Freda

Initially, the opinion was a fractured fetlock. But given the difficulty in being precise with all the swelling and inflammation, a definitive diagnosis hasn't been easy. Last I heard was that the mare was having more scans/x-rays, with the thought tending towards a forearm fracture. She's at Canterbury Equine Clinic.

After nearly an inch and a half of rain....the fire is definitely out.

..and McNab's was overdue, he has been pushing the boundaries down here with no penalty. Well deserved - IMO. The difference is, of course, that some of the apprentices steer badly either through lack of ability/strength, or lack of tactical appreciation. The seniors mentioned above know full well what they do.

Good comments. You will have noticed that the top of the turf was chipping out, does it most always, but it would have been very hard underneath. The type of soil underlying just can't absorb irrigation very well and can produce very shifty, false footing ; hence Pitty's intense dislike of artificially watered tracks. Once it rains properly, the conditions change markedly and we can get very testing ground indeed. I'm sure some of my owners scratch their heads at my choice not to run there very often, in summer certainly. But I know that, despite watering, the jar is significant. A few years ago I had a modest little performer with a pedal bone problem. Very genuine, he was, but struggled on anything but softish footing. I took him to Riverton on one occasion, thinking that the track would suit him perfectly. For once, it didn't rain. When normally, at Riverton at Easter, stable people and spectators alike are clad in swannies, parkas and gumboots, the public came out in their summer finery. Local girls sported short skirts and fascinators....! The track came out as Gd 2. If the costs to get to the bottom of the island hadn't been so significant, I would have pulled him out, but decided to allow him to run. Worried myself sick for hours - but he bounced off the peaty turf and won. Later, back home, I ran him at Riccarton on a Dead 5.....and he felt the ground badly and didn't let down. Agree re. Strathayr. That [ IMO ] is the only way to get some credibility, consistency, and a horse-friendly surface. And, given the difficulty in getting sufficient water to all the grass areas, how on earth is an allweather going to be well maintained - as well as the existing grass course? correct me if I'm wrong, but I think a fair bit of water is required in the upkeep of one.

Inexperienced- or inept - tuition and policing, too. IMO.

True....but Cup week is a tradition in itself. If numbers at the trots are down, then we have to accept a sign of the times....but if they hold up....?

No comments from anyone about yesterday's racing.? I had nothing good enough to run, but the racing was super and there were some stellar performances. Catalyst - as expected - and Sensei, 55 sec in a canter, boy. Friends attended, they had a good day but noted that attendance was pretty thin. Will be interesting to see how the Trotting Cup day fares numbers-wise.

I reckon. Looked awful.

No, they certainly don't....but some balance and accuracy wouldn't hurt, these poor creatures weren't racehorses as far as I know. I'm with Thommo over the whips too. As for this maggot, repeatedly local horse girls offered to buy horses from her, but she refused. As for the impotent, incompetent and downright ignorant SPCA....they need to be held accountable too. To my knowledge Lisa has never been a 'trainer'....she did hold an amateur licence at one stage though.

Notwithstanding....the horse's run was tremendous. A winning effort - IMO - with a different passage.

I think I saw one after ' Zealand ' ......but in the Rest of the World news, the headline reads ' Godolphin unleach son of Galileo ' .....really?

I've seen a lot worse, Mr Mustelid.....just have a gander at some of the stipes' reports....geez...

Absolutely. She has certainly stamped some respect on NZ form - even though we all know things aren't great - and if she steps up again next week we can hold our heads up....as producers/ handlers.....just not administrators.

I can also understand the ire of the trainers/handlers of the horses concerned, they will be questioning the experience/ability of those pronouncing sentence on their charges, and who can blame them?

I can't answer why the horses were allowed to gallop after the scan - but from a legal perspective, if there was any doubt at all about their soundness they could not be allowed to run. Imagine the can of worms if one had caused dramatic interference upon breaking down and someone had been hurt? Not to mention the publicity....

No, nothing like that - apparently came in after riding some pacework, sat down and had either a heart attack or a stroke. ...this from a local. Had an a health issue last year, so I was told.

As for Greenfields - it will be smack in the middle of suburbia and obsolete before it gets going.

I understood that ' the upgrading of selected tracks ' was conditional upon the sales of other tracks.... there isn't any money from anywhere else. Of course, if the NZTR plan of closing tracks continues on without being able to steal community assets, the state of those 'selected tracks ' which will be forced to hold extra racedays without any upgrade, will be interesting. The recent Gore situation - down for closure eventually - running its third racemeeting in a month on Thursday. . Winton, not allowed to run at its own track, sent to Ascot Park - hang on, unusable, what a wonderful choice for a track to retain - has to run at Gore. Masterstroke, guys. It would have been understandable if Gore had given the industry the middle finger, but, to their credit, chose to look after the hapless stakeholders.

Sorry about the three - peat....technology....

Where have I supported anything in this ridiculous discussion...?

Where have I supported anything in this ridiculous discussion...?

Where have I supported anything in this ridiculous discussion...?

Can you fellas not have such a long - running willy - waving contest?

The Sunday Market is held at Riccarton, but you would hardly expect races again the day after, surely? But plenty of other venues to utilise.....maybe a shortage of product?

Disagree. He is clearly fragile, they know he has soundness issues to a degree, they are looking after him, and good on them. After all, he is a gelding, it is in all their interests to keep him going and sound for as long as possible, he doesn't have a stud career to rush off to. Te Akau is very fortunate to have the skills of team Richards to rely on.