Wingman

Tracks like Foxton are perfect for not only trials but also as it used to be for decent lower level, think listed races, in the autumn which also keep the pressure off some the 'bigger' tracks. I know they raced the Foxton cup there until at least 2009 and if ever a 2yo race should still be racing there it is the Castletown Stakes. That race, once won by the great Veandercross, usually mid May date, is now programmed at Wanganui on Queens Birthday. The last 15 years have seen a lot of change in NZ racing and much of it unnecessary. On a positive note very pleased to see Ellerslie get through their big day on Saturday.

Too short to back for mine and very hard to see her get beat. Looked at this field in depth last night and decided there was value in a place bet. Settled on Mosinvader who was 31/5.50. Wake up to the price now 14/3.50 so I will watch and enjoy without a bet. Regarding the Sunline take a good look at the first 3 or 4 past the post as it will be very difficult for the fillies who now race at Taupo on 8th March to back up in the Oaks 8 days later

Bouquet Special Agent re highlighting Freda's H@S comments. Brickbat for complimenting Otaki track manager although in his defense inherited a lemon that used to be a peach of a track. The track is stuffed like so many others due to constant over watering and under investment in maintenance. The real issue now is why do we still have the tired managers/dinosaur's at NZTR continuing to dictate a path to oblivion. On 13 Feb NZTR press release re Hastings "The consensus among all involved was that the previous inconsistency issues had been successfully addressed." Today, 15 days later "NZTR and the club will undertake a full renovation of the Hastings turf." Whoopee, lets all celebrate, mad hatter style.

A top class racing journalist Tony Morris published a superb book 'Thoroughbred Stallions in 1990. In the Preface he said the aim of the book "was to provide a background to the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industries of the modern era with particular reference to the role played by leading stallions. It examines the key events in the racing and stud lives of 75 horses, each notable for some reason or other." This book is fascinating because the author doesn't just give dry facts but links those facts into other facts backed by his knowledge and yes, opinion. The following is the opening paragraph of one of the chapters and I will leave you to your own conclusions apart from the comment, 'The more things change the more they stay the same.' Quote, "One of the saddest results of recent developments in the pattern of ownership in Britain is that the vast majority of the better horses are now concentrated into a tiny minority of unnaturally flourishing stables. The likes of Henry Cecil, Michael Stoute, Luca Cumani, Dick Hern and Guy Harwood are obviously very good trainers, but they are not that much better than a host of talented smaller trainers who, until a few years ago, had a chance of competing with them. The little man has been robbed of his dreams while the favoured fellow at the top really has nothing to congratulate himself about beyond having made the most of what were, at best, his exceptional opportunities, at worst, his unfair advantages. The medias' inevitable tendency to concentrate on the big trainers and their strings only exacerbates matters. Countless second-rate horses, who would not be deemed worthy of notice in a smaller yard, become hyped, while the first rate-rate horse in an unfashionable stable is overlooked, seemingly powerless to attract attention to himself. "unquote

100% correct. Matamata was a perfect summer track

The race and other races on the day were a farce because the inside was totally off and the only reason the track was rated slow most of the week is due to NZTR mandates re watering. There is a big difference between watering to achieve grass cover avoiding rock hard tracks you allude to and creating slush. The bottom line is executive demands are overriding hands on track management

TAB For Ever you are totally missing the point. We should not have to factor overwatering into our betting analysis in Summer. The fuckwits at NZTR insist on having a track overwatered and it is playing havoc with punters confidence. It also weakens the constitution of the track, many of which are already neglected race tracks.

