jess

Hi all. Don't know a lot about this track - or what sort of work was done when it was out of play. I see it's come back to a heavy 10 (from a 9) following 3mm rain overnight. Anyone more in the know hazard a guess as to what it'll be like tomorrow? Cheers, Jess

Friday questions ..... Do we think it's a problem if stables with strangles cases were still putting horses on trucks & travelling round the place, showing up at race-meetings? Would that behavior be a matter for the RIU? (no matter what stables were doing it) Would a strangles outbreak require some firm & science-based leadership from the national body - in the interests of the horses and the humans? (by humans - I mean those ones who are diligent, honest. altruistic & trying to do the right thing) Jess

Acknowledging this wonderful horsewoman. Anne enjoyed huge success as a trainer over the years - she was a skilled & astute judge both on the ground & in the saddle - and I don't think it's a coincidence some of her biggest triumphs came when she was riding her horses' work. Anne's dedication to her team and her perfectionism was on display every time one of her horses stepped onto the track - and I'd struggle to name someone whose horses were more beautifully turned out. When I picture Anne at the races - I can say she matched those thoroughbreds with her own beauty. She was a lovely person to know - and loyal to her family, friends & clients. I know Anne will be sorely missed by many - most especially her children & sisters. Love & kind thoughts to you all. Jess

Well best of luck to Hawkes Bay. Let's hope it isn't Awapuni 2.0 - where the jockeys also gave a positive report at the first trials back on the renewed track. We know what happened subsequently. And I have noticed NZTR are wont to constantly flash the name of Liam O'Keefe when it comes to their corporate comms about CD tracks - but I'm at a stage where the name just sends a shudder down my spine .... J.

A showy spray of cash that will cost the industry a chunk of change - but make little difference to individuals. IMO - not a good use of money at a time when horses are racing for 17K stakes. And ironic too. That they seek to ease the burden which arises from an international political event which fiscally affects pretty much every part of New Zealanders' lives - yet no word of compensation for the much more considerable financial hit the owners of horses trained out of Awapuni have suffered. To me - it would make a lot more sense for NZTR to offer relief for that because - That fiscal impost has arisen from the ineptitude of the organisation (stakeholders have been badly let down) It affects a discrete group of individuals (owners) so relief can be more accurately & specifically targeted Has forced owners to pay thousands in float fees to race their horses away from their home track for years now Owners have continued to pay track fees to RACE - despite restricted access to train on turf Is not over yet - & may necessitate float fees to train on turf at all (eg @Foxton) once the track is "dug up" again The Awapuni situation is the gift that keeps on giving - the nightmare we can't seem to wake up from. But suck it up everyone - for another 18 months at least. NZTR doesn't care. J.

NM - exactly! Was just what my partner in crime said as we were sat watching it. Sooooo many races (in NZ) where that happens! Didn't hear what C Grylls said - but not surprised to hear it reflected his mate's views ....

I don't know who you are Curious - but I hear ya! I would be open to sending a horse to Freda too - no doubt about it.. But I'm hands on - they spell with me - I've had them since they returned from the stud with my mares - my phone is full of photos & videos every step of the way - I just couldn't have them that far away. Call it my weakness - it's the way it is & I can't see it changing..

Huey your response resonates with me. He didn't need to concern himself with Leah's ride - it came across as if he thought no rider should have had the temerity to come up alongside his horse - that he believed it should have been allowed to dictate the race. Leah is a professional. She will review her own rides - and the styles/performances of different horses. That's all she needs do. Hopefully Robbie's comments will be water off a duck's back. If anyone wants to express their view on her ride - the trainer & owner of HER horse (& the stipes) are the only ones she needs to listen to. She's not answerable to another trainer - esp one whose horse was the fave & won the race fair & square - a race in which Leah got third. Clearly Robbie's horse is an impressive & progressive colt. It had already done the talking on the track - nothing else was needed in my opinion - certainly no comment on other horses & riders anyway .... J

Race 1 - Wanganui - won by Robbie's horse Ronaldo Post race Bevan Sweeney said something about the Patterson horse having a brain & being pressured a little bit(in the race) but how every time he's asked to find something extra - he does it. Reply was something very close to this - best as I can tell: " .... he was pressured - pressured the whole way Sweens - I don't know what Leah Hemi was doing - she must be on another planet with that ride - I'd hate to be the owners of that horse"

Disgraceful. So much spin. Starting with the first date mentioned in their timeline being 25 April 2025 - how about we dial that back to 2023 when they started digging it up ....that is the more relevant date for the long suffering CD & particularly Awapuni-based trainers & owners. That makes it over 4 years - and that's IF they make their next projected target of racing @late 2027 Also no mention of how long the track will be out of the commission for horses to work on. It's been the worst kept secret that this has been on the cards for months now - that further major work is required - I guess it's taken that long for NZTR Corporate Communications to craft that crock of .... "think positively" you say CS - clearly you have no skin in this CD racing game..

Goodness me! I take it Robbie doesn't currently - and never intends - to engage Leah on any of his. That was unnecessarily rude especially given it was live on Trackside. J.

Brace yourself CD people ... more bad news on the way re Awapuni methinks ....😬

You're impossible Chief. You say nothing will change until we stop blaming - I say nothing will change until we operate with some accountability. You want me to stop "blaming" - yet that's all we've heard from these experts - the weather, the season, the busy racing calendar, the grass etc (never their own decisions or actions) You say it's decades in the making & something should have been done - well perhaps - but what was a breeder & owner supposed to do? I'll tell you what I did - I put my heart & soul into it and paid every bill I got from every provider before it was due. And whether it was the trainer - the feed merchant - the stud master - the farrier - the vet - NZTR - or RACE - as I paid over that money, I put my faith in them that they were doing a competent job for me & my horses. In some cases - it turns out, imo, they were not. Accountability is a vital pillar of developing capability, of continuous improvement and ultimately of success. Good luck operating pretty much anything successfully without it. And as they say - success has many fathers - failure is an orphan. I'm at a loss to explain it further, so let's just agree to differ. I'd prefer for this not to descend into vitriol.

Couldn't agree more with your comments about the sand/grass/agronomy Chief. And I'm pleased you had me prostrate & not prostate (a lot of ppl do struggle with those! ) But I don't think some ppl quite get the frustration if you are not a CD racing participant. And you speak of blame & feeling sorry for ppl - crikey - they're all getting paid handsomely and just you name ONE person who has been held accountable for the debacle? Plus no-one will ever learn to do things better if they never acknowledge or take any responsibility for their role in producing poor outcomes in the first place. There's no learning! You must be able to see that? No idea what you do for a job Chief (apart from corralling us wild brumbies on this forum)- but if I screw up at my work - there's nowhere to hide & it aint gonna be pretty. Least of all for me. And I not only accept that - I embrace it. Part of what I'm paid (not so handsomely) for, is to shoulder the responsibility to do things well.

Indeed Special - you're right there. If the rest didn't scare the horses - that bit sure does ... Go all the Waikato racing bluebloods - you might end up with it all to yourself ... seems to be the way some people have wanted it to head anyhow ....