The Centaur

A couple seasons ago the Ellerslie track was relaid, resown, regrassed ..whatever and the 6 foot drains the horses galloped into removed. At quite some cost. Amazing how the corporate spin now works. The measures were only "temporary" and the underneath drainage work "needed done" for the new development. If Ellerslie can afford extra stakes (still paltry) why can't they just say where the money is coming from and not pat themselves on the back with the "new Business model"

Touched on this previously. But as far as information goes why is it such a taboo subject asking the trainer how the weight of a horse is trending. In Hong Kong and Singapore and I daresay several other jurisdictions this information is official. Don't think I have ever seen on the Te Akau website which is supposed to have "so much" information any mention of horses weight changes. I have heard several times in interviews that Te Akau trainers regularly weigh their horses.

Anyone involved with a number of horses learns to make a quick assessment and in a matter of a few words relay the most relevant information. After the race Mark Walkers first reaction to interviewers was the Tuesday trackwork. The trackwork would not make any difference to odds but it could have an influence on backing another runner to beat her.

Mark Walker might not have Richards communication skills but he is still better than many other trainers. Now after Imperatriz's win we hear Imperatriz worked brilliantly on Tuesday. Going back to the trackwork report from Matamata the description was Imperatriz worked steadily. No mention about the Tuesday trackwork on the Te Akau TV. How come these items only surface after the race.

Well listening to the Pops/Walker interview I did hear he mentioned his best chance was Bell Of The Ball which kind of didn't help the multi's. Was unlucky though as hung badly inwards when mounting winning run.

Chief, You proved my point. The write ups look suspiciously done by someone in Australia. Not even one quote from the trainer.

In the UK which is miles below NZ when it comes to publishing info hell they don't even have published barrier trials they at least have a very useful tool called stable tours. Usually annually the trainer assesses his individual team members quite often pinpointing the target races along with individual quirks. Could be much better buts its a formula should be followed in NZ. Don't know why Dennis Ryan hasn't cottoned on to that. Each assessment should be accompanied with a photo. There was a very popular publication years ago A5 in size with a photo usually highlighting horses expected to come into form certain times of the year.

With multiple horses running in races the Te Akau horses are becoming like numbers in lotto. There is little background association e.g. like Ocean Billy with its owner. Thankfully the days when every horse was prefixed with Te Akau are gone but there still isn't the uniqueness to each horse. There is plenty information a trainer can give out surely one can figure that out.

Rather a silly posting. No one can provide original information on training and the well being of the horse than the trainer. Don't know why you have gone off topic with TAB form etc thats got nothing to do with my point. I'll repeat my point. THe information on the Te Akau web site prior to racing is just a rehash from other sources which are better placed to supply it. Te Akau should concentrate on direct info from trainer or staff. Its in Te Akau's interest to get out as much info as possible. They may think they do but are rather misguided.

https://new.tab.co.nz/extended-form/2022-08-24-m2-r1

TAB is OK but Te Akau is just duplicating what TAB can offer. Numerous trainers give better information say on their facebook page. I'm just saying Te Akau would do better just displaying original information from their senior staff.

Chief, The information you display above can all be gleaned from outside form databases. There is nothing directly from the source like for example how the weight of the horse is trending. It looks like a case of a racing reporter earning a few extra bucks doing the writeups.

I don't think the industry ever funded trackwork reports apart from cooperating with say the Informant etc. In fact trackwork reporting was always a labour of love. The returns hardly covered the transport costs. At one stage I almost had a $100,000 fund cornered from the TAB but they pulled out at the last minute. However trackwork reports need to be made relevant. The timing of gallops may be a help to the trainer but are totally meaningless to the average enthusiast. The industry should employ someone fulltime in Cambridge whose duties would involve trackwork reporting, communication with participants and as a go between between sponsors, owners and marketing.

