hesi

Another benefit of a Strathayr track at Te Rapa Racing: Game of Thrones in Taupō 25 Jul, 2018 5:00am 4 minutes to read Jon Snow captured the group three JRA Cup at Moonee Valley and will return to Melbourne in the spring. Photo / Getty Images NZ Herald By: Michael Guerin It is harder to imagine a scene much further from the glamour of the Melbourne spring carnival than an empty Taupō racetrack on a cold Tuesday morning. But for two of New Zealand's best gallopers, one thing could lead to the other. Reigning Horse of the Year Bonneval and her ATC Derby winning stablemate Jon Snow ventured to Taupō yesterday as their next steps on campaigns aimed at races such as the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. There was nothing particularly special about Taupō yesterday, no official trials and nobody there to watch the pair, barring the staff of trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman. But the attraction was a firmer track surface than anywhere the trainers could find closer to home and the chance to change things up for the millionaire pair. "It served a couple of purposes," said Forsman of the unusual private trial. "The track was about a dead5, which is hard to get at this time of the season so they had a good stride out. "And it is also a break from their usual routine, to freshen them up mentally." Both horses were successful in Melbourne last spring, Bonneval winning the Underwood at group one level, after which she temporarily held favouritism for a Caulfield Cup that ultimately never went her way. Jon Snow captured the group three JRA Cup at Moonee Valley and ran third to Gallo Chop in the Caulfield Stakes but on tracks firmer than we would have liked battled bravely in the Caulfield Cup and eventually missed the Melbourne Cup. A strained suspensory ligament saw Bonneval miss the Sydney autumn as well but scans on that area are positive and the pair could be joined by NZ Derby winner Vin De Dance and Sydney Cup runner-up Zacada in giving Baker and Forsman some serious potential Cup numbers for the spring. Although Bonneval will almost certainly race exclusively in Australia, Jon Snow could be a surprise runner in the first group one of the season, the Tarzino Trophy at Hastings on September 1. "He is very well and being a colt was a bit sharper than Bonneval today," said Forsman. "He got away on her at the 200m and while we were happy with the way they both worked, he is obviously closer to a race." The pair and a truckload of their stablemates are likely to head to the Te Teko trials in two weeks after which their spring plans will come more sharply into focus. "But Jon could definitely go to Hastings for that first race, which would give him a run under his belt on what shouldn't be a hard track before we go to Melbourne," said Forsman. The record-breaking stable could have Francaletta, who also galloped strongly at Taupō yesterday, in the Tarzino as well as the most in-form mare in the country in New York Minute. Both could use the Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa (August 18) as their lead-ups. Francaletta could eventually join the Melbourne assault in the spring while rising three-year-olds Botti (VRC Derby) and fillies Peaceful and Rubira are others who could be on the plane to Melbourne. Forsman is not stunned the stable has broken their previous New Zealand record of 114 wins in a season but pleasantly surprised they have managed to stretch it out to 141 wins, with the potential of one or two more this final week of the season. "I thought we might be able to break our own record but the 141 is a big number that took a lot of work and support from a lot of people "But we are just as proud of the fact we have trained 20 stakes winners here for the season, which is a personal best for us, and to have our strike rate in the 5s (5.74) with so many starters is also pretty pleasing."

So you are saying that because of the way things are set up, it is an impotent situation, even when the unusual situation of a senior minister in the Govt, commissions the widely acknowledged best racing administrator in Australasia to review the situation I wonder how much, of those opposed, it is anti-Peters, and if the Nats where in power still and English and the Racing Minister had appointed Messara, how different the rhetoric might be. I know certain people would have a totally different viewpoint. Bearing in mind, that in 9 years the Nats ignored Racing My prediction, is that Messara will recommend fundamental change to the current model, he will detail what a modified model should be, and Peters will act on it. If the people that lead, can't change the system, then there is no hope, isn't that the criticism that there has been over the years, lack of leadership

Yep it is all reclaimed land If you look at the video on Strathayr, that I posted, you will see they quote the example of 10 inches of rain the day before, yet they raced on a dead track

What would be the challenges If they stripped the track right back to a 2 foot depth to put in all the drainage layers, is there a concern about what they might find

Wouldn't that be a first, the body that supposedly runs racing, laying the law down to one of it's members But agree, lateral drains every 5m, is peace meal stuff compared with the comprehensive drainage works required in installing a Strathayr

The thing I found most interesting about the article was this part below about Josh Adams "I hadn't met him, but it took as long it takes walking to the letterbox to realise this is a rarely-seen talent. Not long after arriving, he rode two in trackwork for prominent trainer Nigel Tiley and Nigel, a friend, called to say: "This kid got off the horses and told me as much as I knew about them. He's special." The ability to do that, must present itself with some pretty tempting scenarios

If you could see some of the abusive emails Des, you would appreciate how much of an understatement, what you have said is

