Taku Umanga

Seen it happen at Manawatu, but this is the first time that I can recall the non-win pacers needing the support of the lower rated winners to make up a field at Alexandra Park. What a sad state of affairs we have in the North at the moment! Race 2 [6:09pm] ALABAR MOBILE PACE $14,500, NON-WINNERS & UP TO R51 WITH COND., 2200m Racebook Gear Preferential Grid For 3 yrs & older pacers with no wins for lifetime. Also R40 to R51 horses with winning stakes up to and including $8800 for lifetime. Preferential Barrier Draw Based on: Winning Stakes using the track grid. In addition to the programmed winning stake the HRNZ $1,500 non-winners first totalisator winning stake enhancement will be paid. Book Form Age Sex Name Rating Draw Hdcp Driver Trainer 1 3 f Letherhairdown MR50 1 Front Sailesh Abernethy Miss A M Matthews 2 5782 3 g Sheffield Sparky MR48 2 Front Derek Balle D M Balle 3 3320 3 g Phil Bromac MR49 3 Front David Butcher R W Green 4 34369X 4 g Just Wing It MR48 4 Front R W Green 5 3095X8 3 g Pekeson MR47 5 Front Todd Macfarlane D W & Mrs C McGowan 6 789010 4 g Xmas Bay R47 6 Front Maurice McKendry M J House 7 X00255 4 m Motu Little Princess R50 7 Front Andre Poutama C C Sharpe 8 193956 3 g Peter Forsberg R50 8 Front Jay Abernethy J H Abernethy ---------------------------- Second Line ---------------------------- 9 88X285 7 m Lady Santanna R40 9 Front Rhys Fensom Mrs P N Fensom 10 319X97 5 g Better Than Most R51 10 Front M H Salaivao 11 626433 5 g Bugalugs R46 11 Front Peter Ferguson C F Webber 12 264629 6 g El Capitan R44 12 Front Ms C M Wigg

They have charged them - it's not the cops that are dragging things out.

In what way? In my opinion the RIU are merely fulfilling the role tasked to them by the Racing Act. When the original exclusions were overturned the JCA told them to come back when they had access to the Police disclosure, which the RIU duly requested but the accused refused to provide - why is that? Surely if, as extolled by some on here, there is no substance to the charges faced, the accused should have happily handed over the requested information.

Why wasn't Elle Mac's driver charged with careless driving?

Solid point - I'm guessing they know there is enough in there to enable the RIU to convince the JCA that they should be excluded from racecourses .... and with the likely length of proceedings, it would be "season over" for them.

Terrible judge - calls the result at the top of the straight and more often than not wrong!

But unfortunately they don't offer to give the owners the driving fee back ......

VINTAGE CHEDDAR - held up for clear racing room for the majority of the home straight. Stewards questioned driver B Williamson regarding his decision not to improve his position during the running. Mr Williamson explained that the gelding had raced lethargically throughout, especially between the 800 metres and the 400 metres, which was uncharacteristic and he attributed this to the horse having its first start on a grass track. Mr Williamson added that the horse had performed best when driven with a sit so was reluctant to race wide at an earlier stage, especially without cover. He added that he had intended improving outwards on the final bend however SON OF LANA had shifted outwards ahead of him and he felt that horse was under pressure so elected to persevere with an inside run as he would have been forced to improve extremely wide on the track. After considering Mr Williamson's explanation, Stewards were satisfied his tactics were not unreasonable in the circumstances and took the matter no further.

I blame the heat! Best I get back to work ......

Whoops

Last year's fields were larger due to a minimum stake of $9k per race. This year four of the races are for $7k, four are for $8k and the cup for $10k (down from $12 or $14k last year). It's a long way from the larger north island horse population and travel / accommodation costs make the excursion hard to justify. Am surprised M House and the other southerners have made the trip, but assume they may stay up for the Manawatu meetings on May 12 and 14. The whisper is that the Kapiti club is wanting to merge with Manawatu - it wouldn't be hard to imagine that if they don't this meeting may well be the final curtain for them.

Not sure, but I know I had runners there in 2016 and again in 2017.

Not quite true - I had horses race there in 2017 .....

Wasn't that whip ban rule revoked?

Can anyone cut and paste this story? https://theinformant.co.nz/riu-seeking-to-exclude-trio-of-drivers-once-again/

Back on topic - I couldn't fathom this fine after watching the video ..... JIMMY CANNON - raced wide early stages. When questioned regarding the improved performance Trainer/Driver D Keast advised that the gelding had broken during the running two starts ago when fresh up from a spell. Mr Keast added that the horse had not disappointed him in its most previous start after working hard in the middle stages and finishing in a close up position. Given this Mr Keast was not surprised by its efforts today, Mr Keast was fined the sum of $350.00 by the JCA for using his whip outside of the provisions of Clause (c) of the Use of Whip Regulations when using his whip in an uninterrupted manner in the middle stages.

115 for the centenary meeting (with noms left open) so far - more than I thought they'd get. 151 for the grass at Te Aroha ...... doesn't that let the club know what owners and trainers prefer!

..... and since when was Cambridge known as "The Bridge"? Come on Craig, think you've been listening to Aaron too long!

Geezus! ?

Tell Tell that to John Kriechbaumer ......straight up guy on a very average horse - amateur driver gets hammered but the professional get zilch! J Kriechbaumer (HIGHVIEW JUSTICE)[Rule 868(2)] - Failed take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure horse given full opportunity.Suspended from 05/01/2019 until 31/07/2019 inclusive.

I bet ..... NO

Maybe he'll be treated like this amateur driver from Cambridge last week: J Kriechbaumer (HIGHVIEW JUSTICE)[Rule 868(2)] - Failed take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure horse given full opportunity.Suspended from 05/01/2019 until 31/07/2019 inclusive.

Think that was because it was trying to run but wasn't allowed to - certainly went to the line well.

Not that I'm an expert, but think I would've taken the opportunity to drop into the trail behind Sharknado rather than heading for the lead - I know she would've struggled to out sprint the pacers going toward he line, but reckon that may have been the better option than using her up early.

I think he works at Auckland Airport