All The Aces

I have been on this site probably about six weeks now and have Thomass as one of the best posters here. I haven't seen anything wrong it what he has posted to date and certainly nothing what I would call offensive. He has a unique way of writing (very much tongue in cheek and humourous) and seems to possess a lot of knowledge of racing procedures etc. Certainly picking up on the leaving off of the barrier blanket off In A Twinkling before the Derby was an outstanding piece of work. If I am honest, I have found other posters problematic ie trying to call the shots and undermining the site owner which I have pointed out and the thread calling out Thomass into providing some tips for Saturday was without doubt a form of bullying. Sites like this are for discussing topics and ideas it would be pretty boring if everyone had the same opinion. That way you wouldn't need any of these sites if everyone agreed over everything. A poster like Thomass (from my time here) is actually quite invaluable. He creates topics and bring things to our attention things that I would say a lot of us don't pickup on and draws them to our attention. I was looking forward to his weekend round up when I got home but alas nothing there.

It was a complete waste of ten minutes or so. They would have known beforehand from other interviews hat he was unable to answer any of their questions regarding any details of what MAC proposed. The only thing he could give answers to were around the timing ie when they had to have their recommendation into Winston which was by March 1st. The obfuscation around the detail of what was in it was like watching paint dry.

He still won't beat her.

Mr Anderton's overall record has already been acknowledged Reefton if you care to read hence he is a Hall of Famer, however if it was on riding alone I very much doubt he would be in there. Just to jog your memory from page 1. "That well could be, however it won't be as a jockey per se. Mr Anderton will be remembered more so as a trainer, breeder and racing administrator rather than as a jockey other than his claim to fame as the regular rider of Kumai in the 60s. Mr Anderton won 398 as a jockey mainly over the fences in his riding career and this post is no disparagement of the great man." "However Nigel Tiley has infinitely more experience and at international level than Mr Anderton ever had. Nigel Tiley has been a top class jockey in NZ, Sydney, Hong Kong and Singapore. He has also ridden in England and France including the Arc De Triomphe." I note that you also seem to place Mr Anderton above Lance O'Sullivan as a rider also, a rider who had 2479 wins, won the NZ Jockey Premiership 12 times, 62 G1 wins, won races in 7 countries and who incidentally is a Hall Of Famer also, due to his record solely as a jockey. You think that Corey Campbell wouldn't benefit as a jockey from coming North and is better placed in the South Island where the riding is of poor standard. You seem to be the only one on this thread of that opinion. I note you use the name Reefton, I wonder how far the Skelton brothers would have gone had they not left the West Coast.

The reference to 3yos is entirely endorsed by the well proven wfa scale. As the season progresses the 3yos carry more weight as they mature and strengthen.

Could well be by the time he turns 80, who knows. How many G1 race winners has Mr Anderton ridden? However if I was sending my son to be mentored as a rider I know which one he would be going to. You obviously have your preference.

That well could be, however it won't be as a jockey per se. Mr Anderton will be remembered more so as a trainer, breeder and racing administrator rather than as a jockey other than his claim to fame as the regular rider of Kumai in the 60s. Mr Anderton won 398 as a jockey mainly over the fences in his riding career and this post is no disparagement of the great man. However Nigel Tiley has infinitely more experience and at international level than Mr Anderton ever had. Nigel Tiley has been a top class jockey in NZ, Sydney, Hong Kong and Singapore. He has also ridden in England and France including the Arc De Triomphe. ADVICE: Riding master Nigel Tiley gives Rebecca Scott some advice on her riding position EXPERT GUIDANCE The sound of whips cracking shatter the previous quiet and echo off the walls, joining in with the chorus of puffing and creaking. The students are in the third room of the building which is lined with large mirrors and are riding four pretend horses, complete with bridles and stirrups. Comfortable in their crouched riding positions, reins in one hand and whip in the other, they are in their element. They urge their fake mounts on, the harder they work, the faster the sprung horses move. Riding master Nigel Tiley explains that the horses are used to practice their positions and to increase fitness. ''We'll start to refine their technique, they've all got individual styles. If we see things while watching races, we can see if they are leaning to one side. ''Horses follow your point of balance, so if they are drifting we can get the riders on these horses and watch what they are doing. It's good for straightening out things like that.'' Tiley was an exceptional jockey in his time and spent most of his riding career overseas, including stints in Hong Kong, France and Australia. He has been training horses since the early 90s and as a trainer he has earned more than $2 million in winnings. He said since he was a jockey, riding styles have evolved. ''Techniques have changed because they can't use the whip as much as they used to. ''Now it's all about upper body strength. It's definitely changed since my era, whip rules are a lot tighter.'' Once the apprentices are confident they are on track with their positions, Tiley rounds them up into the classroom where he goes over racing recordings with them. WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE Eyes are glued to the Stephen McKee apprentice Alyssa Schwerin on screen, who takes a tumble off her mount during a race and is at the mercy of galloping hooves thundering past. Once they are gone, she quickly gets up and there is a collective sigh of relief from within the room. After seeing the video from all angles, Tiley goes over what the students should and should not do if they were to get into a similar situation of running out of space for the horse to move into. Director of northern apprentice schools Sally Waters said having someone with the wealth of knowledge Tiley has was an asset for the school. ''We have a huge industry support for the school. Nigel was a serious jockey in his day and he comes in to help these guys. We've got a lot of input from a wide range of people because the industry supports bringing in expertise, they are the future of the industry and they need to be looked after.''