Worth a watch, a lot of ??? info being put forward I notice a very informed poster, La Zip, talking about "the nylon cushion/underlay doesn't respond well to NZ type conditions" Why would that be the case, what is so unique about NZ

The boss has been lying around for 2 weeks and is back tomorrow, so I'll try and hide this thread in The Vent. He probably won't get to read it till Tues, by the time he works his way through all the abusive emails

To give him credit, he is trying to do the right thing, but comes up well short, because he is not the sharpest pencil in the box, BUT, he is doing it for the wrong reason. If BOAY went away tomorrow(don't worry it's not), he would quickly revert to his old ways

Great article in the Royal NZ herald https://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=12092689&ref=twitter Great name for a jockey, was he named after that great handicapper of the 70's, Wiremu Anyhow, I notice a couple of newbies on RC(yes not proud to admit I have a look, a few posters I really enjoy), denigrating the article. What they have to realise is, the Herald is not a PR rag for NZ Racing. They are there to write hard hitting but human interest orientated stories to suit their own agendas. A shame they don't write a few more, warts and all............about the racing industry of course

I think it has finally struck home that he has some serious competition. BOAY, might not be as big or popular yet as RC, but it has certainly set him back on his heels Regardless, there are quite a few informed and interesting posters on RC that I like to read

Apologies in advance to anyone who doesn't like reading this sort of sniping, I can't resist, reading the pathetic claptrap

Snoops wouldn't have an original thought in that small collection of cells he passes off as a brain HESI Quite simply, most people just want to post about racing, without being abused or micro managed and have as many others as possible do so also, so there is a strong and healthy interchange of information and viewpoints SNOOPS differing opinions make a forum...personal insults dont. Hey, you might have to have a word to your buddy, you know the one, king of the personal insults

I saw this post from Snoopy, whoops I mean Scooby So what if he hasn't driven a winner, is he not allowed an opinion What next will be welcomed Commenting on jockey's rides even though you have never been on a horse Commenting on trainers decisions even though you haven't even trained a rocking horse Criticising Te Akau.............................. perhaps a bridge too far, probably still fund the site, not for long though, once they see how far it has fallen from grace

With the announcement of 3 A/W tracks to be built, probably appropriate to bump up this thread. Strathayr tracks are used in Aus and Asia, so I presume they will go for the same here in NZ, to provide the punter with some level of standardization and confidence. After all that is one of the reasons why you would spend all this money on doing it, to increase exported turnover

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/07/greyhound-deaths-likely-going-unreported-animal-rights-campaigner.html

They could always take the innovative approach and put one on the West Coast, isn't that Kumara Nuggets meeting legendary. If a Strathayr can handle monsoon rain at Shatin, it could probably do alright on the Coast

Better hurry up with that upgrade that's been coming for about 12 months, before the majority of posters disappear. Quite simply, most people just want to post about racing, without being abused or micro managed and have as many others as possible do so also, so there is a strong and healthy interchange of information and viewpoints....... and a fun environment The less that happens, the more they will look elsewhere. Upgrades or Fiji trips won't resolve that

I wonder if the wily old bugger had the Racing industry in mind when he negotiated the billion dollar(per year) regional fund as part of the coalition deal, knowing that any new tracks would probably be in the regions

http://www.nzracing.co.nz/Common/SystemTemplates/Modal/Video.aspx?v=http%3a%2f%2fwww.racingreplays.co.nz%2fmedia%2f201807%2f20180719HAWK03_BB.mp4&i=%2fCommon%2fImage.ashx%3fw%3d720%26h%3d400%26a%3d1%26o%3d1%26bg%3deeeeee%26p%3dhttp%3a%2f%2fwww.racingreplays.co.nz%2fmedia%2f201807%2f20180719HAWK03_BB.jpg&r=Race+3+-+STOCK+CO+1200&s=http://www.nzracing.co.nz/Common/SystemTemplates/Modal/Video.aspx?v=http%3a%2f%2fwww.racingreplays.co.nz%2fmedia%2f201807%2f20180719HAWK03_BB.mp4

4 winners today, 3 at good prices You have to hand it to her, not just for winning the jockeys premiership, but with 6 possible meetings to go till season end, for over 1200 rides around the entire country No jockey in the past 5 years has even come close to that. Big question, will she take it easier next season

As you have said, I fail to see how closing any tracks, as long as they are not an unproductive drain on resource, can have any impact whatsoever on improving the situation

He can use the totals though to work out how much he has to cut RB costs, to be able to provide the substantial ongoing cash injection for stakes and infrastructure, that is needed to stimulate the racing scene. Bearing in mind, that he is not going to get that cash from the Govt, so that is the only place the money can come from...............deconstructing the huge empire that has been built up. Unless of course Winston has ideas about using the billion dollar regional fund to help racing, but I doubt this would ever happen. I hope also Messara puts in place the need for a substantial Marketing budget to promote Racing, after all, this lack of competing for the new generations leisure dollar is the main reason Racing has got into this ever decreasing death spiral

Exactly