Murray Fish

I watched a interview last week where John Francome (HOF Jumps Jockey) shared your view strongly. Noting that the whip should be carried only for safety reasons only! Improve the bred to have horses that want to try hard at the end of a race! He also had a strong opinion about horse that will not load! If a trainer can not present a horse that goes into the starting gates then they should not be accepted into the race! Giving examples of the O'Brien's.

oh Dear me!

explain?

Follow up question. "can we try and see how many horses that he has brought that have then gone on to be a Stallion?" Excellent question. Tracking how many of David Ellis's yearling purchases become stallions is a great way to measure the success of his investment strategy, as creating a commercial stallion is one of the highest-return outcomes in the industry. Here is a detailed analysis, breaking down the process and listing known stallions sourced as yearlings by Ellis. ### **The Challenge & The Method** It's impossible to give a single definitive number because: 1. **Volume:** He's bought well over 1,000 yearlings in his career. 2. **Time Lag:** A yearling bought today may not retire to stud for 4-6 years, and its success as a stallion takes another 5+ years to judge. 3. **Definition:** Do we count only successful, commercially viable stallions? Or any horse that stood a season? Therefore, the best approach is to identify the **notable, commercial stallions** that were **originally purchased as yearlings by David Ellis**. This highlights the "peak" of his strategy. ### **Key Stallions Sourced as Yearlings by David Ellis (Te Akau)** The following are stallions that began their careers as yearling purchases for Te Akau. Most were raced in the famous **Te Akau Shark/Diamond/Stars** silks. #### **Currently Active/Notable Stallions:** 1. **Savabeel** (Redoute's Choice - Savannah Success) * **Purchase:** 2003 NZB Karaka Premier Sale, **Book 1** (Lot 143). Bought for **NZ$210,000**. * **Achievement:** Arguably **Ellis's greatest ever purchase and the cornerstone of his strategy.** Champion 3YO, multiple G1 winner. Now the **dominant sire in New Zealand** (leading sire by earnings for many seasons). Proves the model: buy a top colt, win G1s, create a sire dynasty. 2. **Super Seth** (Dundeel - Super Strawberry) * **Purchase:** 2018 NZB Karaka Book 1. Bought for **NZ$130,000**. * **Achievement:** Champion 2YO, Caulfield Guineas (G1) winner. Now standing at Cambridge Stud in NZ. 3. **Cool Aza Beel** (Savabeel - Miss Delighted) * **Purchase:** 2020 NZB Karaka Book 1. Bought for **NZ$400,000** (a joint-venture with Brendan and Jo Lindsay). * **Achievement:** Won the New Zealand Derby (G1). Standing at **Waikato Stud**, his success is a direct product of Ellis buying a top Savabeel colt. 4. **Noverre** (Savabeel - Imposingly) * **Purchase:** 2019 NZB Karaka Book 1. Bought for **NZ$260,000**. * **Achievement:** G2 winner. Now standing at Hallmark Stud in NZ, another son of Savabeel purchased by Ellis. 