I will repeat the paragraph in it's entirety Reefton. "He is still pretty untidy in his riding style and with correction/improvement could be pretty handy. He needs to get away from the South Island where the standard of riding is pretty bad so he can raise his standard. Get him up North with Nigel Tiley or someone of that ilk and the he could be ok."

Well I guess we are talking at cross purposes. My understanding from Thomass's posts is that he is talking about new gear being added in the way of blinkers/side winkers not horses that have been racing in them on numerous occasions. All examples I have read from him appear in relation to new applications.

Corrective gear you stated. ie I read that to mean tongue ties. visor blinkers, Norton bits, side winkers, nose bands, blinkers, lugging bits etc etc. However you did say applied so I guess that means we ignore things being removed. That means only 12 of the 80 runners had something new applied. You can take Retallick off the list of having side winkers applied, they were actually removed.

Incorrect. 80 starters with 17 having some kind of gear change. Blinkers or side winkers going on were Rusavy (1st), Destination (6th), Kingsguard (1st) Retallick (12th) Owen Patrick (6th) Aelesund (2nd).

You really do have to wonder why two harness people are running a thoroughbred review hour. ?

Indeed, I showed one example. In her case J Mac gives another reason. She has won her last two easily without them just the same. I am not saying that blinkers is a panacea, they are also applied as a last resort on a poorly performing horse in hope of a better result, however most times making little difference to those lacking in ability.

Correct in that they would be tried in a track gallop. Perfect example Sentimental Miss. Trainer Lisa Latta was far from disappointed. “We were happy with the Lowland Stakes as an Oaks trial and feel we are very much on target for her grand final on Saturday. She is looking for the step up to 2400 metres. She has been working in blinkers to give her more confidence – she’s a pretty laid back horse and blinkers will help her push through gaps.

I would have thought that most times blinkers have been applied to a horse it is on the recommendation of the jockey. After all they are in the best position to judge whether they would suit the horse. ie Knowing what the horse is doing and how it is reacting during the race. From my experience this seems quite common. If Jimmy Mac told me that he felt my horse would benefit from blinkers being applied I would certainly give it the utmost consideration.

And just wins she did. It was never in doubt beforehand or during the running.

As expected both horses finished last. Retalik last, 16 lengths behind the winner and 7.5 lengths behind the 2nd to last horse. Clapathunda , last, 21 lengths behind the winner and 9 lengths behind the 2nd to last horse. What a complete waste of time that was. He is still pretty untidy in his riding style and with correction/improvement could be pretty handy. He needs to get away from the South Island where the standard of riding is pretty bad so he can raise his standard. Get him up North with Nigel Tiley or someone of that ilk and the he could be ok. Lets hope today's results don't dent his confidence.

?

Obviously two gear changes reading that Thomass.

Waste of time the lad going up to Ellerslie. Just two rides, neither that have any chance. Retalik, former SI horse that has managed one win at 1000m and has drawn gate 14 at the 1200m. The other Clapathunda, a jumper who last started in the Great Northern Hurdles running over 1600m.

She just wins on Saturday. Beautiful filly.

Why stop there!! If they change the name Crusaders do they also change the name Christchurch to Muhammedmosque? ? Then do they look at the Saracens, the All Whites, etc etc. PC madness indeed.

What about this the other day. Jockey Jody Hughes fined $100 for early celebration in Ardlethan picnic race meeting One jockey can count herself unlucky after being fined for a premature celebration at a picnic race meeting — despite being the sole runner in the race. Apprentice Jody Hughes knew she was a good chance to pocket the prize money at the Ardlethan picnic meeting — about halfway between Narrandera and West Wyalong in southern NSW. Hughes’ mount, March Ahead, was one of just two runners entered to contest race 2 — the Wally Halden Memorial over 1000m. But when Manna Mil, the other runner, was a late scratching after refusing to go into the barriers, it left March Ahead the only runner in the race and able to cruise around the course to salute the judge. Hughes did just that, guiding the Trevor Sutherland-trained gelding across the line. However she was later stung $100 from stewards for making a celebratory gesture before the winning post on March Ahead.

There are a number of on course punter competitions throughout the year if you look around.