Freda

Canterbury Belle .

So....if a stipe shows a heart vilberation whie giving an exhibition gallop, then he won't be officiating at the races?

'Viruses' are a good excuse to make for poor performance....sometimes valid, often not.

Yes it was....and it seems to be as you say. David Walsh put it another way...but I won't repeat that...!

Thanks gentlemen, yes, a big thrill....when one has a small number in work, every win is just that bit more special.....and regular rider Terry Moseley got off...? work that out...but I was lucky indeed that Brandon had landed in the south and happened to be available. With respect to this guy - in 2013 I went to Karaka for the first time, determined to at least ' have a look' as I had never been before. Good mate Danny Champion obligingly ' babysat' me and showed me around, and , as I had had an absolute gutsful of trying to re-jig the careers of recycled northerners, I felt that new blood was the only option for me. Unfortunately, without well- off potential owners, it fell to me to acquire this new blood....so, with a limit of $500.00, off I went. St Reims colt [ St Malo ] was the first, and although a winner, always was troubled by bad feet. He recently went amiss and was euthanased. Back to the weanling sales, and the second, a Battle Paint filly, had her first start at Hokitika under David Walsh and ran out a winner. Subsequent breathing issues saw her have only another few runs and she is now doing dressage very happily. This bloke was the third purchase - also for $500.00......so all in all, although I am certainly no richer, it has been a satisfying exercise.

Not quite...yes to Roger, but he is on loan to Danny Champion / Kezia Murphy.

First win today, well done young man. Well ridden, first of many, we hope.

Sure do..!

You are quite right, I feel. Yes, we can and should do better, but I can remember getting stuck in the birdcage in my gumboots years ago, just normal for winter. It is the comparison [ as you have said ] that we now can see all the time, which years ago we didn't, that makes it all seem seedier and less glamorous.

It certainly doesn't look like an antipodean approach....nor, for that matter, a UK one....but hey, Baffert has the x-factor apparently.

Haha, yeah..a wit said this morning, sort out your dealer, you've been getting lucerne..!

I thought it was Col who was writing a book..?

yeah...well, the follow-on to the latest testing at Ricc is that the two 'suspicious' tests for meth came back clear after subsequent analysis, don't know about the other stuff though. Hopefully one young fella will accept the lifeline he has been given and sort his shit out...not so hopeful about the other. As you say, hair tests would eliminate some if not all of the doubt you would think. A bit of levity in a situation not so funny...a local lass, well known for her 'medicinal' smoking, threw her hands in the air and said, " bugger it, I'm gone, don't waste your time. I'll sign the forms now...'' no, we want a sample, she was told....to find a clear result..! She's been turning handstands since!

Well, I guess one goes hand-in-hand with the other, surely?

...I'm sure they have...more to the point they know how to use them too.

Going on hearsay - probably not.

The trainers tested didn't include me...! although I offered... And several that are known drinkers were tested clear, so obviously the testing was specific.

Quite some years ago testing was carried out for the first time [ that I can recall ] at Riccarton, and the results of that, and some north island areas as well, led the then Racecourse ' D' to quip that if all the positives were suspended or disqualified, there would be many stables with no staff at all. So some were not permitted to ride work, but were able to continue with their groundwork duties. Different ball game now I feel....and yes, Jess, not just restricted to staff either.

Yep.

There has been a bit of criticism of late of the RIU and their efforts - highlighted by the recent positive results for ' P' for 3 N.I horses and one down at Riccarton. The time taken to take action and also deal with the after-effects such as disqualification, and re-rating of the runners-up has been the source of much frustration. Last week the 'feds' arrived at Riccarton on Wednesday morning during trackwork [ and again on Thursday to catch those who had scarpered ] and got a nice wee catch. Preliminary results only - with further testing to confirm - have put a few cats among the pigeons....! Well done RIU, this shit is a scourge on modern society for a number of reasons, not just for racing integrity; keep up the good work.

I'd be embarassed to call myself a 'punter' - my investments are so modest - but I have far better luck in the winter, and also, usually, in jumping races.

It's just so bloody refreshing to read sense instead of rubbish....thanks fellas.

I hadn't even realised she was riding again...super girl is Shelley.

They are and so is she...no pressure indeed! I was at Oamaru when Show Gate won her first race...this bay streak bearing those red and white colours just appeared as if by magic...little did we all know what we were seeing.

Not effectively if at all...and why would anyone lobby NZTR?