Freda

Hope you are wrong....seems pretty strong in the C.D...but not here, sadly.

Not sure quite what you mean wrt the steeple course....one thing will be sure, however - the pattern of previous years was for firm going down the back, and arriving in the home straight to mud. Depth of, depending on the weather, of course. Whether jumping survives down here is moot, however - but the signs don't look good.

Wet shoes this morning....lol 🙂

Hell, we need it. Lord knows where you were when it rained every second day. Fiordland? I've lived in Canterbury all my life, summer holidays stretched for two months and we rode all the time as kids...it never rained!

I think the track construction requires a great deal of water. Whether that is a factor I don't know

Omakau has already got the chop.

Exactly.

And, when these young lads are riding the work, how can you repay them by not putting them up?

Sadly, yes. But it is what it is. A great opportunity for a capable local ( i.e. Kiwi ) rider to relocate I should think.

Yes, outstanding effort indeed. The buying clout of T.A has expanded exponentially over the years, but the stock still has to be well managed. And it most certainly is. The timing and preparation of these youngsters' programmes is second to none. It has been a source of some musing ( to myself ) why other operations with access to wealthy clients haven't at least attempted to compete. Are they not interested in the same type of horse..? Maybe buying more for the cup/classic market? Looking to sell on rather than race? Wanting to develop here then race in Aus? All of the above? Despite the obvious talent of Jamie Richards and the great team behind him, where is the competition? Surely those aspiring to success haven't all up and left our shores. Marsh and B/F are still plying their trade, the family connection with Bjorn Baker certainly aids in the tremendous success of the B/F team, but it surprises me just a little that they are still here. Murray has been a vocal critic of our management for a good while.

And Riverton is on the 'close' list. Great day's racing there.

Sheesh...I'd love to be positive...but things just don't feel right. Staying the same is not an option, we all know that, but this blurb we just all read, doesn't actually say anything specific.

Probably not.

Yeah....sounds very impressive....haven't specified exactly how this is to be actioned. We'll watch with interest when all is revealed.

And, Messara stated unequivocally that without outsourcing the TAB, any other measures were only window dressing. Sadly, I don't really give a sh#t about how the TAB is or isn't going to function. It isn't worth raising the blood pressure worrying about it.

'Fraid you're right there. I'm thinking Rangiora, Gore, Greymouth - just off the top of my head....Max Skelton was nearly killed at Greymouth after the ChCh 'expert' sowed grass with clover at Omoto. Terry Moseley fell twice at the same spot - on the same day ! - at Gore, but then refused to ride at Rangiora... go figure...Rangiora was a man-made cock up....and a nice handy facility has been lost as a result. Kumara was 'improved' and abandonments have happened since, never used to. We went to race on pakihi, knew what we were getting, no need for any change.

Pretty much. However, one variable that wasn't around in those days was the rules around H&S. Now, it is just not acceptable to continue if there has been a slip. Locally, one track that was always very questionable was Motukarara. Horses would often slip and races abandoned. I recall my NZ Cup runner [ Lord Gesmo ] having his preparation derailed because the races were put off after light rain, and it was generally a worry race morning what the weather might do. Since then, the turn into the straight has been worked upon, and track presentation there in more recent times has been good. But, it wasn't always so.

I'm sure there used to be a protocol/rule/law that precluded irrigation after Thursday for a Saturday...dont know if that was ever altered, or if things just slide along without consultation. I think Curious posted some info/comment a year or so back, about track management systems in Australia, and Richard Freedman's thoughts about them. Would be interesting to read that again. From memory, he was concerned about the practice of frequent light watering, leading to shallow root structure and tracks chipping out.

She's fine apparently.

Why does what other people do for their own pleasure/amusement trouble you so much?

I believe so....he and poor old St Reims swapped places at Erewhon Station...St Reims became ill [ pneumomia I heard ] and didn't survive very long.

Riccarton firm, Pitty is flying.

Sigh....this is getting tedious ...I have seen sensitive fillies curl up if struck with a whip- especially in the flank which seems so popular now. And, a genuine horse, giving its all, is just as likely to start stopping as keep trying when such an insult is applied. Limit the use overall and leave it to the jocks to decide when - or if - to use it.

Would be great to see her tackle European company....travel to the NH is difficult enough at the best of times but, during the Covid era must be hellish. Still, best of luck to them if they have a go.

No, and most aren't even clean. As in average stable practice ( clean bedding etc) as opposed to some attempt at sterility.