Wingman

Double figures. More than ten, less than twenty

Have a break through the winter and you may come back refreshed in the spring

Each to their own. Watch the first two races, (Timaru's of the NZ racing world excepted) and you will get a reasonable idea of what type of track you intend to bet on/against. The real problem is because of the long term poor maintenance, one often finds that there is more going on than deciding early (e.g.) it is an easy track on the cusp of soft. This is a fact regardless of whether one watched or walked the track.

WRECK🤣

N Now I'm shuddering cos I keep hearing that from those closest to me. The tracks, handicapping, incompetent executive (previously/now) is a constant irritation but my glass half full personality says "there will be light at the end of the tunnel". Now I'm wondering if we are in a tunnel with a brick wall at the end, no light.

Great post Freda. I have long suspected that the track updates from NZTR, e.g. nil irrigation, are a work of fiction. The more serious punters are getting very wary and weary and even the regular smaller betting enthusiasts are at the point of, 'why bother'? Then there is the serious cost of time and money to the connections of the horses who time after time are turning up to a non event. A master class from NZTR on how to piss off every sector of the industry.

This continues to skew (rhymes with screw) the importance of pattern and black type and my statement is supported by the fact that the points allocated are largest for NZTR 'Eligible' nominated races, followed then by black type races.

Stay on subject Chief Stipe. We are discussing the pro's and cons of the tracks that were raced on yesterday. Ellerslie is not for discussion on this thread which has the header Whanganui rail. This is all about Whanganui and Pukekohe , how they presented and how they performed.

It was a damn sight fairer than Whanganui. Winners came from inside early, led all the way, from towards the rear and then wider late in the programme. You didn't have to think turning in your chances were toast hence my calling it fair for all (on the day). And yes, do we ever have track issues in NZ.

A lot of us are not OK with it. It is NZTR who think it is OK. When I see that type of massive bias I will not bet. We knew getting out wide was a must but it became obvious there was a strip for only one or two horses, the rest inside of that no hope. A fair winter track is what was presented at Pukekohe. Yes they got wider in the later races but it was fair for all.

A comment was made on trackside that after race 2 (I think) that all riders had been reminded of their responsibilities. Riddell copped a suspension for his ride on Wewillrock. After the last race, apprentices were shown a replay and no doubt comments on the good,bad and ugly. Still this all goes back to the lack of investment in tracks. Whanganui was not always like this. Horses did used to win near the inside rail on heavier tracks than yesterday but yes that was late last century.

The key word you left out Doomed was 'thought'. She thought she had the right idea and that she knew what she was doing. I have seen her ride perfect rides on this track in recent times and horrible rides, on both good and bad tracks. I suspect it is father time bringing inconsistency to her riding and she has become more cautious / safety conscious.

Winter racing is seldom a good look especially when extreme bias (outside rail) is usually at play on heavy tracks. Whanganui is a shocker for that but there is value for the brave. Doyle's ride on Belardo Boy was excellent, cut the corner and got onto 2nd best strip. Also the sire Belardo is starting to look like a top mudder sire.

CEO, General, Captain, or old school Managing Director, you are by definition a leader although that does not mean one is really one. Referring to your comments (Doomed) in 'When will AWT take off' re this weekend field sizes, this/you astutely takes aim at the heart of the racing industries potentially fatal problems. A calendar on its last legs being propped up by a weakening handicap system, relying on weary tracks. Enjoy the sunset, can be brilliant.

Bellew was blunt but so was Sharrock's response. He could have said something along the lines you have just posted, i.e. Don't agree, think they get a reasonable deal etc. But no, he said "happy to talk about how the thoroughbred industry contributes to the economy but if Sean (Bellew) wants to have a crack about micro industry issues, that's separate". That for mine sums up the leadership/mentality of the current executive, arrogant and out of touch.

An urgent lunchtime meeting has been called to discuss the spelling of vital bullytins whilst enjoying their vittles

He is a professional jockey in every sense however no one is perfect. Reminds me of a builder doing some work for me and during a break we chatted briefly about sport. He said he had played club first grade and his nickname was nobody, as in 'Nobody's perfect.

Re 650k bonus the idea was to encourage NZ elite horses to stay. You have answered your own Question regarding success/value.

Like many of us enthusiasm wanes somewhat as winter and very heavy tracks loom. That said I have known many a punter that loved the wetter months and like you I can get sucked into the gruel that is a genuine slush/sticky track. I noticed that the stakes for the Winter months have been reduced but I was curious about open handicaps and what I uncovered is depressing. An owner with a mudder will be racing for stakes in most open handicaps that were available 30 years ago. A real you and us divide compared to Spring/Summer racing. Yes there was always a gap but that gap is now a chasm. Scroll through the Saturday dates in the Calendar on NZTR and you will see. If one has a promising galloper that only performs on heavy, why bother. I had a lot of success in one early winter race which used to be known as the Kiwifruit cup raced mid/late June at Tauranga. We remember the names of those lovely horses that we bet on and won, so again using the excellent data available on NZTR website I can type in the horses name and see results and stake of race. The Kiwifruit cup was 35K in 1991, (approx 100k today), 2007, stake doubled to 70K but mid last decade dropped back to 40K. Problem is next month, ten years on, that race will be still 40K. I think there is a strong case to be made for racing to cease for 3 weeks in July and then a grand finale in the last week of July where real money is up. That unfortunately requires initiative and creativity regarding the racing Calendar...sigh

Who is this tight five you repeatedly refer to TAB For Ever? ( aka Oscar, aka Jesus )

100% agree with that comment re RACE Special Agent. Here however is what we are all dealing with. This is a comment from the Venue Plan. Quote "NZTR also acknowledges, in this regard, that ensuring New Zealanders have access to racing was (and remains) one of its guiding principles for its venue plan. However, a balancing act is required when applying the guiding principles, with the result that this principle may be outweighed by other principles in relation to a particular venue".unquote

Impressive. 6K my highest, for a dollar mind. Harping back to Empire Rose, she won the Melbourne cup by half head but she was so long that her hindquarter was clearly behind Natski's (runner up) hindquarter!

Yes Trifectas used to be genuine overs back then. Like many of us I have had some great collects on them over the years but now there is little value now as the pools are just not there. Major racedays like Melbourne cup excluded. Talking of major racedays how about this story re trifecta dividends. I was at the Breeders Cup 2009 and witnessed Zenyatta win at Santa Anita. She was red-hot on the tote, Winx like dividend. I boxed 5 horses including her in the trifecta and only her was a local. The other 4 runners were European visitors. She bolted in and I thought at best double your money. But the weight of the USA money was on all the USA runners bar 2nd fav Rip Van Winkle who wasn't in the money. (RVW was one of my other 4 runners) 13 horse field, red-hot fav wins.. $596 trifecta...luvvy jubbly

I get RACEFORM delivered to my door every Thursday. It is not as good as the previous publication The INFORMANT but the NZ comments are good enough. Use that and the video replays on NZTR site and there is enough to work with

In my my opinion I am a well behaved, boys behaving badly type of opinion person and on this I am probably unequivocal🤣