hesi

The new NZB Kiwi slot race and Derby are on the same day. Some will say that one is a 1500m race the other 2400m. But looking back over the years, the good 3 year olds were running well over 1600m in Dec and Jan, then the ones with staying potential tested over more ground in the Waikato and Avondale Guinieas as a potential lead up to the Derby. All that will happen, is that many of these early promising horses will get snapped up for slots, and their preparation changed to aim at the Kiwi, cannibalising the Derby.

Maybe one of the wise guys with all the answers on these chat sites, and there are many, wise guys that is, could put up a credible business strategy about an industry that is concentrated in the Auckland/Waikato region.

Social media hasn't helped matters in the last few years, with mostly wild speculation and innuendo about what NZTR is supposedly doing. Wightman being the classic example of spreading, what can only be called gossip, without anything to back the claims. And it is not just occasionally; it is full on every day. The guy would have you believe that the issues at Hastings and Awapuni were purposely orchestrated to allow NZTR to centralise racing in Auckland/Waikato. Trouble is that people start believing it after a while

Last chance saloon on Sat in the G1 Empire Rose Stakes. Up against a couple of top line Aussies in Pride of Jenni and Fangirl, and the very talented Kiwi in Leica Lucy. Should be a strong pace so it does help the 2 NZ horses. I presume she comes home anyway to be aimed for the 4 year old KM race in January that she is equal fave for

The Epsom Derby, the most iconic and original Derby race in the world, has been run almost without fail since 1780 in the first week of June, equivalent to our first week December. It took world wars to change that, but we here in NZ thought we knew better. It is a bit like in NZ we think we produce the best wine in the world, but we have only being doing it for 50 years, the first 25, mainly crap. Whereas in Bordeaux and Burgundy they have been doing it for 2,000 years. You would think they got things perfected after all that time. Much the same as the Derby, 250 years.

Exactly SA. Changing the Derby from Boxing Day to March was going to give a better quality field. The Auckland Cup to a Wed! A lot of these people in racing have a bad habit of deciding where things should be, then joining up the dots appropriately to support their narrative

That certainly is the problem about all these issues

According to Stephen Gray VP of the CD trainers association, the track was fine, a view endorsed by all those present, trainers, jockeys etc. It was only a horse shying at a marker that caused the fall

Does anyone what went wrong with the initial redevelopment at Awapuni. If I recall correctly, they called on technical advice withing NZ and Aus. I think Liam O'Keefe??

Rebuilding tracks in unchartered territory for NZ racing. I stand to be corrected, but Ellerslie is the first in a long time. Reading between the lines, they were pressurised by the breeders into having that ready for KM million night and therefore took options not recommended by Strathayr, and have had to take unusual steps to rectify

In fairness to Waikato, they have entered into a memorandum of understanding with Waipa and Cambridge to sell all 3 sites and rebuild on a new site.

Who knows. Waitak was an early fave for the Derby after placing in the Waikato and Avondale Guineas. Then 2nd up as a 4-year-old won the Railway in the fashion of a champion. Never raced past 1600m after that until March this year when they started putting it over 2000m+, and it wins the Awapuni Gold Cup and Livamol. You would have to say, that even Wexford were guessing

Looking at that run, would Avantaggia even get 1200m at G1 level, certainly there are better fillies around over 1600m. Maybe you are right about getting horses right this Spring. I recall when we saw horses like Legarto, Levante and Verry Elleegant in their early starts, you knew something special was brewing

No longer nominated for the 2 Guineas races