Freda

Quite so. But, 'the rest' don't get t play with million dollar stock either. Some of them would make you and me look ok.

Yes. CWJ has long been known as a superb judge of pace, has had periods where he has been off the boil, but - as they say - class is permanent. I think Tina is also showing that she has a good feel for pace, too, her results at present are outstanding, and she can only get better with more exposure. I think I've mentioned this before - I questioned Chris O'Brien, many years ago, about his penchant for parking wide without cover when everyone seemed to want to be in behind the leader on the fence. He just grinned and said, the shortest way home is the one without a bump. He was a fine rider, probably didn't get the accolades at the time, of CWJ and G Davidson, locally - but he rode a helluva lot of winners at a time when there were really good jockeys around. Still plodding along in NSW I see. I recall Dave Kerr saying, that when he was young, a trainer could throw the colours in the jockeys' room and it didn't matter who picked them up. OPB's performance yesterday doesn't flatter him at all. As for OTB ? he has had surgery for a respiratory condition, clearly he's a very good horse indeed, but to place him in a situation where he may be vulnerable doesn't show much nous. And to add to my little rant ; if I ask a local [ Riccarton] rider to work a horse at a specific rate, I get a blank look, with one or two exceptions. Appalling, IMO. I doubt if it would be confined to Riccarton either, looking at the overall standard of riding.

It's all about timing. If the jock knows how fast his horse is going he can ( should) place it accordingly. It seems that so very few actually have much idea.

I disagree. I think he'll be fine. There will be pressure on him, sure, but the pressure on him now must be enormous. At least he will be his own boss.

Been reading this thread with interest. I was fortunate to attend a series of lectures where one Professor Tom Tobin was a contributor to the proceedings. During the course of his talk, a woman from the audience wanted to know how often a racing horse should be blood tested, and what sort of factors she should be looking out for. He said, what on earth do you think you'll find out from blood testing a healthy horse? And how is it that you don't know if your horse is fit and well?

Think Barry had an ownership share in a runner, so had to stand down, yes.

Firpo I think. For the Lalors.

Yeah...there was a fair bit of controversy over his appointment as starter. ' Jobs for the boys ' has been mentioned.....apparently barrier lads called out 'wait, wait..' as Jason wasn't ready either. But the warning wasn't heard.

It seems that the current Racing Act 2020 is a lemon. But, far worse, IMO, was the 2003 Act, that changed, irrevocably, the existing model to the corporate one we then inherited, along with the subsequent run-down of the operation with succeeding inadequate management.

Saw Tito more recently, he appeared at the track one morning a couple of years ago. His son has [ had? ] a restaurant in town, and he was visiting to catch up with family. Saw me looking at him curiously, and came over and said 'you remember me? ' I said yes, you look very familiar, but...a long time ? he laughed, and introduced himself. Mentioned that he had been to the recent Riccarton races, shook his head, and said, I'd love to go to the apprentice school and try to help some of these young riders. We both agreed that it would be a challenge, no-one would have heard of him, and probably none of the kids would put their cellphones down long enough to listen. Helen Preston, trainer of Magellan, among others, ridding by Tito on occasions, showed me a video of him, leading up the straight at Riccarton, swapping the stick over alternate strides. Balance superb.

Don't know how(why) because she couldn't flick a fly off the sugar bowl with the bloody thing.

From Argentina.

I note England is now removing all Govt mandates.

Yes, he has. Used to ride as I recall, should know how the operation works. And his old man, Dick, was a very canny trainer.

Bugger that, we need her here. The cartel can get their own.

Tina Comignaghi has always had a lovely touch with horses, but - four out of four..! What an effort. This would be the first extended period that she hasn't had significant injury issues, broken hand, shoulder, wrists, etc...doing stupid things like schooling novice jumpers on race morning..ffs..and the extra fitness gained through fewer layoffs is certainly showing benefits. With the current furore over whip use, it is also gratifying to see such success from one who doesn't rely on it.

He jests. I dislike that sort of heat....25-ish is about where my comfort zone ends! Our chook has just closed our border completely by the sound of it.

If they are all vaxed - and one would presume they are - surely, there must be some bright governmental spark who thinks, hang on, this isn't working, how about we change our processes here..?

That's so sad, but I see around me the fear and division too...and the utter b/s espoused by formerly rational people, from both sides! Won't be long before our Leader makes a booster compulsory for a vaccine pass.

yep, she sure deserves a goodie.

Ffs...cringeworthy.

She likes the scenery. She, Sam and the dog go all over the magnificent Sth Island.

As did the other Coast meetings. The tracks were presented beautifully and the racing was grand. The weather gods did help, obviously - but, along with Kurow and Cromwell, the holiday racing down south has been very good indeed.

Interesting read, Chief, thanks.

Casey Lunn...? Jeez...