jess

Phew! Just as well. I get to stay! - Yay!! All the best, J. (owner-breeder of modest performers to date - still hoping for a group winner though!)

I am hearing that the TB man in Manawatu who was caught up in this business has gone quietly (exited his previous place of employment ...). I would be interested to know if anyone here can : A: Confirm this B: Tell us (fellow stakeholders) what this expedient departure (if confirmed) cost the organisation. Rgds, J.

Thx for the update Freda. I'd be v intrstd to hear the outcome. Hard to imagine it was not known the horse was a windsucker. That alone does not look gd for the vendors ... J.

It is an impressive piece of form- no doubt about it - and it's inevitably raised a few eyebrows. But heck thems is harsh words Ashley ... care to elaborate or qualify your comments? Jess

Good work Hesi & Chief. Yep there's one poster I don't care for but I believe to date he falls short of needing a ban. I find little value or pleasure in his posts - but acknowledge others may feel differently. And if he doesn't cross the line (gets close sometimes) I am happy enough to exercise my own editorial decision and I simply no longer tend to read anything he posts.

What a bloody tragedy. So sorry to hear that Gee. And that's my point - it's just not worth it IMO. And there are too many ignorant idiots out there.

Oh is that right BarryB? Pleased to hear it was tongue in cheek. Believe me - there are people who actually think the way your post was written.... and some of them even frequent racing chat-sites ?

Oh bollocks Bazza. He's a grown up and he's been round the block a time or two. Opie is merely doing what Opie wants to do - he has free will! Your view sounds a bit misogynistic to me ....I'm not sure why you'd even think that! It's fair to say Opie seems to be a hard dog to keep on the porch - but I can't see how you could bring any judgement on Emily out of the circumstances as we know them .... It would be lovely if this proved to be the one that lasted for Opie. All the best to them - and bubs.

I'm sure there's no malice in that comment & when I read it out to my mate here he reckoned even Opie would chuckle. P Dwarf - IMO that's one of the funniest quips ever here .... ?

I know what you're saying Pete, but I realised it doesn't work that way a long time ago - around the time Hugh Grant was snapped with one Divine Brown whilst he was with Elizabeth Hurley....

Good spotting Weasel - I see there is nothing myopic about this mustelid ? She was a pretty tidy mare - and it looks like she's gone to nice horses - ableit you probably could have put her to the station-bred colt down the road and it would've won ...

Yep ... crashed on me too ... admittedly did leave it close to the cup as I didn't finish work soon enough to get onto it earlier. Never mind - actually I saved myself a few dolars. Thanks TAB ?

Thx TW. I was wrong re CD connection - just the half bro trained there. Cheers. J.

I've received wine, wine glasses and money for winning races but neither the horse or me ever got choccies ... ?

Have noticed for a while now how the historic trainer drops off the display on the website. From memory they used to remain there for all time. Whoever was the last trainer of that horse...

Yes you do that weasel. Thx even my delicate fingers seem fat on this phone) I think you are right about the CD but but I can't recall either. I know the (half?) brother Sligo is trained in the CD- at Awapuni I think. Big money has been turned down for him. The right decision? Time will tell. But as the owners don't need the dosh - why cash him in if they believe in the horse I guess.

And one of my alltime hated phrases ..."going forward" Most often used in a context in which there is no other direction to be heading! Just a redundant little pair of words which people somehow think adds meaning or gravitas to whatever they are saying. Funny really when it has a reverse effect on me. I'm inclined to disregard anything which is said or written in a sentence alongside these 2 words and have been known to delete emails without even reading the rest of them once I encounter the phrase. So far this approach has served me well because most people using the phrase are idiots.

A "serious racehorse"?? (As distinct from a jokey, hardcase horse.who takes the mickey out of his mates, never does his homework and just goes to the races to eat his lunch). I don't mind it actually .. it just makes me smile ..

Forgive the departure fm the racing theme but this rugby one is idiotic ... "they have come (or they are here) to play". No s##t sherlock!!!

Yes!! Has infiltrated commentaries bigtime of late ..

Haha ..."yeah nah" .... a certain prominent CD trainer when interviwed starts answers to most questions like that ... mkes me smile ..

"Time honored" race ....

Didn't bet on the race but loved the result anyway. Not to mention J-Mac's comments - kiwi owners, kiwi trainer and kiwi jockey. It doesn't get much better than that (apologies if I have misquoted you James - it's just as I recall the post-race comments ...)

Sorry NM - I am ruled by my self-interest on this one. I hate the darned things and would gladly see them gone. I have wonderful neighbors who "get it" and pretty much due to a couple of us who have horses - the whole lot of us don't indulge. I am very grateful for their consideration. My sister is not as lucky - has rural neighbors with townie ways - they go nuts with pyrotechnics every year and it is a nightmare for her. I know I sound like the fun-Police but just because horses get spooked by lots of other things it doesn't mean adding a once-a-year, guaranteed dead-set-scare-the-living-daylights-outta-them occasion is a good idea. I have a horse who initially hated the local topdressing pilot's low passes and the neighbor's chainsaw. Clearly those things rightfully continued and I worked through it with my big 16.2hh scaredy-cat who is now wary rather than panicked by those stimuli. Fireworks are a bridge too far.

My local spy who lives not far from the course talks of showers/drizzle since day-break today. Track showing as a 5 currently. Makes me nervous ... keep having flashbacks to so many other days walking into the lounge between outdoor jobs to see suits 'n' jocks walking around on the track disconsolately .... Good luck everyone. J.