Special Agent

No races tomorrow.

Did I?

If the track was described as shocking, which tracks was Wanganui being compared to? The two senior riders can't have ridden at Waverley on 21st April then. If the times were slick, just how shocking was the surface?

There are a lot of presenters employed.

I doubt it. I would have thought Edward Rennell had contacts from his harness days he could have called on.

So if those senior riders were at the meeting what are they saying now?

They talk a bit about track staff salaries. Seems odd in the context of the meeting.

Not sure about who come up with another committee to be formed. Who were representing the trainers and jockeys? We'll blame them.

Evidence - oncourse punters were talking about it. I would have assumed fixed odds bets would be put on using a phone. Questions were confusing to punters and slowed up the queues. Tote staff were a little sharp with the customers, from all accounts.

Is it happening at every oncourse venue where the tote staff are pushing Fixed Odds bets over Tote? Apparently you have to specify if you want a bet on the tote.

Not buying into any arguments. Trainers haven't had much option at some tracks. You are the statistics man.

Take a study purely on the Awapuni synthetic training fatalities then. See if the volume and nature has any bearing vs pre synthetic.

Rubbish. There are loose, deep, holding, puggy etc versions of the same heavy ratings for a start. As Freda said about Riverton vs Riccarton, what about Wanganui vs Trentham vs New Plymouth vs Otaki. That's why the jockeys' opinion after riding a track on race day is important, despite your opinion of them.

I've heard this quoted quite a bit recently by NZTR and other NZ racing subsidaries like it's something new. Grey Way is a good example of this. There were many more prior to him, back in the days when racing was less frequent, trials and irrigation were futuristic. Talk by trainers and riders away from media is quite negative around what is happening in racing. There are some frustrated bodies out there. One aspect that is quite a hot topic is the trialling and vetting of horses that have not raced within the last 12 months, another cost to owners. Well done to two in that category at Wanganui. Pretty obvious Jordan Rogan's big divvy winner with jumpout wins under it's belt didn't need vetting.

Data used is suspect and all the data we have = a report put out begrudgingly anyway but, the industry has what it asked for. Variation of track conditions track to track despite the same rating, and quality assurance = from reading the report, as with turf, synthetic tracks have their own make up for whatever reason and contribute more so than crucial correct maintenance.

No fractures, hairline fractures, bowed tendons, bone misalignment, strained tendons and ligaments, muscle damage etc.

Can someone find evidence in the report that NZ synthetic surfaces are safe for the horse to run on in comparison to a grass track?

Yes, fair point. The ones that can get through an entire programme.

I think the track was a bit sticky, not much mud on the horses or colours. If you backed a horse today that performed below par stay with the ship next start as such a run should be forgiven. The horses for courses label is one that definitely applies to Wanganui.

Now the report is out and digested to some degree is there anyone out there who believes our AWT's are as at least as safe as our turf tracks?

Most trainers must think along these lines. How many times are trials on turf cancelled due to insufficient entries compared to trials on synthetic? The trainer's choice is quite often taken away by limiting the options to only synthetic. Only time will tell as horses that have trained and raced on synthetic age.

Not train or race on one.

I agree with Curious. I think the main purpose of the report was to address safety issues. I am sure Massey had a number of limbs for autopsy from trackwork from the Awapuni synthetic track. We've all heard the rumours about these findings. Stupidly I thought there might have been some honest reporting instead of a glossing over of facts. Looks like I have gleaned a different set of information than most but, I'd stand by my interpretation, particularly in assessing whether or not to train or race on one.

Holly Andrew and Lisa Allpress broke legs at Awapuni and Riccarton respectively. Ask them what they think of the synthetic surface.

Maybe Mark Walker thinks trained differently he can be invigorated.