5. **Prowess** (Proisir - Donna Marie) * **Purchase:** 2021 NZB Karaka Book 1. Bought for **NZ$100,000**. * **Note:** A rare **filly** purchased with the clear intention of becoming a broodmare/possible stallion prospect. She won multiple G1s (NZ Oaks, Vinery Stud Stakes). While fillies don't become stallions, she represents the "broodmare" side of the same investment strategy and will be a hugely valuable breeding asset for the Te Akau/David Ellis breeding empire. #### **Important Historical/Former Stallions:** 6. **Darci Brahma** (Danehill - Grand Echezeaux) * **Purchase:** 2004 NZB Karaka Premier Sale. Bought for **NZ$170,000**. * **Achievement:** Champion 2YO and 3YO, multiple G1 winner. Had a successful stud career at Waikato Stud, siring Group 1 winners. A classic Ellis success story. 7. **King's Chapel** (Flying Spur - Floral Hall) * **Purchase:** 2004 Magic Millions Gold Coast. Bought for **A$160,000**. * **Achievement:** G1 winner in Australia. Stood at stud in NZ and Australia. 8. **Mufhasa** (Pentire - Iguazu's Girl) * **Purchase:** 2007 NZB Karaka Festival Sale. Bought for **NZ$57,500**. * **Achievement:** An incredible bargain. 10-time G1 winner, champion miler. Stood at Rich Hill Stud. ### **Analysis: The "Stallion Creation" Success Rate** * **From the list above, we can identify at least 7-8 clear, commercial stallion successes** (Savabeel, Darci Brahma, Super Seth, Cool Aza Beel, Noverre, King's Chapel, Mufhasa) that were yearling purchases. * However, this list is **not exhaustive** and doesn't include: * Stallions who stood briefly with limited success. * **Current 3-4 year old colts** purchased by Ellis that are almost certain to become stallions. For example: * **Millane** (2021 Karaka purchase, NZ$400,000): Champion 2YO, by Savabeel. A certain future stallion. * **Molly Bloom** (2022 Karaka purchase, colt): By Savabeel, G1-placed. A likely stallion. * **Velocious** (2023 Magic Millions purchase, A$900,000): By I Am Invincible, a fast 2YO. High stallion potential if he wins a G1. ### **The "Syndication for Stallions" Model** Ellis's modern strategy often involves buying elite colts in partnership with a **Stud Farm**. For example: * **Cool Aza Beel** was bought with Waikato Stud. * Many top colts are now bought with the **Brendan & Jo Lindsay's Cambridge Stud**. This de-risks the purchase price and guarantees the colt a berth at a major stud, making the stallion outcome more likely and profitable. ### **Estimated "Success Rate"** * **Annual Purchase:** ~60-80 yearlings (across NZ & AU). * **Colts vs. Fillies:** Roughly half are colts/geldings (~30-40). * **Stallion Prospects:** In a given year, maybe **5-10** of those colts are purchased with clear stallion potential (high pedigree, athleticism). * **Ultimate Outcome:** From each annual crop, if **one** becomes a commercially viable stallion like Cool Aza Beel, it is a huge success. If one becomes a **generational sire like Savabeel**, it pays for a decade of spending. ### **How to Research This Further** 1. Search for **"Te Akau bred Stallion"** or **"[Stallion Name] Te Akau yearling purchase"**. 2. Use the **Pedigree Query** website or **Arion.co.nz** (NZ based). Look up a stallion like Savabeel; its "Sales History" will show David Ellis as buyer. 3. Read **end-of-season reviews** from TDN or NZ Racing Desk, which often discuss the stud futures of retiring Te Akau stars. **Conclusion:** While the exact number is fluid, David Ellis has directly sourced and developed **at least 8 major commercial stallions** through his yearling purchases, with the **$210,000 purchase of Savabeel** standing as a transaction that reshaped the New Zealand breeding industry. His current model is systematically designed to repeat this success every few years.

