nomates

Sometimes less is better , or maybe if you have nothing good to say , say nothing . These are motto's that who ever is in charge of this department could invoke . And it is a multiple million dollar industry but nothing they do makes me wonder any more . Also given long enough they can turn it into simply a million dollar industry , they are well on their way .

Track update yesterday afternoon had the track a slow 6 and raining , 9mls in the previous 7 days , 7mls previous 24 hours , must have been biblical last night . 2nd meeting canned at Woodville in the last 5 weeks , used to be the most reliable of winter tracks .

Woodville races abandoned today due to the state of the track . Ground hog day . Cheers Punxsutawney Phil .

For a window into the parlous state of NZ racing one only has to look at the Livamol on Saturday . Soldier Boy , who has won a R65 and aR76 at his last 2 starts , one a midweek 14k race both with a claiming apprentice up , is down to start in one of NZ's premier WFA races and has opened at 10's . Now i know a large part of that is down the forecast heavy track and his ability on rain affected surfaces , and this is not a knock on the horse , i have always liked him , but this shows how thin our ranks of quality horses is . This is only going to get worse if the powers that be do not start finding solutions to slow the drain of horses out of NZ .

So i have been watching some trackside today and intermittently have seen A Rodley doing Everest interviews , he has gone over for the carnival to do some in depth interviews for us , something that the locals seem very good at yet they consider A Rodley will be an improvement . How come the TAB can afford to send him there but can't afford on course presenters at most of our meetings ? Are they yet again just taking the piss ? What part of this do i not get ?

Well Joe didn't take much to put me in a position to need to sober up , the drive home was great , missus travelled in her mates car so peace and quiet and good music had by all (me) . As for recommendations , no hope , decades since i partied up in Wellingtoon . Now Matamata is different story , plenty to offer and great food options as well , two great nights out had by the team , still a great place to party .

Thanks Joe , a wild night was had by all .

Thought i had one , not so sure now , how about back all of TA's in the first , i reckon you'll be on the winner .

Unfortunately the general public don't have a feckin clue about the grading of races , if the meeting as marketed as a day out as long as there are horses there that's all they require . Those in the industry that understand the principles behind Group racing and black type , and i am not talking about the breeders , will be the first to tell you that the quality of NZ racing is in a rapid decline and most if not all our black type races from listed thru to G1's are all over rated for all the reasons we have talked about for years on here . I have been going to the Wellington Cup since 1974 and as much as i hate to say , the race is no longer iconic nor of good quality , you can't just give it G1 status because of it's history , if it worked that way i should still be able to pull 20 year olds , not a hope , that's called realism and the same is required when it comes to our "major" races . But i understand your feelings , it breaks my heart when i see where we have come from .

Just watched Weigh In and they had Matt Goodson from NZTR on the show , he was discussing the possibility of the The Derby and 2000Gns being downgraded to G2 . At the last Asian Pattern Committee meeting both races were placed on a final warning , so unless this seasons running's meet the criteria required of of G1 races i.e. the average rating for such races , that being first 4 home averaging 115 , then both face being downgraded . He said that it was less likely to happen , why i don't know , his assumption is that last year was a poor rating year where as this seasons crop seems to be rating stronger . He said retaining our good horses was how this trend can be reversed and that with increased stakes he felt that we were doing just that , stretching credibility with that comment , if anything i see more horses leaving than ever . Two 3yo's in Lickety Split and Mr Maestro going basically straight to Australia to race would suggest that comment is unfounded . He also relayed the information that at the end of this season NZTR would have a major cull of our listed races , he said as the number of races run had reduced the percentage of listed races hadn't hence too many listed races that simply weren't good enough . Also saying that NZ's 20 G1's was too high in relation to overseas jurisdictions percentage wise . So it looks that finally our serious decline in quality racing is catching up with us , he felt that pattern committee should look at NZ racing a little more leniently but i say if you want to operate in the world environment then you operate within world guide lines and find ways to up your game . I have been suggesting for a while that this downgrading was in the wings and if they don't find a way to a) stop the number of horses sold off shore and b) increase stakes to a position that makes an owner decide to retain rather than sell , then this is just the start . It is possible in 10 years that our best races are no higher than G3 . Slightly scary , and bloody sad .

