hesi

Speak with data, no point, info only

And to prove me wrong First Five easily at WFA for the first time. Must be a good horse

Come on CS, the guy has the gift of the gab. Listen to him comment on the Warriors, he talks and talks and talks, very eloquently, but says very little. Unfortunately our much heralded All Black coach, who everyone thought would be our saviour, including me, is showing himself to be in the same camp.

You have to admit that Cameron George is very good at talking a lot and saying nothing.

It is impossible to say. In theory, yes But the decline overall in the quality of horses racing in NZ clouds it in practice. The list of winners going back pre-2016, contains many of the greatest sprinters ever to race in NZ

The Telegraph has been a true handicap race from its inception in 1890 through till 2014, then in 2015 run as set weights and penalties then from 2016 on as a WFA. As you know, with WFA, horses carry weight based on age and sex, not race record. The theory is it attracts the top horses. A horse like Crocetti would be carrying more weight under handicap conditions as would Grail Seeker, whereas a horse like First Five is poorly off at the same weight as Crocetti. I guess it also encourages 3-year-olds like To Cap It All to have a go

If you read the Wexford Facebook site, they had a fairly high opinion of her, which the odds setters must have taken note of, as she opened at 2.80. Unusual for such a large drift to take place on a promising Wexford horse. The big tightener was Pulsatilla, but that came to nothing

I don't think the jockey can take too much credit for Ohope Wins win, the horse did all the work

And that it did, even after drifting out to 3 times its opening price, what do punters know lol A bit of trainspotting. The last 2 yearlings out of Choux Mania, a full brother called Torrey Pines and half sister called Stilleto Falls, sold for $700 each

Yes Colin

I guess the conspiracy theorists must have got it wrong when it comes to racing being centralised in Auckland/Waikato. One of Ellerslie's big days, which now has no G1, effectively guzumped by Trentham and the G1 Telegraph and the same stake money, 2 days later. Yet another move for the Levin Classic

I know the Chief won't do it, because he doesn't really go for that warm fuzzy stuff, but best New Year wishes to all those that read and contribute to BOAY. It is after all what makes a chat site, a chat site. Personally, I have found this to be the best of the social media chat sites about racing. Why? I think a lot of it is to do with the Chiefs knowledge of racing and intelligence, something which I think appeals to a lot of people who read this site. Yes, he may give you a serve if you post stuff that in his mind does not stack up, but that should not deter people from having a say. There is a big difference between rampant negativity that seems to be the hallmark for social media, and rigorous, fact based, critical appraisal of the issues in racing

Maybe a sign of what you are talking about, but no horse racing people in the 2026 Honours list and only one last year, Terry Campbell, long time president at the Taupo RC

Maybe be nothing but have noted that the top TA horses, seem to put in a blinder of a race every so often, against top horses What You Wish For - Taupo Cup Qali Al Farrasha - Thoroughbred Breeders Quintessa - Proisir Plate