Brando

Doesn't run Top 4 for mine ?

I don't recall ever rating Melody Belle. She just got caught up in the quotes, when referencing the Shark. I don't rate NZ trained horses until they turn up in Aussie and prove themselves by winning G1 races.

The Epsom was the weakest in years. Top weight at 57kgs had never won a G1 and 14 of 18 runners weighted 50-51kgs. In the Tramway, Shark was a length off the mare Eckstein in the straight, when he got clear running at the 200m; then took the rest of the straight to just edge the mare on the line for 2nd, 3L from the winner. The Shark's run in the Tramway showed he was just another hyped up Xtravagant and Hasslehoof: look good beating very average NZ opposition; only to be found out in Australia.

I'm not condoning Prior/Callander's actions over the sale of Lil Caesar. But you have to take into account; that Chris Waller took him back as soon as his disqualification ended, and gave him a job in his organisation.

Chief Stipe wrote: "I rate Te Akau Shark well above Melody Belle or Kawi. However history shows that Melody Belle has yet to beat much. The Livamol this year barely rated R88" The same can be said about the Shark: Yet to win a G1 - What has it beaten? What did the Couplands Mile rate? I recall a horse Tom Melbourne also ran 2nd in the Tramway before a 2nd in the Epsom. I think J Mac summed up the Shark pretty well when he decided to go with Very Ellegant in the Cox Plate: "Te Akau Shark is a really nice horse but he's been runnning in handicaps. I wish them all the best" Obviously J Mac's bar is much higher when it comes to "the best horse he has ridden" The Japanese horse is going to trot home in the Cox Plate. The Shark might be best saved for the Emirates(McKinnon) on a bigger track and a weaker field. So the possibilty of not making the Cox Plate, might be a blessing, so the marketing machine don't have to come up with an excuse for missing a place in the big dance this Saturday ?

I'm no expert on these things, hence why I'm asking. With comingled tote pools, especially with Hong Kong: Doesn't the winning money from those massive pools by a NZ punter, equate to new revenue when reinvested into NZ pools which Hong Kong punters aren't permiited to bet into?

With the plethora of wagering providers availabe to a NZ based punter, why shouldn't NZTAB incentivise with rebates, to retain their more valued customers whether they are winning or losing?

Maybe they should bet with a TAB account, then based on their turnover on Karaka Millions day, they would qualify for the Bronze Tier of rebates and rewards.

The take out rate is applied to every $1 wagered on the tote so why shouldn't it be applied to turnover?

I can assure you that Hayes, Hayes, Dabernig are not desperate "to be waiting to get a hold" of Weir's horses!

You should be congratulating the ex owner of Cambridge Stud for getting out at the right time. Luck of the Irish continues! ? For one of the big 2 premier studs, to not even make the Top 10 Vendors by average is unthinkable. The prominent Cambridge Stud female families are now last decade's news. Meanwhiles, Tavistock who was championed by many as "the next big thing" of the NZ stallions rank, finished outside the Top 10 Sires by Average at $134,925 off a $65,000 stud fee - with low points having lots sold at Festival Sale prices of $10,000 and $15,000. ?

Secret surveillance footage taken at Melbourne-Cup winning horse trainer Darren Weir's Warrnambool and Ballarat properties is at the centre of the investigation into the alleged use of illegal shock devices on valuable thoroughbreds. Weir, who was released without charge after being arrested on Wednesday, was questioned as part of a police probe into betting and animal cruelty that potentially saw electric shock "jiggers" being used to improve the performance of horses. It is understood still pictures were shown to Weir when he was interviewed on Wednesday by detectives from the Victoria Police's sporting integrity unit. While he initially co-operated, he refused to answer questions relating to the images. Meanwhile, Chief Commissioner(Police) Graham Ashton has weighed in on the investigation. Mr Ashton, who owns racehorses himself, said it was too early to say if criminal charges would be laid or whether the case would be referred to the racing regulatory environment.

Not really. The industry needs a major Syndicator/Training establishment. If Te Akau was to close up shop tomorrow, NZB and the big stud(s) would simply do another deal with someone and set up a new Syndicator/Training establishment.

Geez this bitch is lucky that it's only the "2nd' marring offence. Came to NZ with 1 marring offence from its very first career race and another 2 Unsatisfactory Perfomances which looked dodgy. And turned it's head before 1st bend in its last start in Aussie. Marring Offence - 1st start from the red: https://www.thedogs.com.au/resources/showvideoplayerracing.aspx?s=youtube&q=CMySVRBSdgQ Usatisfactory performance - 3rd start from the Box 8, wearing 9 rug: https://www.thedogs.com.au/resources/showvideoplayerracing.aspx?s=youtube&q=vMlxlJip_7Y Unsatisfactory performance from box 5: https://www.thedogs.com.au/resources/showvideoplayerracing.aspx?s=youtube&q=5KTBPSNBML4 Last Aussiie start Box 2: https://www.thedogs.com.au/resources/showvideoplayerracing.aspx?s=youtube&q=4u5Fbvxjn_o

The only senior riders at Kumara were Terry Moseley and Doni Pratisyou! The rest of the fields were made up with the "United Nations" of apprentice riders. For some of those internationals, riding "hands and heals" equates to flailing their arms up and down, unbalanced and not really effective steering or in riding a horse out ? Does the south island not have an apprentice master, considering that most south island fields are 75%+ filled by apprenctice riders? Someone needs to take repsonsibilty and teach them beyond the basics!