(doing diligence, something that I recon is hard and harder to do in the Racing Industry..) In a recent post is was mentioned about TA success as this sort of thing! I thought I would throw a couple of questions into Deep Seek. Q1: David Ellis Yearling Buying Research Guide I need to research the buying of yearling thoroughbred horses brought at yearling sales in nz and au, I am interested to see how many horses and how much that David Ellis has spent? Of course. Researching the spending of David Ellis, particularly at the Australasian Yearling Sales, is a fascinating topic given his dominance in the market. Here is a structured breakdown of how to approach this research, along with known data and trends. ### **Executive Summary: David Ellis (Te Akau Racing)** David Ellis, the principal of **Te Akau Racing** (NZ), is consistently the **single biggest buyer at New Zealand's premier yearling sales** (Karaka) and a major player at select Australian sales (notably Magic Millions Gold Coast). His spending is a barometer for the top end of the Australasian market. ### **Key Sources for Your Research** 1. **New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) Karaka Sales Results:** The primary source for NZ data. Their website has comprehensive archives. 2. **Magic Millions Sales Results:** For his Australian purchases. 3. **Inglis Sales Results:** (Australian Easter, Premier) – Ellis is active here, but typically less so than at Karaka and Magic Millions. 4. **Racing Media:** Sites like **NZ Racing Desk**, **TDN (The Thoroughbred Daily News)**, **Racenet**, and **BloodHorse** publish annual sale wrap-ups that almost always feature Ellis's total spend and key purchases. ### **How to Find the Specific Data: A Step-by-Step Guide** * **For Recent Sales (Last 5 Years):** Search for articles titled **"Te Akau Dominates Book 1 at Karaka"** or **"Ellis Again Top Buyer at Magic Millions."** These articles always quote his total spend and number of lots purchased. * **For Historical Data:** You may need to compile data year-by-year from sale result archives or older news articles. ### **Quantifying David Ellis's Spending: Recent Trends & Figures** The numbers fluctuate yearly based on crop quality and racing goals, but the pattern is clear: **multi-million dollar annual investment.** #### **1. At New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Sales (Auckland, NZ)** Ellis's spending is most concentrated here, primarily in the premier **Book 1** session. * **Typannual Spend (Book 1):** **NZ$10 million - NZ$20 million+** * **Typical Number of Horses:** **40 - 60+ yearlings** * **Recent Benchmark Examples:** * **2024 Karaka Book 1:** Ellis was **Top Buyer**, spending **NZ$12,395,000** on **44 yearlings**. This included the sale-topper for NZ$1.3 million. * **2023 Karaka Book 1:** Spent over **NZ$14 million** on 50+ lots. * **2022 Karaka Book 1:** Spent **NZ$18.86 million** on 55 lots (a record-breaking year). * **Context:** He often buys **~25-30% of the entire top lot (Session 1)** horses. His strategy is to secure the best-bred colts (potential stallions) and fillies for Te Akau's massive racing operation and to sell shares in to large syndicates. #### **2. At Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale (Australia)** This is his key Australian sale, where he targets ready-to-run types and commercial pedigrees. * **Typical Annual Spend:** **AUD$5 million - AUD$15 million+** * **Typical Number of Horses:** **15 - 30 yearlings** * **Recent Example (2024):** Te Akau was the **2nd Leading Buyer** by aggregate, spending **AUD$13,055,000** on **22 yearlings**. This included the sale-topper for AUD$2.5 million. * **Note:** He often buys in partnership here (e.g., with trainer **Ciaron Maher**). #### **3. At Inglis Australian Easter Sale (Sydney)** He is selective but targets elite, classic-winning prospects. * **Spending:** More variable. Can be **AUD$2 million - AUD$8 million** on a handful of elite lots. * **Example (2024):** Purchased 3 yearlings for **AUD$4,050,000**, including a Savabeel colt for AUD$1.7 million. ### **Strategic Analysis: Why He Spends This Much** 1. **Vertical Integration:** Te Akau is a **racing powerhouse, a large syndication business, and a breeding operation**. Buying top yearlings fuels all three. 2. **Syndication Model:** Ellis sells shares (often 40+ owners per horse) to fund purchases. The success of horses like **Melody Belle**, **Imperatriz**, and **Probabeel** drives demand for shares. 3. **Stallion Creation:** Securing top-colts (e.g., **Cool Aza Beel**) aims to create future stallions for Te Akau Stud, creating a long-term revenue stream. 4. **Sheer Scale of Operation:** Te Akau has stables in New Zealand (Matamata) and Australia (Cranbourne), requiring a large, constant influx of quality stock. ### **Estimated Aggregate Spend (Last Decade)** While a precise total is complex to calculate without compiling every sale, a conservative estimate: * **Average Annual Spend (NZ & AU combined):** **NZ$25+ million** * **Estimated Decade Total (2014-2024):** **Well over NZ$250 million** ### **Recommendations for Your Research** 1. **Start with Media Summaries:** Search for "**Te Akau yearling sale spend 2024**" and work backwards year by year. 2. **Use Sales Company Archives:** NZB and Magic Millions have "Sale Results" sections where you can search by buyer name ("Te Akau Racing" or "David Ellis"). 3. **Look for Patterns:** His spending often spikes in years following major sales race successes (e.g., after winning the Magic Millions 2YO Classic). **In conclusion, David Ellis operates on an industrial scale unseen in the Southern Hemisphere. His annual yearling outlay consistently places him among the top 3 buyers across Australasia, with a clear strategic focus on the very top of the market at Karaka and the Gold Coast.** For the most accurate figures for a specific year, target the post-sale articles from the racing media outlets listed above.

