Freda

Kurow was the epitome of country racing, as usual. Well presented track, happy and substantial crowd and hospitable committee. Sharrock was on course, as he usually is these days, as were Peter and Dawn Williams, it would have been enjoyable even without Jing producing her result at her first start for us. One of the most genuine in his congratulations was previous trainer Kenny Moore, he's a thoroughly decent bloke and does love his horses.

It's pretty good, eh?

He's a polarizing character, is Colin, but has put an enormous amount of his own money up to support racing, he deserves any success he gets. Notwithstanding some of his comments, his stance on the safety of our polytracks has to be, in some shape or form, the reason for the recent survey by overseas experts. Without him stirring the pot it would be business as usual, nothing to see here. And great to see young trainer Sam Wynne doing what she is going to be very good at indeed.

Another from Timaru. As a training center it's flying.

That's a thought I've had too. Nothing is forever, and if Entain keeps getting in the proverbial, they may well divest themselves of a non- performer. NZTR needs to seriously address the programming/ handicapping issues and take note of area-specific field sizes.

VdD put a foot in a hole and knuckled over dropping Rohan. Track inconsistent, heavier in some places than others

Ffs ..Vanderdonk

Sanderson ( Rohan Mudhoo)

All but

Hard to fathom. Whatever the reason, the horse certainly lost it's footing. Didn't seem to be in a position to clip heels either.

No, they weren't! A very old set of mine, in good nick but the up to date screen-printed ones are much nicer and lighter too. Also a set of Greenwood colours, unused for twenty years and unlikely to be recommissioned now. Appropriate for the district too I thought.

I donated a couple of sets of colours to the organization a few months ago....for a kiddies race....dont think they'll fit you!

....and the Riccarton synthetic trials last week were abandoned through lack of entries. Go figure.

That other jock was worried too. Kept asking if it was his fault.

My stance on this- as well as the current discourse about Bosson - is that there would be a lot less careless/dangerous riding if infringements were properly dealt with. No way did Denby deliberately create the havoc she did....but shifting ground and tightening horses up happens all the time...and it shouldn't. And Denby will have to live with this the rest of her life. I recall Bosson nearly putting a young Gosen Jagoo over the fence, coming from behind him( the lad was leading) and going under his neck as he went past. Competitive riding it was called. Karen Parsons whose horse it was went absolutely ballistic.

Of course, I have to ask, why did a jockey of Bosson's class wait for a horse to 'twice duck away from the whip' instead of immediately swapping the stick over to keep it straight?

Good grief

Prophetic name.

Haha....just imagine the shambles here if that was implemented country wide!

I remember one of the greats ( Gai or Bart) rueing the stance taken on anabolic steroids, the use of which was rife years ago. He or she pointed out that steroids weren't used as a 'go fast' despite all the popular chat. But the benefits were that horses would become better 'do-ers' and keep their heads in the feedbin.

It was legal then too, I used to use it, there was just a specific withholding on it. Far too long ago to recall what it was. But omeprazole has no withholding and is the main drug of choice now. Some jurisdictions don't allow ranitidine at all but still ok here, but not sure how often its used instead of omeprazole.

...and he a chemist too....

Good process. The winter Riccarton poly meetings are programmed fortnightly for much of the winter. Didn't sit at all well with me although had to compromise to get the specific race required at times.

Shouldn't any funds accrued from sales go back to the ownership syndicates?

And I have to add, the T.A model isn't a charity. It makes money, not from stakes - which are incidental and go largely to the ownership groups - but from the structure of the operation. Heaps of it.