Freda

Yes, imagine things without Te Akau ? What a depressing thought....and I'm just a battler who can not and will never be able to aspire to any sort of expensive, high-class purchase. I don't imagine I'm much different from a number of other small operators. I have had good single owners, in the past - most have now passed on, sadly. I have enthusiastic support from a number of great people who have shares in several, but - most of those are unable to go off and purchase a yearling. Most of the few that could, practically, don't see the point with the way the outfit is being run. But, one or two can. Good friends and supporters; but, they will leave me to source a horse, and then offer to take 5 per cent, or 2.5 per cent...but are quite happy to outlay thousands on a horse to send straight over to Aus. That is what the perception does. Now, if I had the capital, any smart horse that I owned would be over the ditch smartly. Similarly, a client would be advised to do the same, if they had a nice animal. But, statistically, the percentage of superstars vs slow ones doesn't alter much from one place to another. I have pointed out that it would make sense to develop the horse here, then send it over if it looked reasonable. Save on plane fares at least if it was not very talented. But, the buzz is all about racing in Aus, and it doesn't look like changing any time soon. As I said, without Te Akau [ and a few others ] we would be watching a bunch of R 65's go around most of the time.

What you/we deem impracticable cost vs risk mitigation may be viewed in a very different manner by H & S especially if a death is involved. We have a situation here where lighting is very inadequate, even for those walking horses to the track. The fact that most just deal with it and put up with working horses in the dark, doesn't make the situation acceptable. If someone is hurt as a result of this ongoing situation the fallout could be significant.

Yes. Your point?

Not exactly a deer fence - but very well enclosed nevertheless. You wouldn't find a horse on the road unless someone left an external gate open.

Pretty sure the loophole to which you refer was tightened up. There was a 'window of opportunity ' for NSB mares to be allowed into the studbook, but once that window closed, no more.

What's the point then? Beach racing?

Have they been 'grabbed' yet?

Which reminds me of one R.P ( Parkie) Register, who was thoroughly pissed off with one of his charges shying when going for a pre-work trot around the chute. Fixed him ! He crowed. He did put them on backwards.

I'd put them on backwards if I thought it would help

Yeah, never been but the OLD coast circuit used to be awesome. Trainers/jockeys/owners arriving at Reefton, then moving en masse ( most of them) to Greymouth or Hokitika for the last three days. Whitebait and champagne breakfasts, lazy days at Lake Kaniere water-skiing, Hokitika Gorge, what a great time Omakau/Cromwell also used to fly, but that has been scuttled too now. All in the interests of progress, of course.

Fantastic all right. Wonderful results. What a shame we can't run a racing industry as well as we can produce horses and horsemen/women.

Yes, have to agree with that, we have cruelly modified many dog breeds to be incapable of survival without help.

She seems a great young woman, as are the others mentioned in the article. I have a super vid. of a gorgeous ten-year-old girl, scampering around a cross-country course on her Dartmoor pony..but I can't share it for some reason. She'd be made of the same stuff, I reckon.

i don't condone breaking rules for the sake of it - or, in this case, commercial gain - but, as Curious has alluded, what is the harm really ? As long as we don't see multiple full siblings in a year, I can't see any disadvantage to the breed. If genetic modification was taking place, that would be a different story indeed.

You think the RIU are a bastion of consistency?

Ha.Col would have been saying ' I told you so' and rubbing his hands with glee..as well as the rorts and kickbacks in sales.as well as the lack of documentation that used to accompany overseas sales. May have changed now, haven't sold one overseas for a good while. The practice of 'reinforcing' a service is A.I in any language.but still done. Anyone who thinks that everyone obeys the rules and plays nice needs their head read.

Nope. Just an extension of the discussion.

The numbers of mares covered by popular stallions these days is enormous, far more than could ever be achieved without veterinary help. It is a stretch to think that 'extra' assistance is not also given when required.

Yes, same here. As a former jumping rider he has made a huge commitment to keeping weight down to ride on the flat.

So did I.

I think, another angle is worth considering.for years, although not in as parlous a situation as now, NZ racing has been considered a poor relation to Aus. The overall lack of real money inherent meant that our industry had little interest for organised crime. So, testing, pre race, and strict scrutiny of race tactics and patterns, have been far less practised here. Sloppy, but there it is.

FWIW..it may be that MB has had enough - either for now, or for good. Time will tell, and being the good operation that the Te Akau team are, there will be no stone left unturned to make sure the mare is OK. But in a general sense, horses that are travelling well will cop interference far better than those that are flat. My take was that she was flat before she was ever tightened up. As for the slow early pace..isn't judgement of pace supposed to be what jockeys do? It's a bloody long time since I have seen a rider's judgement questioned wrt the pace. In fact, I must hark back to a stipe questioning one of our very best on just that matter. The pace of the race is irrelevant, said the stipe. FFS.

Think Huey was referring to Melody Belle...or are you taking the piss.?

What a cracking result for the Vance's and connections, their delight was wonderful to see. Well done.

Saw him at the track this morning, not riding though. Still about seven weeks he thought.