The Centaur

You make some good points Mr Fish particularly seeing the horse before the race. Good example being Real Class versus Reggae Queen. Both had been finishing well leading up to the 2000m fillies race. However the comparison was stark. One had the constitution demeanour etc the other not so. Today I'm keen on seeing how Vickezzmargaux looks prior to race 5. more on the #'s....Mark Read makes the point the market is not stupid. Just because a horse drifts alarmingly you shouldn't suddenly decide to bet based on your pricing.

Blinkers and improved performance is not always cut and dried. I've known trainers who knowing a horse will perform better because of treatment for a virus (i.e. injection) will conveniently explain away the performance to blinkers when they have nothing to do with it.

Well lets push on some are willing to get unconfused. I note that the video gets chopped off at times just when Mark Read is getting into the nitty gritty. The "energy ratings""perpetual ratings" based on class weight speed ratings prices beating the class system perhaps we can skip over that relating to level of performance. #3 Race Maps Interpreting race speed. OK no problem there. #4 Ratings. Weight Ratings versus speed, energy, kinetic energy ratings c'mon Curious this must be your area of expertise,

Quite a bit to digest in the video. Lets get down to seriously analyzing it. Firstly I note that at 74 years Mark Read reckons he's far more perceptive as a punter than ever before. They go on about 11 fundamentals. #1 pick your team. Basically trainers, jockeys, horses etc with good strike rates and consistency Makes point about new technology both training and information. #2 Class figure for the race. I get lost thereafter maybe someone can take over with the other #'s...............

Listened to the radio interview with Brendon Lyndsay recently who was asked what meeting/track has been the most memorable. With Group 1 wins in UK, Aust, NZ etc there was plenty to choose from including Ascot UK. He chose Trentham when travelling by train to the meetings there plus also the day Fury's Order won at Tauherenikau.

You obviously have a good mirror but have some intelligence it is you in the mirror. I actually feel sorry for you as one of those that sucked in by the decade long campaign by L. Molloy against Wightman. Although it may have had elements of humour it was overall bizarre. Although Wightman gave back plenty against Molloy nevertheless there was no reasoning or justification. Keeping up or resurrecting the campaign gives you no credit but just shows how naive and brainless you seem to be.

In addition to the above.... racemeetings should also showcase horses for syndication with trainers being in attendance for discussion. This would allow young trainers with limited budget to get involved at lower cost and more transparency to syndicate members. If more of these activities take place on raceday then a scenario of fewer races on the day but more actual racedays is possible.

Racing is a professional sport. Horses can be likened to players and it would be absurd of professional leagues such as the NFL, NBA etc if they gave away their potential income from player auctions to outside enterprises. Every racemeeting should have time set aside for showing off potential sale horses either just in the parade ring or as a barrier trial. Trackside TV could also broadcast the proceedings therefore the vendor will get far better exposure than currently with NZ Bloodstock. Breeding catalogues can be provided by more than just NZB so they would have to do it at a competitive rate. If clubs thought smart about all the revenue streams they can get into then racing would be in far better position.

Big kudos to George he could not have been more explicit labelling Talentoso as outright first pick when it was paying close to $20. He also gave specific report from the trainer why it would be hard to beat. You are right about some presenters. They think they have obligation not to pass on anything gleaned privately from participants.

Looks like Thomass and Curious have a penchant for serious issues so very important. That being, perhaps one of you could give your take on the situation in Gaza.

I can't see the point of Justin Evans rattling off all his tips as the horses are loading into the stalls. Its virtually impossible "getting on" even if one wanted betting on the so called tips. The observational work of a commentator starts well before the race. There might be paddock standouts, horses sweated up, reluctant entry to stalls even some gossip among the participants prior to the race. A report on the pattern of racing in the previous racing also informative. We don't need another ego tripping tipster telling us how smart they are particularly when betting is closed.

There are occasions where BLINKERS ON can be a convenient reason to excuse a form reversal. Example say a horse has had a virus and been treated right up till raceday with injections. Have you ever heard a trainer say "The injections turned the form around" NO !... I thought not.

I don't think computers are set up for two clubs to race on the same day on the same track. That means there are two race one's for the track on the same day. Computers are not smart.

Fate???.... 100 years ago almost to the day the horse Maurice McCarten rated as potentially the best stayer he ever rode broke down in Sydney and was destroyed. In the same Belclare colours that won on Saturday.

Should be easy transferring races to Te Aroha and perhaps knocking of a couple of Te Aroha maiden races to the next raceday. Every raceday in NZ should have plan B.

I'm surprized the Sydney media haven't highlighted the connection of the Belclare colours defeating two great champions i.e. Phar Lap and Gloaming. Belclares owner is a great grand son of Limericks owner who preceded Phar Lap as champion on the Sydney scene. The half brother Ballymena defeated Gloaming and not many horses did that. Limerick won the Manawatu Sires Prod stakes before going to Australia. Belclare is just north of LImerick in Ireland. https://www.downunderpunter.com/limerick

Apparently a meeting held on Monday. Noticed that only members invited. I would have thought the only members there now would be those with vested interests like land agents. Also Avondale due to race next Wednesday. Just what are they doing to draw attention to the day??? Good guess ... nothing. With so many opportunities over the last twenty years to do something positive the committee has done nothing. Anyone with a report on the Monday meeting?

Maybe there is a case for all trainers to be in a partnership. If Weir had been in partnership all that could have happened is he departed the partnership. All clients would have stayed in the stable. Thats what happens when a lawyer in partnership is suspended and barred from practising. Why should there be any difference .....oh thats right lawyers are privileged.

At last the big guns coming out firing. The VRT (Victoria Tribunal) will get their comeuppance. https://www.racing.com/news/2024-10-17/news-stewards-weir-lodges-supreme-court-appeal

Anyone here remember the great Taranaki era between 1956-62. Good reminder here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ufNYIkh0m0

Hey they turn up in jeans so must exploiting the pick and shovel ably helped by Trackside presenter M Guerin also in jeans.

Bringing up UK jump racing proves the opposite point to which Mary B was adamant on. It shows that jumps racing has to be done properly. NZ just can't do it the way UK does it. Therefore if you can't do it properly you shouldn't do it at all. A formula which encourages racehorses to get some proficiency in jumping is still achievable. e,g, exhibition jumping prior to an actual flat race.

Looking at the photos e.g. Imperatriz "connections" I was trying to figure out who the blacksmith, trackwork rider, groom, vet, float driver was.

When one views the live TV from the UK its eye opening the number of people surrounding the parade ring even at the lesser meetings. Here in NZ the the way to attend racing is being hold up in the bar something that can be done anywhere without the hassle of going racing. Seems we are still stuck with the support the breweries way of life.

Certainly changes are required. My guess is that sport will feature prominently as per my posting here last year. Posted October 2, 2023 Obviously the publication relies heavily on TAB or NZTR subsidy. Which would explain each week Entain promo articles as well as NZTR material. Leading studs who also seem to be sponsors have some exposure. But the weekly is hopelessly outdated. Few people bother reading the form on paper as opposed online. OK it's nice having the fields on paper but this could be achieved by an insert printed after publication. Its ridiculous that a glossy magazine should have a shelf life only of a day or two. Instead of printing the form I suggest more review articles and stable tour pieces. Various charts as well could be included for the punter but above all give the publication greater shelf life making it retainable and not disposed after Sunday. Furthermore sport and classified adverts could be added overall dramatically increasing circulation and perhaps reducing price.