positioning, blinkers, the whip rule, who's trying, weight relief and class...then there is the races of course, will be very busy.

yea oh well never mind. Mr T will be in tomorrow to give a winner for today so I will be all square

cheers mate, have got $23 on Bet Easy

Last start 3rd in Listed race, add 20%. Shadow roll off, nose band on, add 5%. Tomorrow, add 30% if it has won

"That equates to around 14.2 lengths" Actually won't be that much if they are still travelling at speed. Wrote this during a Mr T moment where I had consumed half a packet of panadol and was blinkered by the moment

Bugger...bugger...bugger. Have spent my punting career looking at the stats with some success though not a millionaire or anywhere near. Then along comes mardi and curious and barryb who start spouting off about it being all about the individual horse. What the hell ya all talking about? Been mulling it over, playing with the idea, my brain started to hurt. Took a panadol. Read the other day that something like 80% of winners come from on the pace or just off it. Makes sense. Then I realised I couldn't really use it to refine my punting. What about the horses that win from behind? I'm as confused as Mr T's tips. Then it strikes me... I don't need to know that stat, does me no good whatsoever. All I have to do is research each individual horse to see how it runs positionally and where it performs best. Took another panadol... Then I decided that if I trusted the trainer to present the horse as best that he or she could, then I could leave the tactics, gear changes etc to them. Much easier. Then I decided that if I trusted the rider of the horse, then I would leave the riding to them. Getting much easier. That leaves just the horse to worry about. Does that make it easier? Perhaps. Then I thought about weight carried by the horse. I have decided that if there is any factor that makes it a positive factor to use, it can't amount to much. With the randomness of horse racing, these factors are only guess work. Losing a race by 1 length equates to around .14 secs over 1200m (even this is an average). A horse being held up in the straight might lose a couple of seconds. That equates to around 14.2 lengths. Randomness of events starts to even out these factors. Guess I just have a look at what the horse has carried before and over what distance, class etc. Taking that time factor further. How many times has a maiden horse lost a race by 10 lengths only to win next up? The difference is around 1.4 seconds. Improvement with further input (training/trials) from the trainer allows for this turnaround. Don't get me started on class of race....

that would be from his master class Mr (or Ms) Dwarf.

Jockeys are required to give a horse every chance to win. A slow pace with a sprint home may allow this for the leading horse. Other jockeys in the race can change the circumstances if it impinges on their ability to give every chance.

it's pure genius really.

excellent, I'll look forward to winning...or not (shhhh)

Yes that might work. OK, I have one for tomorrow that I am not betting on. Though I will have if it wins. Got it.

Thanks for that barryb, I was going to back tomorrow