Freda

Entain has everything to do with the huge stake increases that you surmise some Aussies might wish to target.

What about Molly Bloom, thoughts?

After the recent Hastings debacle which inconvenienced many horses, but NONE more than the poor Aussie representative, I'd be surprised if too many would bother. And Entain wasn't around when Messara did his report.

Broodmare paddock. Nothing to prove.

Go the southerners

Which tells us what, exactly?

Well, you can laugh at me - and probably will - but I think its quite beautiful.

No

What a field.

There is another thread specifically on this very topic, so I won't wade into that. But it is worth remembering that one of our greatest ever horses, champion staying mare Princess Mellay, raced very early as a two year old - McLean Stakes - and remained sound all her life, some 40-odd years ago. Ok, only one horse. But horses have been raced as two-year-olds for two hundred years, or more. I would think that in that time, knowledge about nutrition and exercise techniques have advanced exponentially since then. It's not a new phenomenon.

I don't have the facts and figures but I do recall reading [ a good while ago too ] about Japanese research following yearlings [ weanlings? can't recall which, now ] that were allowed controlled treadmill exercise, as against control groups that had only paddock exercise. The data wrt overall soundness and longevity of careers as against their more sedentary peers was irrefutable. The value of exercise loading to maintain skeletal integrity is now widely accepted, even to the point of encouraging elderly folk to exercise, rather than sit around with a rug over their knees. I was sent for a bone density scan a while ago, my usual doc had retired and his replacement thought it was advisable. Off I went and came back to hear the result...which was 100%. That's amazing, he said, given your age [ !! ] he said. I told him his predecessor had said to me, just keep doing what you are doing, that's the best protection you'll get. Given the above posts, and the knowledge inherent in them, I'm very surprised that some of the data wasn't produced at that symposium in Holland [ ? ] where there was a real push to have not just two year old racing, but even training, outlawed. Driven by sporthorse folk I believe. There were several very good trainers who attended, I think Gosden may have been one, and possibly Dermot Weld. But it surprised me that some of this data wasn't produced to support the facts that overall, measured stress is beneficial, not detrimental to a horse's soundness.

Yes, he did. Trojan may be thinking of Painted Black?

A well-maintained Tapeta.

Yes. The phone at its tricks again. Didn't check properly did I.!

Line-breeding to superior females is a pattern acclaimed by many successful breeders - Tesio being just one worthy of mention...and Danehill himself has Natalma carried through different daughters on each side. The incompatible Best in Show is carried twice in Colin's stallion, so he's done his homework.

A good start. For mine, the problem will be policing [ given that so many have little idea about correct whip use] and in the same vein, rider education.

Likewise....

Yes, Terry has a work ethic second to none. At the track riding work yesterday, when asked how he was, quipped ' a bit second-hand, but way better than the horse! '.

Bruised and sore, left the races moving very carefully, but ok.

Southerners are a resilient lot. I recall the open hcps on the Coast being used as lead-ups to the Wellington Cup. And, although the satellite stable concept like Te Akau and the now defunct Marsh operations at Riccarton are beyond most, there are some who regularly send horses north to accommodating trainers to take in suitable races..Kenny Moore and Kelvin Tyler immediately come to mind. I've looked after horses for N.I trainers for years, the same service in reverse, as have many others. Where there's a will there's a way.

There might be a nice 1200m race at the Xmas polytrack meeting...

No one should ever doubt Tim's passion for racing.

My thoughts too, wrt Jessica Brosnan.

Overnight Saturday, not a lot I don't think.

Was pretty firm on Saturday morning when we galloped