Well done Joe Bloggs , Mychyna gets up again in the last at Grafton , at 26's for those in the know . Lots more in store . Good trainer that Ensby bloke .

This is the god of "don't be soo fucking greedy" giving the owners their due .

I agree , the thing that might change the minds of some connections will be track conditions , the forecast next week is looking good so possibly a good track as against what would have been a tough heavy today will change some plans . As for the Gns race , there will still be 3yo's that might not be ready for a G2 race so will still be looking for a softer option so i believe they should run the lesser race so that the horses that don't make or don't want to run in the the Gns have a backstop , because a lot more will nominate with it being at Matamata and the better track , Mark Walker said this morning that if it was at Matamata then he could possibly have 5/6 in it . They shouldn't just automatically drop these races as there will be horses that will have been prepared for those races , not their problem that todays races were lost , it's something we don't do well , work it for all to be catered for . As said above there is no reason that either of these races will be hurt by today's races being added next week . I'm going up so looking forward to a big day .

Hawera or Matamata , i would suggest the northern trainers who had travelled already and stayed overnight will be pushing for Matamata for less travel , and you can't blame them , some foresight would have prevented this . Te Akau are already looking at keeping Imeratriz here now rather than travel to Sydney , so my money would be on Matamata . If they split them and run one at each meeting would be stupidity , they would be splitting the best jockeys , but stand by , stupidity could be on the way . Either way it hurts the main races at each meeting , the mares race at Hawera and the Matamata cup . Going to be interesting .

And now a little nudge at the TAB , Hastings was having Bonus Bets on every race , when it was abandoned how hard would it be to xfer this over to all races at Riccarton instead of just sticking with the first 4 races . Can't be that hard surely . Everything in our racing seems to be done in ultra slow motion , but i ask the question again , is it just a lack of caring .

How come they canned Woodville prior to the race day but have to wait till race day to abandon Hastings when the forecast for Hastings was worse than going into the Woodville meeting , and they had plenty of warning that there was plenty of rain coming . Also were no options of moving the meeting explored i.e. Otaki meeting could have been held at Hastings on Thursday and Hastings run at Otaki today where the forecast was no where as bad , in fact i'd be surprised if it was worse than S7 today , already been down to Manakau this morning and they didn't get much last night . This meeting has been xfered to Otaki once before , Irish Rover winning the G1 for Eddie Carson . Just another case of no foresight or maybe just a lack of caring .

C'mon Turny , you give me a fake news for this "post", It's not news buddy , it's an opinion . Now don't start the same shit with me on this , opinion or news , i wasn't passing on information , i was giving an opinion . Bad enough you can't understand that when you reply to me on this forum it is a post .

Nah , their not good enough even with lines to follow , they would have to put rails up between each lane to ensure safety .

Nah , Woody was on a deep decline long before the gorge was closed . The track was and still is a great place to go racing .

I'm pleased you had time to make at least one post today , much appreciated , you have made my day .

Not sure we are talking about the same person , you obviously haven't set the bar high when assessing a persons level of smarts and success .

Ah , love sardines on toast , not many do . But just wondering when did " bye bye " not mean bye bye . You just can't help yourself , just got to keep posting .

But you just did , you like posting sooo much you did the same " post " twice . You have an addiction i fear , are you sure you don't need an intervention ?

Now my old mate , if you only knew how well i know " the successful businessman with lots of smarts " , and the others that know him and some of his history . Might surprise you with mine to . Pretty simple Turny , he's got you conned . I don't think MB cared and i don't think he would have made more for setting a a track record . Good luck with them , one of mine won last week and heading for the KM , it's a tough game and i never begrudge someone success .

Yet again getting way ahead of yourself giving yourself the Dundeel moniker . Christ you've been under the whip for the last 2 hours , never seen Dundeel under that much pressure . And i'm certainly far from a mdn , lost that tag many moons ago .