Often a very competitive race, only 7 staters this year.

I recently donated some historical photos to a Club! From the last meeting I went to! I posted (gave away) some photos of that Day! 60,000+ views...

??? lol, did a big stable forget to nom? when was it meant to close?

gee, that ozzy fella???? who works at the pickle factory would have got excited with that result! I recall he was big of nz sires and their ability to throw some nice jumpers!

I recall a World Record in the Telegraph one year! The joke was that 'old bill' (forget who the person was) had yet again been slow clicking the start button!

what name you went by? for me, one I had, was 'abit roughhouse', sadly so polluted by a toxic few... tick 👍

did you find his winner?

One reality of that, as we become more 'Americanized', in what we watch, as in MLB NFL NBL NHL. "Internationalized' as in all the different World Cups!!! etc etc,,, I know that personally if I was 'needing' to punt for a living! 1000% I would stay away from 'racing'. That has shown in my betting for over 5 years now! Specializing on MLB, for two reasons! I enjoy watching it! And as a punter I can access the quality info that I need so easily! Of course, having said the above, I also would be seriously focusing on options for betting elsewhere! Feck the current monopoly I say!

sigh, what is the next word when Pathetic isn't enough!

yes..

Over the years I have been involved with quite a few IncSoc, set up a few! A standard rule has usually been that 'on ending', any reserves go back into that local community! To me, most tracks started of and grew through there relevance to their local community! Most have had nice relationships with their local councils and have kosher agreements around rates. (read locals have invested in the track..) rave over.. sigh, refer to my post above!! I will share this with you! Over the last few years I have made the effort to speak to various 'committee people' from Tracks that have been label 'gone', just about, and this is still happening, feel that communication around this topic is very flawed! To be Told that they can be sold up and their assists taken strikes deep! Watch the Lawyer$ getting involved when and if certain tracks/clubs get liquidated! ps. by chance! I have a spare Race Course! out Avondale way! 200mil and its yours! got a harbor bridge going cheap to!

not sure about the NZ bit... re Au, doesn't that 20th share also have technical tax repercussions re ownerships stuff? (tax right off for...) ps, loved the yarn... we must charge a glass together one day!

what age bracket? I ask as, sigh, many in our community are not doing that well! once there was a 80% chance that you would do better than parents! around 2000 that changed, now it is around 20% chance!

