curious

21 noms, so far?

That would be a little unfair since Special Agent never mentioned the word which possibly explains her puzzlement with NZTAB's remark.

Have they deleted this message from the website? I can't seem to find it any more, though I still have the condescending, patronizing email.

I notice this posted just now on another channel which is consistent with JMO's perspective.

Well, regardless whether or not it was a good idea to add it, it surely needed 12-18 months for it to infiltrate and be bound by the root structure before it was raced on again. You get what you pay for I guess. Jockeys need windshields and wipers, but the poor horses are stuck with what they get chucked at them.

What club was that?

Can someone remind me how many tons of sand they put on it in the process of remedying the slipping issues? Looks like JMO's horse removed a bit but reports from jockeys and other connections suggest it wasn't the only only one.

There is plenty of literature related to galloping action and the importance of shear for both safety and performance. That's exactly one of the things that the Ky team engaged to assess our synthetics have developed specialty gear to measure and supposedly what they used here. I'm looking forward to seeing the report on that. It would seem relatively simple to get that testing done at Ellerslie to assess its shear related safety in various conditions.

That may well be, as you suggest, partly due to the aeration and irrigation protocols that they have had to put in place due to the risk of it becoming slippery. Do you think that the sand kick back might also be a factor that is making it challenging for the back runners?

Why didn't they just say this the first time rather than take pot shots at the industry's hard working horse persons? Good Morning Riccarton Synthetic Trials Wednesday Trial entries for the Synthetic Trials close with the Bureau at 12 noon Tuesday 22 April. At that point it will be decided whether to proceed depending on numbers. Kind Regards Matt Ivil Racing Coordinator New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing p: +64 4 576 6241, f: +64 4 568 8866 a: 18 Dick St, Cambridge, 3432 LOVERACING.NZ

Did the stipes see those blinkers JMO? I'd wonder how they could deem the track safe for racing, let alone fair, if the kickback was that bad.

Agree Jess. A totally unnecessary and inappropriate snipe at trainers and connections for being sensible and looking after the welfare of their horses. Shame on NZTR for publishing that.

Really? Do they think that trialling on synthetic is a good way to condition horses for grass racing? Especially for horses that have never even galloped on one? No clue where they get that idea. Sounds like a good recipe for injury to me.

You mean an 1 1/2, hardly a lot of rain. More than that would be common for most West Coast meetings. I didn't see it but what did Kate say, that told you that?

She's a woman of few words, but what you get is gold:)

34mms S6?

If they just get 50-60mms over two days and can't race, that would surely suggest they wasted a lot of money on that track/

Soft 5 with a 24% moisture reading? Drainage might get a good test if they get the forecast 50mms in the next couple of days?

Might run up to their established ability again but rarely improve on that imo.

That's certainly not my experience and I've been an owner for 50+ years.

Are you suggesting that might be because they have access to a course proper grass gallop most of the time?

Who is it again?

Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Matamata, Te Aroha. I think there's more from the Waikato than there are from Foxton. Insane state of affairs but its either that or a quiet run in an unsuitable race if there even is one of those.

With NZTR awaiting release shortly as I understand it.

And it lost 6 points as a result. I don't think the number of runners in a race has or should have anything to do with a handicapper's evaluation of the performance.