You wonder why people don't like having a punt down South. The course was presented in great order. The weather played its part, the crowd turned up, so why was the Riding of such a low standard?
A total of 6 riders were given suspensions: 5 National Days and 1 rider got 6 National Days.
One charge I believe should have been upgraded to Dangerous Riding and that was Kauri, I had an investment in Blue Goddess and was given a nice run until Kauri decided that he had been 3 wide long enough and pulled the left handlebar down and wiped Blue Goddess out ,she dipped with the jockey almost being dislodged, this was shit that i did years ago and like i was handed with the applicable rule.
Now this horse was wiped out of the race, so the owner has float and training fees to get the horse to the races.The punters who made it a favourite had thrown their money down the drain.Punters can only take so much rubbish.
Now this 5 National Day suspension is rubbish.Kauri gets 5 National Days included Gore,Ashburton and Taupo,i don't believe he would be going to 2, maybe 3 meetings, so should he not advise what Trainers he was going to ride for and get supporting evidence that this fact and if incorrect charge the Trainer and Jockey, just seems a rort to me and look at the SI based jockeys and they fall into this bullshit as well.It is window dressing at best, attempting to show strength, but in fact it is WEAKNESS,being shown by both the Stewards and the RIU and if that what the rule says, change the rule to show real strength and Integrity.
Now on a positive note, a rider who I believe is underrated, Corey Campbell, was on Trackside Radio and went through his rides and he labeled Our Approval as his best, even though after the Blue Goddess debacle, i was not going back to Southland to punt when you have Aussie underway, but as he is a rider i rate i backed it along with 3 punting mates got plenty, and he rode it like a professonial and gave it the PERFECT run.