US meeting called off after jockeys launch protest following first race Aqueduct: Sunday's meeting was cancelled after just one race A protest by jockeys during a meeting in the US led to the cancellation of Sunday's fixture at Aqueduct after just one race.https://bitofayarn.com Following the opening race, jockeys expressed concern regarding the duties of the New York Racing Association (NYRA) clerk of scales and assistant clerk of scales. Despite the efforts of NYRA management, the jockeys refused to ride and the remaining eight races were called off. Andrew Offerman, NYRA senior vice-president of racing and operations, said: "NYRA is responsible for oversight of the clerk of scales, assistant clerk of scales, and all racing officials in accordance with New York State Gaming Commission rules. "The procedures employed by those officials are designed to protect the integrity of racing and are NYRA's responsibility to maintain and enforce." Kendrick Carmouche, a leading rider on the NYRA circuit, told the Daily Racing Form (DRF) that jockeys felt disrespected by the track's management, with the issue coming to a head on Sunday when NYRA officials sent home assistant clerk of scales Brian Pochman. https://bitofayarn.com Although it was unclear why Pochman was sent home, Carmouche, who is also a Jockeys' Guild representative, said NYRA was requiring him to do more than he was supposed to and that he was uncomfortable with the added responsibilities. "Now they’re trying to put other people in his spot to make the races go and that’s just going to make things worse because they don’t know what they’re doing,” said Carmouche. Offerman later told the DRF that Pochman had not been fired. Other examples of the simmering tensions between the two parties include the NYRA not granting a valet full-time employment status last December and a decision by management in April no longer to allow the riders' families in the jockeys' room. https://bitofayarn.com The NYRA said it would contact Jockeys' Guild president and chief executive Terry Meyocks in an effort to find a resolution. Racing at Aqueduct is due to resume on Thursday.

🤪 in the interest of transparency ! I will tell you! yes! And for the Record! re the Free Speech Union (how the fuck do those koonts name themselves a U...) is a reflection of a new nasty new form of rightwing politics that has entered NZ. A group that is attractive to simple minds! Trace their roots!

please expand on 'the crap' bit? feel free to speak on it!

