Rusty

Very open race for mine. Here you go Dougie, current odds from the NZ TAB....

Greg Miles has to rate a mention here. However there is no need to mention any "Magnolian" Caulfield Cup winner (I'm sure we are all thinking it), but everyone makes mistakes and everyone can have an off day. For overall consistency, accuracy, tone and ability to paint a picture with words, he has to rate as one of the best to call a race.

Final field odds currently $34s and $6.00 with the NZ TAB. C Ferg has a good record with the horse having a win and a second in April.

Thanks for your words of wisdom. Do we go the tote or take $4 final field?

Interesting and very valid point made Brodie. The marketing/promotion for the Jewels didn't cut it this year, despite this aspect undoubtedly being a significant expense. It missed the mark and didn't get the message home to non-racing people. The marketing geniuses with degrees etc had the right intention and implemented a wide coverage of billboards etc but the point was missed on the potential customers. As a comparison, rewind back to 2003 and the Inter-dominions held at Addington. The marketing and promotion for that was brilliant. Non-racing people knew what it was about, it generated interest within the mainstream public and dragged a few new faces to the track.

Dead right, that's what it is all about; the bragging rights over ya mates! Provides a bit of banter during the comp. I got 3rd last year and 4th this year. Wasn't expecting to be that high up after the Jewels day that I had.

Great competition and concept. Adds a bit of interest to the racing. Best of all it's free to enter. Well done Mr Tapper, collecting the $1,000 pressie card and Jewels Merchandise pack! Great effort. Last year with the Dream Team (super stable) competition (that ended on 31/12/19), it was won by M.W. Love. Get involved next season folks, I'm sure you'll all get some fun out of it, maybe even a prize. There are prizes down to 5th place in the comp.

Hit the nail on the head mate, thought exactly that too. I didn't think that was within the rules, to pop out like that and not improve... but I may be wrong.

Love it when the Blair stare comes out.

Down on the marker pegs may not be the best place to be, depending on how much rain has fallen. Many of the Blue Army would be prepared to sit parked for however long they need to, and still go on and win. Princess Tiffany, Turn It Up, Elle Mac and possibly One Change; could all sit parked, still win and it would be no surprise.

It doesn't look like "everyone" has been scared off at all.

Honestly, I don't want this to sound like a bloody informercial but.... Never met or had anything to do with SLB2.0 before seeing this thread. I encourage everyone thinking about joining up to an overseas betting agency, to have a wee look and go from there. Even if you back losers you will not be disappointed. Now it's turning into an informercial! I now have two different accounts in Aussie and can't speak highly enough of them both. Just unfortunate that I no longer support the NZ TAB as much as what I used to...but you've got to look after yourself first, and they must stop taking their existing clients for granted and treating them with contempt. Thanks SLB2.0 your efforts are much appreciated. Just in time for the Jewels weekend.

$3.60 (Final field place) is good coin in the last for number 1 Katchalight.

How could you of all people, leave out race 2, number 7?

They wanted to consult with the owners and the bloody punters! Get out there and get on with it.

Hit the nail on the head Newmarket. Soft.

And the Jewels too.

Who on God's earth watches the 6 o'clock news these days?! All seriousness, this horse is the real deal and if he can step, and IF (an even bigger IF), Lamb doesn't bugger up the start, UMC will make things very interesting on 12 November...

Someone placed a $10 bet on it.

New HRNZ website is arse. So much more scrolling and generally harder to navigate than the previous version, which was brilliant. When fields first come out for a meeting, you want to have a quick look at them; it was so fast and easy to do on the old website. Not now. Christ knows why they wanted to change something that wasn't broken. And then change it for something worse than what they had. Not to mention the coin they paid for it. Just another nail in the coffin.

Always a bit of a lottery; a standing start trot. But had a soft trip and finished well.

Desert Wings at $14's and $4.2 FF is good value in the first race.

Had the exact same thoughts last night Harewood... you could not have worded it better. Surprisingly I have not seen any similar view point being expressed in any media as yet. Being a few blocks away from the horrible scenes yesterday when it was playing out and with kids in locked down at school, it certainly is huge wake up call to everyone when it is right in your backyard.

Heard M Purdon talk about Machete on the radio today. Sounded like Friday night's race at Auckland is D day. He is far from confident, and reading between the lines this could be his last start for the stable.