curious

Not stringent enough? Or, not flexible enough to let track managers do their job of preparing safe tracks first and foremost?

And so the debacle from the lack of all those things continues today at huge costs to all participants and disrupted spring campaigns for a lot of horses.

We've been exporting many of our best horses, trainers and riders for a long time. Unfortunately, we now seem to be exporting our best owners and punters at an alarming rate. Among other things, when it's cheaper to fly from Christchurch to Sydney and back than to Hamilton and back, it's little wonder.

Well, when I walked it last Monday it was very firm out there and a forgiving G4 inside to centre. Was it the trainer or the caretaker that claimed the outside was very heavy?

While we are at it, I vaguely remember passing through Belclare 50 years ago. From memory, about an hour's drive north of that racing icon, Ballydoyle.

Thanks for that Centaur. Great story. I didn't know that history but racing was definitely "in the blood". David was mad on it when we were in high school together and I think I vaguely remember racing pics in the lovely home he grew up in at Darfield.

On the other hand, the fastest first 400 won one race!

From: Alan Chapman <alan@riccartonpark.co.nz> Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2024, 10:17 am Subject: poly To: TRAINERS - Riccarton Park <riccartontrainers@riccartonpark.co.nz> The tractor that grooms the poly has broken down, (as this the only tractor that can groom the poly due to the size of the machine) we are waiting for a part to turn up, what this means is that the poly can’t be groomed until the part arrives which is hopefully first thing Tuesday morning.

No fear. The only damaged part will be the outside 3 metres where all the racing was conducted!

So, what's she worth now?

Kiwi Mare Belclare Wins $2million G2 Invitation Media Release - Saturday October 26 An elite G1 winning sprinter miler in her home land of New Zealand, Belclare came to Sydney chasing spring riches and found the mother lode in the $2million Group II ATC The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday. Belclare (NZ) gets the cash in the $2million The Invitation - image Steve Hart Connections of Belclare have savoured a bumper payday as the seven-year-old daughter of Per Incanto proved too strong for an elite field that featured three other G1 winning mares. Under a positive Tyler Schiller ride, Belclare had most of her rivals gasping a fair way from home and she sailed to a comfortable length and a quarter victory as the former Kiwi saluted at her third start for Sydney trainer Bjorn Baker. “I’m very lucky to get this mare,” Baker said. “She’s a dual Group One winner in New Zealand. Lisa Latta is one of New Zealand’s best trainers so I’ve got a ready-made horse for the owners, Deb and Dave Woodhouse. “They entrusted me with her. It’s been a bit of a learning curve but we got it right today. And this is the day that we wanted to get it right, so I’m very grateful.” The expat Kiwi horseman was delighted to pull off a feature win with the mare he had been bullish about since joining his stable and will now consider the next plans. “We’ll just have a good think about it but she was very good today,” Baker said. “She was able to dominate. She’s a very good mare, so that makes it easy. When you’ve got good quality bloodstock, she makes me look good. I’m very grateful to get the opportunity. “She has beaten some absolute topliners. She said she’s up to it. And we know, Kiwis, they’re always strong.” Raced by her breeder David Woodhouse, time had been called on Belclare’s racing career last season, with the two-time winner of the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeder’s Stakes (1600m) destined to be sold as a broodmare. She was subsequently offered at Magic Millions' National Broodmare Sale, where she failed to meet her $700,000 reserve. While initially disappointed with the outcome, Woodhouse has now got good reason to smile as the A$1 million first prize in the Australian Group Two advanced the mare’s career earnings to A$1,934,780. Belclare has now won 12 races, 11 of which were in the care of Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta. By outstanding Little Avondale Stud sire Per Incanto, Belclare is the third foal from the O’Reilly mare Miss Rhythmic, a winner of one race and herself a sister to Luxe, who ran third in the Listed Taranaki Oaks Prelude. They are out of the Keeper mare Gymnast who in turn was out of the champion filly of her year in Olga’s Pal, whose six wins included the Gr. 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). – NZ Racing Desk

Times weren't that quick today. I only watched the last but it seemed they were finding it pretty tough going toward the end?

What does "Worked Back Position" mean?

He did? That compacted strip down the roses has been the go to on that track for yonks. When I was there during the week it was about a good4 inside and middle but very firm out there. Not sure if that's due to traffic compaction or the irrigation unevenness but it's been like that for 25 years.

Thanks. Mine is working but slow as a wet week re-loading/updating today. I'll try that. Had to do it anyway a couple of times today. It certainly has a very lack-lustre performance compared with most.

In that case, acceptances are evidently on Wednesday for a Friday meeting but the requirement is still for acceptance day updates and the day before the races. Here it is usual for acceptances to be on Wednesday for a Saturday meeting, so you get updates on Wednesday, then on Friday. Have a look at the reports for Ellerslie and Riccarton today for example.

Yes. So Vic don't provide updates between acceptance morning and the day before the meeting either.

You don't usually get updates between withdrawal morning and morning and afternoon the day prior the meeting do you?

None due or required until tomorrow are there?

Was at Riccarton wasn't it?

Maybe. Tightening the bend is probably not ideal either. The only real way I see to fix it would be to take out the 2400 start and move the Derby to a more suitable track.

Yes. That's definitely an idiosynchrasy there. Horses can't really be flat at that stage without getting off balance and I'm not sure the jockeys have figured out how to manage it yet. Unfortunately, it also means the track will never be ideal for the best, most competitive and fair racing.

Huh? Where did you see that?

I'll be watching footie by then. Let us know how it goes.

Jockey power couple Jamie Kah and Ben Melham have led a chorus of criticism directed at News Corp for a “grabage” feature on Kah ahead of The Everest. Veteran columnist Andrew Rule penned a lengthy article about Kah, which detailed the jockey’s rise to superstardom from when she left South Australia to Victoria in 2019. But while the article praised Kah’s skills as one of the country’s best jockeys, it also went into depth about her personal life and controversies. “After all I do to help promote this industry that has been my whole life for so many years, to read this absolute garbage from Andrew Rule breaks my heart,” Kah tweeted. “It’s all nothing close to the truth, and he liked including me falling and nearly dying. How can he write this and think he’s a good person?” Melham, who was referred to as “the black night of the jockeys’ room” in the article, was also scathing.