Weasel

LBD very disappointing ..had the track, jock, form, etc in her favour and produced nothing in the straight after a cosy run. Maybe they'll press o to the Myer and hope the big Flemington straight helps...or maybe that's it and she's off to the breeding barn.

Please don't use the word 'inflame' or 'inflammation' or 'inflammatory' in reference to tommyTomTom ...he may see it as an invitation to self-harm ...

on that basis Hesi lets add Jacowils in the Railway and a trifecta around $39k ...bad call, Captain My Captain. Get it sorted.

probably thinking how much money he's gonna make next year TomTom

I loved em all ...from a respectful distance, of course ...not to mention Battle Heights, Daryl's Joy, Triton ...

Caulfield Race 6 LA BELLA DIOSA Paying decent money...already a winner at Caulfield this prep and the recent runs for 5th were in top class company incl a Group 2. She has an inside draw again - not always helpful for a back-runner but she might just be too good for this field. connections are aiming for the Myer on Derby Day with her, so she'll need to go well today to have realistic chances at Flemington in November.

I'm beginning to think 3 best is a bit too tough for a 50-year spread.. I've named my three, but am now going to add two more Sunline, cos I agree with Freda (but cant include Black Caviar or Winx cos they didn't race on NZ) Uncle Remus what a sight, seeing him at Ellerslie and Trentham at his peak.. the crowd applauding him with 200m to go!! Freakish!

Balmerino - cos a champ here and 2nd in the Arc put NZ on the international stage Bonecrusher - the best Kiwi since Phar Lap at that time and for along time afterwards Kiwi - because he captured the public imagination in the toughest test of all

...and the winner is ..... THOROUGHBRED WEEKLY by the length of the Flemington straight. Greg Radley is a genius ...astute, knowledgeable, articulate, confident, composed, witty, but not a smart-arse or self-obsessed. . He has the thing that TV producers/directors look for...PRESENCE in front of the camera. He is the ultimate continuity man. And who have Weigh In got? No one of any consequence. Guerin is a know-all; Sheldon Murtha is a know-not-enough who lacks true confidence and presence, and poor George Simon is squirming in his seat having to deal with it. At least Haydn Tinsley brought hands-on perspective and a useful insight into jockeys' tactics and technique.

La Mer was one of the true champions of the turf here, one of a handful of the 1970s that got me hooked on racing. That was a hot field she beat in the Air New Zealand Stakes - and a breathtaking rails-hugging ride.

with a clothes peg on his schnozz

There must be one helluva 'rap' on Verry Ellegant, cos our bookies are running scared. A full month out from the VRC Oaks she is at $5 on the Futures Win market ....correct me if I'm wrong.... hasn't even won in Oz yet....

He called a few of the heats at Ruakaka trials, too..promising ...but not the right look/voice/style for Trackside IMO. Thank goodness for the mute button... it saves me from Mark Claydon and Peter 'There' Early on a regular basis.

Isn't there a statue of Phar Lap there? If there is, put $1 each way on it..even giving them 90 years head start the Red Terror would probably still beat all them maidens ...

This is an annual itch that takes hold in early October and is impossible to get rid of til mid November. Probably came from Australia ...I'm even interested in the Fri meeting today at Ballarat There is a Weir runner by Tavistock called Tavidance going out at very short odds having won on debut. If it wins this, I expect it will be Flemington bound.

No one will ever reach Tommy TomTom's standard, lads. I confidently predict that Tommy's response to the 'tip' on the Autridge pair will be that he told you to WATCH them, not punt on them. Of course, had they won, the response from the Tomster would change accordingly. This what elevates him to unattainable God-like status, at least in his own God-awful head.

A blessing in disguise for the connections...easier pickings here ..and I daresay Sharrock wont be sending them a training bill for the next 3-6 months! If I were the owner of LF I'd be making discreet enquiries to the D Weir and C Waller camps. She is an exceptional stayer and Patrick Erin is showing what Kiwi stayers can do over there.

...good work, Hesi. I forgot to mention Dark Princess...there's a been a quiet rap on her for a while so my hunch to stick with her and launch a three-race all-up $12 into $2 (Savvy Coup) into $2 (Te Akau Shark) proved fruitful.

Great turnout and overall vibe of excitement. Plenty of 18-44yrs many of whom had not the foggiest notion of appropriate attire for raceday or cool Spring weather. A gate charge of $25 per head was/is, IMO, outrageously expensive and counter-productive. Quality of racing and fields exceptional. Track played fair throughout the day, according to the two jockeys I spoke to. Biggest let-down on the day for me was the sound system on-course. From inside the grandstand you couldn't hear much if anything very clearly, so had to rely on TV monitors to see who was where and try to recognise colours. If it were up to me I'd replace Tony Lee whose commentary style is an irritant. (I understand that some people think he's great; I don't.) Highlights of the day - the runs of Savvy Coup, Dandanzdance and Te Akau Shark; and the fairytale coming true for Pitty. If the expected showers had actually turned up from 7am -11am Sat, would Butch Castles' worst nightmare have come true? Thank goodness we will never know. A memorable day; an exciting spectacle.

thanks for the back up FTF...not nice to have my Captain in the Comp be so unkind...reckon he lost a dollar or two on Interlocutor

M12 R9 No 4 Interlocuter Was at $35 and $8 FO this korning. Already in to $18. Should go well 2nd up

nice try but I'm not a politician

Apart from the politics of governing, very interesting all this. Who could honestly put their hand on their heart and predicted Ardern would have become such a charismatic leader ... A story for you, Hesi ... in 2010 (?) or thereabouts I was walking up College Hill en route to a business appointment and happened to see the outdoor sign for"MP Jacinda Ardern" as I walked past an old house that was her office at the time. I thought, stuff it I'll go in and ask to see her for a moment ..if she's in ...and she wasn't. (She had been getting quite a profile for herself on TV and radio around the time) I had only one brief message for her, so I left it with her secretary: "Tell her that a businessman came in from the provinces who said "you'll be Prime Minister one day".

If Avondale JC's land is to be a $200m sacrificial lamb, I think that's sad but understandable ...only because it is clearly not up to modern raceday standard and the club has not got the wherewithal to build and pay for the facilities required ..and those facilities aren't really needed now in Auckland, where Ellerslie and Counties are already functioning reasonably well. Something's gotta give and AJC has its head above the parapet with its appalling grandstand, car park etc etc IMO the major recommendations of the Messara Report are fine. NZRB governance has been poor for many years. Winston has to wait til Mar/Apr to be assured of $$$$ in the May 2019 Budget to do everything that is to be done...Saundry made this clear on Weigh In yesterday.

too wide for too long...worth another crack next time