I could write a diatribe about the maggot that is Molloy! but instead, I asked Prof Deep Seek to share us a critique of the lead article and the actions of the said maggot! Here is a critique of the article and a polemic response. The analysis first summarizes the article's core arguments, then presents a forceful rebuttal that challenges both the writer's framing and Leo Molloy's actions. 📜 Summary of the Article's Core Arguments The article from the Free Speech Union argues that the Veterinary Council of New Zealand's censure of Leo Molloy represents a dangerous case of regulatory overreach and an attack on free speech. Its main points are: Overreach Beyond Professional Remit: The central claim is that the Veterinary Council has stepped outside its proper role. Molloy was punished for a personal speech act—breaching a court suppression order on a racing forum—that had no connection to veterinary practice, animal welfare, or client confidentiality. Punishment for "Off-Duty" Conduct: The article asserts that professional regulators should not police personal behavior, especially for someone who hasn't practiced in over a decade and was retired. It frames the Council's action as an attempt to retroactively "house-train" him for unrelated conduct. Inconsistent and Futile Enforcement: The writer highlights the inconsistency in enforcing the suppression order. International media published the name without consequence, and others in New Zealand were only warned, making Molloy the only person convicted and professionally sanctioned. This is presented as evidence that the action is vindictive rather than principled. Broader Chilling Effect: The case is framed as part of a dangerous trend where regulatory bodies punish professionals for their off-duty speech or beliefs. The article warns this turns professional bodies into "wardens of conformity" rather than "guardians of competence". ⚔️ A Polemic Response Part 1: Against the Writer – A Dishonest Champion of Chaos The writer of this article is not a defender of liberty but a merchant of grievance, wrapping a calculated agenda in the tattered flag of free speech. The piece is a masterclass in intellectual dishonesty, employing a strategy of omission and emotional manipulation worthy of the most cynical lobbyist. First, the writer deliberately obscures the gravity of Molloy’s crime. This was not a mere "personal speech" act akin to a spicy Facebook opinion. It was a deliberate, knowing, and repeated breach of a High Court suppression order during the most sensitive phase of a murder trial—while the jury was still deliberating. The article's cutesy puns about "neuter[ing] speech" and "the dog that did the barking" are a grotesque attempt to minimize an action that the courts—and the Veterinary Council—rightly identified as striking at the heart of judicial integrity. Second, the writer feigns confusion about the regulator's role with the disingenuous question, "which part of Leo’s conviction had anything to do with his profession?". Professions like veterinary science are granted the privilege of self-regulation in exchange for maintaining public trust. A criminal conviction for undermining the court system is not a private matter; it is a profound breach of the ethical compact any licensed professional holds with society. The Council’s lawyer was precisely correct: "Our professional obligations don't end when we close the office door". The writer’s argument would reduce professional ethics to a mere technical manual, applicable only during business hours—a ludicrous and dangerous proposition. Finally, the article is a transparent fundraising and recruitment tool for the Free Speech Union. It is no coincidence that the polemic seamlessly transitions into a promotion for their "professional memberships" for teachers, academics, and others. The writer is not analyzing a case; they are manufacturing a martyr to fuel a pre-existing campaign against any form of professional accountability that touches on expression. This is advocacy disguised as journalism, and it deserves to be called out as such. Part 2: Against Leo Molloy – The "Altruistic" Vigilante Leo Molloy’s attempt to paint his actions as "altruistic" is a staggering work of self-justification that insults the public’s intelligence and the memory of Grace Millane. Molloy claims he was motivated by "frustration and what I perceived to be injustice". This is the logic of a vigilante. He appointed himself judge, jury, and publisher, deciding that his personal fury overrode a court order designed to ensure Kempson’s right to a fair trial on subsequent charges. His statement that the murderer "needs a bullet" reveals the true, violent heat of his emotion, not cool altruism. He didn't start a reasoned debate about suppression laws; he doxxed an accused man to an online forum of 2,500 people during live legal proceedings. His plea that this has "no connection to veterinary practice" is equally hollow. The Veterinary Council’s mandate is to "maintain trust in veterinary professionals". Trustworthiness is not a divisible trait. A person who willfully sabotages a legal process because he disagrees with it demonstrates a fundamental lack of respect for the rule of law—a quality utterly incompatible with a profession entrusted with controlled drugs, animal welfare, and client privacy. Molloy was not a brave truth-teller oppressed by the system. He was a man who broke a clear law, was rightly convicted, and is now facing the entirely predictable professional consequences of that conviction. His status as a retired veterinarian is irrelevant; he chose to remain on the register, subject to its rules. His saga is not a parable about censorship, but a simple lesson in cause and effect: if you publicly and proudly break a serious law, you should not be surprised when your professional body takes a dim view of your fitness to belong to it. To sum up, the article cynically distorts a case of professional accountability into a free speech crisis, while Molloy cloaks his reckless disregard for the justice system in the mantle of public-spiritedness. Both positions deserve not just critique, but contempt.

thanks for that! @curious Some interesting stuff re things 'digital' in that! ...still not enough for me to be stopping my plans around 'uncoupling from things racing',.. currently thinking of building a kitty and having a serious go at the punt on Champions Day,.. then punting side can head off into the sunset.. re photo stuff, still working on exit strategy, slowly getting it together! still ponder options Racing Horse Book Collection!

accreditation bans Still practiced here in NZ... I feel for her if he has been playing silly games with shit like that on her! I see in her background she has time getting a degree at Otago, I seem to recall coming across her then! but Doh! cant recall sitting here now! (an aside story) When I first got 'Press' accreditations' (early '80's) they v hard to get! There was the Racing Writers Ass that dished out your ticket! Entry to Press Box at all the big tracks was near sacred! Especially WRC. On any race day it allowed one wearing the P tag, to have excuses to wander around 'the committee rooms' of the likes of Trentham! Silver troughs aplenty to the elite of the day to indulged in! lol I recall once capturing a amusing shot of a group of them beached out in the late afternoon son! Not that 'we' could complain! Back then we would get a ticket to the buffet, which was of a very high standard! The actual Press Room had a Bar better than most Public Bars! Let the good times roll..

to be honest! I'm struggling to get my head around this???