With multiple runners in several races at Taupo one feels this may be the norm for the rest of the season. Te Akau may pride themselves on their website but the information presented to the punter not great. Like telling us a horse is a top four chance and also not telling us who is giving that assessment. Could even be a machine. Having multiple runners is a put off betting wise. Take a look at todays trackwork "report" below. Just times. No opinion. No assessment of the work, the type of horse, reputation, readiness for racing etc etc. Mark Walker is not a patch on Jamie Richards for interview communication which is another minus so not much to look forward to. Te Akau trackwork highlights – Monday 22 August 2022 – No2 Sand: Romancing the Moon (S Weatherley) together with Illicit Miss (M Roustoby) worked over 1000 metres in 1.08.48, home in 38.36. Aotea Lad (M Roustoby) together with Cognito (R Shehaan) worked over 1000 metres in 1.05.09, home in 46.46. Luxembourg (N Parmar) worked over 1000 metres in 1.06.45, home in 38.32. Malborough Bay (T Harris) worked over an easy 1000 metres in 1.08.94, home in 38.91. Mohawk Brave (T Harris) worked over an easy 1000 metres in 1.06.36, home in 38.42. Amalfi Prince (T Harris) worked over an easy 1000 metres in 1.06.63, home in 38.24. Belle of the Ball (C Grylls) worked over an easy 1000 metres in 1.06.43, home in 38.12. One Kiss (C Grylls) worked over an easy 1000 metres in 1.09.7, home in 39.53. Skew Wiff (C Grylls) worked over an easy 1000 metres in 1.10.4, home in 38.13. I Choose You (J Kamaruddin) worked over an easy 1000 metres in 1.7.14, home in 37.96. Trieste (J Kamaruddin) worked over an easy 1000 metres in 1.05.38, home in 37.17. All Weather: Fashion Shoot (C Grylls) worked over an easy 1000 metres in 1.07.42, home in 38.99. Hayate (C Grylls) worked over an easy 1000 metres in 1.14.2, home in 42.57. Course Proper: Navalha (C Leveque) together with Fellini (S Weatherley) worked over an easy 1000 metres, home in 42.67. Zeitaku (T Harris) worked over an easy 1000 metres, home in 40.67. Savito (C Grylls) worked over an easy 1000 metres, home in 43.68. Synchronize (C Grylls) worked over an easy 1000 metres, home in 42.86. Sans Doute (C Grylls) worked over an easy 1000 metres, home 42.06. Dignitosa (C Grylls) worked over an easy 1000 metres, home in 41.92.

Yes that sounds reasonable. There is also the option of running races on the grass and trials in between on the synthetic if the starting gates can be moved satisfactorily.

Exactly. About ten years ago I gathered up a bundle of Molloy's postings and forwarded them to NZTR. As a license holder at the time he was turning away potential participants in racing as people don't get into racing to be abused so why bother. NZTR did nothing but when one of their own was abused oh how quickly they acted e.g. Purcell. I believe that set Molloy back about $200,000. Still he never learnt. However the bullying of his was methodical. He would research a posters background as you say, twist it around and sit back and enjoy denigrating and humiliating the person. Most of these people just walked away but still the abuse followed online. One example of the vicious abuse with his so called mates joining in was against the handicapper at the time. All the handicapper did was have a few bets outside of paid hours. Had no possible effect on any outcome and the information was the same for everyone. OK one or two postings saying the rules were such and such should have been enough. But no the personal abuse was just astounding. Any postings saying enough is enough had McKenzie the site owner retaliating with his own personal abuse and he is supposed to have been the moderator. Then you had the wannabe's. I objected to Molloy's ageist abuse against one poster. It was painful seeing the "victim" crawling to the abuser without at least sticking up for someone willing to point out the abuse.

If the gutless wonders on that other racing forum had pulled up Molloy say a dozen years ago for his abusive and narcissistic social media behaviour he may well have learnt his lesson. Instead its cost him hundreds of thousand dollars in damages and fines and now no doubt contributed to the failed mayoralty campaign. The current owner of the site instead has retaliated against complainers in various ways so the contributors know they can't criticize Molloy. Therefore I would argue its the sites owner who has indirectly caused the failed campaign.

Slater the dirty politics man. He should have learnt when to quit.

Its here at 1'36. However he deserves credit. Spoke very well apart from this one glitch. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018852891/racing-industry-mourns-jockey-killed-in-fall

In the current climate e.g. National and bullying MP's hardly a good bet when you've been fined for bullying and assaulting a female employee. Getting a criminal conviction for disregarding a court order hardly showed good judgement. Thats even before starting on the bullying at the abuse factory where he got most of his thousands of postings deleted. Oh yes in his own words "business leader" yeah right when you've been a bankrupt.

THere are numerous initiatives available to as you say "Fix it". However when one see's all the greedies feeding of the industry with little evidence of them doing anything there is no incentive to put forward those ideas. Why bother when its only going to keep them in place and anyway the first logical place to start cutting costs is removing them.

I think Ellis is trying to support NZTR. Understandbly NZTR are very concerned.

Possibly. However based on precedent if there is proven culpability then it could cost racing millions. Listened to Dave Ellis on RNZ this morning. He spoke very well with compassion. Then he dropped a bombshell. He said there hadn't been a race death for 100 years. Can't figure that one out at all. Wasn't the last in 2016. In the thirties they closed down the Takapuna track because of multiple deaths. Like to know the harm factor of synthetic tracks. There would seem less of a slide factor that can mitigate serious injury.

Gut wrenching!

Still little information. Just hoping and praying for a snippet of better news. At some stage this episode will need facing up to. Its a poor show if no news is being released for reasons other than respect and wishes of the family.