Peter Williams, trainer of hot Favourite Desert Lightning said this morning he was on a permanent weather watch Friday night, Saturday morning. I was puzzled. It is Summer, dry, little rain recently. Early in the afternoon at Otaki there was one brief heavy shower and a few light showers but really nothing of concern...or so we thought. Mr Williams knew what most of us initially did not know, the track had been heavily overwatered and any rain would be to the detriment of the track. The drone shots of the track once racing got underway showed a grass cover and colour that looked like it had been photo shopped to display a perfect Spring day, except it is peak Summer. We move forward to the Trackside presenters waxing lyrical about how the Trackside G1 Classic will be shown live in Hong Kong and showcase one of our great WFA races of which this year 7 of the 10 runners are G1 winners. The race is a farce, Belclare, firm track horse, makes the pace but goes extremely wide, Desert Lightning loved the first 200m down the shute on firm ground and despite being erratic showed his class battling on (yes being facetious) on good Summer footing. La Crique is more versatile with ground conditions and handles the conditions well after definitely running the race of an improver first up from a brief spell. How much more enjoyable would this race had been if raced on a genuine Summer track. How many punters here and offshore are going to say as I did, "Stuff this" and not bet and how many will not get involved again because they did bet their hard earned on a $2.20 shot that could never win because of the idiots who currently run our industry and insist on over watering summer tracks. Staying with the idiots at NZTR do they really not understand that mid December to mid March is what the racing industry is all about. Summer racing, picnics, yearling inspections, yearling sales and above all convivial times on good to fast tracks on mainly hot days. They really are the fun police and must be seen off. The final word goes to the trainer of the beaten fav who said prior to the running of the G1 at Otaki "Had the track been downgraded I would have scratched"

NZTR are out of their depth big time. NZ Racing, NZTR/TAB is being played, short term gains, long term pain and yes it is totally unacceptable for a CEO to play the raw prawn and pretend all things IT are above his ken. To be successful a CEO has to understand an immense amount of diverse information which is why most of us, myself included, specialise. Last Saturdays IT malfunction is totally unacceptable as is the woefully weak response from NZ executives. We need much better.

Go back to my post yesterday then look at at your various responses (not all necessarily to mine) and collectively the answers are all there. What isn't is NZTR

A total reconstruct of the pattern/calendar would give those smaller but financially sound 'country' clubs a real chance at hosting genuine G3 races. They are realistic, they understand the days of e.g. Levin racing club hosting a G1 race are gone, however there are a good few clubs in both Islands that deserve a better opportunity then currently afforded, at putting on high class races on a Saturday.

Not sure if they are. They 'officially' were advised at a 'roadshow' attended by 20 or so at Cambridge on Monday.

Editorial in this weeks Raceform says the Single National System (SNS) started in 2020 in conjunction with Racing Australia is being canned. The intention was to collectively capture and process all IT data from licencing to racefield processing etc. To further quote the editorial. 'The worst news is that the cost of the project - something north of $4 million has had to be written off. Short-comings in the contract with RA and the legal opinion that any litigation attempting to recover costs would not be successful. That has left NZTR with no option but to address its own IT needs, which includes reverting to its previous provider and upskilling its own IT department.' unquote. This lot (NZTR executive) are a 101 perpetual lesson on HOW NOT TO

Because it was decided that the original contours that were always a feature of the Ellerslie track should as much as possible be retained.

The glaring example of administrative folly is Foxton. That track is the perfect backstop when major tracks in CD need respite. But no...NZTR knows best and continues to thrash what are now shadows of their former glory e.g. Trentham and continues to put out endless memos regarding what they are doing to improve, and they are certainly not improving.

Add New Plymouth to the number of dodgy tracks out there. Following race 7 today as per the stipes report 'Several riders expressed concern regarding the shifting nature of the track which appeared to be deteriorating throughout the day . Stewards convened a meeting with riders and club officials, with all participant's agreeing to continue racing.' The common theme throughout the day including beaten fav Tshiebwe in the last was "failed to handle track conditions"

OK I will bite.. AGREE. looks like a very wet and windy next 24hours

There will always be disagreement about 'which' tracks get the green light and regardless of the fact that this has been dragged out for decades doesn't mean you should roll over and mutter 'racing sucks'. It certainly will suck however if there is not real planning now for this decade. Ellerslie, Te Aroha, done and Awapuni underway. If they stop there then there is a hidden plan but discarding the conspiracy theories that logically leaves Trentham, Hastings and Riccarton. Then 2nd tier tracks who will have been identified as essential will then get attention. By this time, I always an optimist, will note the calendar/pattern has been sorted and pigs will be spotted flying with ducks by Freda.

Were I to put up a proposal today to reduce racetracks by 30% and guarantee real money will be put into the infrastructure of the remaining tracks I will get 100% percent buy in with the one proviso "As long as it is not our track". A century old conundrum. NZTR need to grow a spine and say these are our Premier, 2nd tier and country tracks, sort out the calendar/pattern once and for all, accepting there is a Hungry beast called Karaka. The track infrastructure must be rolled out in a defined order. No more Hastings nonsense where our premier spring track fails last decade and then fails worse this summer. So much for "this will not happen again". We can not afford key executive personnel to 'cruise' over the next 18 months. We require genuine leadership with precise direction and decision making. Entain gives us 5 years of stake increases and marketing momentum. Make the most of that and at the very least that will leave the industry with a network of top class tracks that will be a pleasure to visit and race on in the 2030's

Racing is no longer at Wairoa or Gisborne. No point arguing that one although last years storms have made the east coast road even more fragile

Concur 100%. Karaka is becoming a money beast so this will be kicked under the carpet short term. There is some major thought/work required next month as the Lowland on the 28th Feb is a critical leadup into the Oaks and on the 18th Feb there is a low key meeting scheduled at Hastings but it does include open 40K Wairoa cup. I would transfer that meeting to Tauherenikau which can handle volume racing. (meetings on 3rd and 24th March follow) That gives whoever, a month to put the Hastings track into some sort of order. This reiterates what many have said re lack of regular maintenance on our main tracks starting to really bite. The question that must be answered is why is the track in such poor condition when there has been nearly 3 weeks between meetings?

Galileo. Now behave, breeding can be like statistics, one can always find a way to prove a point..to a point

The track on Cup day at Trentham, unlike last year, was not softened by nature but too much irrigation. The indentations down the Shute during race 2 gave a very clear visual of what was to unfold. It was not the very light drizzle and one brief strong shower that stuffed the surface but a zealotry desire to always have tracks with give in it. Summer racing particularly in January/February should be, (weather permitting) on firm/fast ground. Many of the tracks in NZ are in poor condition. Some are being upgraded, Awapuni currently and hopefully Trentham to follow. What use will that be however if an excessive watering mandate persists. Serious bettors will continue to leave the industry or like me, at best reduce their involvement due to a lack of trust (in the tracks). That lack of trust goes right to the sprinkling of the matter. We do not believe the reporting, of what amount the irrigation was and when it was applied. This regrettably is not a modern day issue. Over 30 years ago as a young owner in my early thirties I was walking towards the stabling area at Awapuni. The good old days when you could go and see your horse some time after it had done its best for you. Coming the other way was a top class trainer who was wrapped up in his own world muttering to himself. Actually he was exasperated and was using words to the effect of "Why can they not leave nature to dictate the track conditions?" He was Noel Eales.

Disclosure, Did not have a bet on the Levin classic, up late cos waited for the very late stipes report from Trentham and licking my wounds because Lisa A didn't cut corner on Sagunto (thereby saving lengths) before moving wider in the straight...'sigh' times many thousands. Back to the heading of this post. Jockeys of 1st and 2nd in Classic (Bosson/Hashizuma) both fined for excessive whip use. Watch the race and you will not see excessiveness but the fines are, akin to a parking warden stitching you for being 3 minutes over or in this case 3 hits too many. Obey the rules and in tight finishes probably lose. Disobey, get fined but arguably you win illegally. This nonsense needs to be sorted out or we will gradually start to lose the people the thoroughbred industry needs the most..owners and punters.

The distortion has been caused by the Northern clubs getting their own way and those who create/adjust the racing 'Calendar' either ignoring or not understanding the enormity of the problems the current calendar continues to create. Do they have any understanding of the history of many of our races? The Wellesley (used to be) the first decent (listed) race for early 2yo in October at Trentham. I fondly recall when I was in the UK two decades ago how presenters would proudly announce the 30th/40th renewal of a time honoured race. Same race,same place. In racing regardless of the black type status one must get the pattern correct. Karaka has grown into a mighty beast without any real thought to the consequences prior to, or after the grand event. This is a forum with many analytical minds so I will throw out a few examples of what I consider positive change for consideration. I am moving away briefly from the 2yo issue. Move 1000/2000 guineas to Trentham in December, less early pressure and trainers with the good ones can better prepare for Karaka. Move Oaks to Riccarton in March. Will be easier for the classier types to fly out to Sydney for AJC Oaks. Put the Auckland cup back where it belongs on New Years Day and move the NZ cup to Oaks day at Riccarton. As for this weeks Wellesley that needs to be one week earlier, leaving 3 weeks lead up to.. KARAKA...getting bigger and better. South Island 2yo racing would literally take off late summer as NZ cup and Oaks at Riccarton would create alternative opportunity to Awapuni's Sires Produce.