Freda

I dont need to wait for the phone call then? 🤪

Well, just look at what we have to deal with....

That's a fair point.

I agree with that. Morality shouldn't be defined in dollars.

Sounds like it wasn't managed very well.

Yeah, was talking to Michael this morning. I didn't think that irrigation was allowed to be done the day before?

Go Kenny. The speech would be marvelous!

I understand the 'contract' if that is the correct term, to fund the KM day was negotiated under the Purcell regime. I was also told that Saundry was not happy with the setup. However, for an unhappy man, he hasn't done much about changing things.

Can't help, sorry...hope so, great entertainment.

Yep, it is now. Sam was a year or so back. Leith retained by the Lindsays.

I'm pretty sure Valachi had Sam Collett on a retainer...makes perfect sense to be able to call on the rider of choice when you wish.

Did she have some before?

You'd have to look at the conditions for a cl 4 licence, which governs gaming outside casinos.

Ah. Yes, someone told me that ages ago.

I think they funded a fair portion themselves. The irrigation comment earlier- these tracks are not supposed to need it.

Went amiss - unfortunately - was my understanding. Would be very happy to find out the 'word' was wrong, he looks an outstanding sort.

Yes, exactly. Which, again, sorta bears out my point !

Don't disagree at all with that. Clearly, they are aware that a lot are happier with more space. So, again, should we be trying to shove horses into tight spots when they would prefer not? Some are tough as and love a dogfight...some don't. I still don't see the point of an argument...and there is general agreement I think that having a bumping duel is disadvantageous to both parties.

Wtf do blinkers have to do with the discussion at hand? And, wrt high-jinks when we were kids, we knew no better. Plus, we weren't galloping at speed. Far from it, these were breakers. Horses at liberty can and do get hurt....to the point that one trainer i worked for wouldn't put his out for that very reason . Too risky,he said, fit and full of feed, they'll get hurt. So can we, if skylarking and acting the goat...I still fail to see your point. Mine was that a smooth and uninterrupted trip has to be better than one with a bit of argy- bargy.

And, have to say that clip of Lonhro still makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. What a horse! I'm changing tack here, to the 'jockey' discussion..i.e Opie vs the rest..to give an example that even 'the best' aren't above scrutiny.. The ride on the black star in his last race was a tragedy - IMO. A top jock allows the grand old warhorse Grand Armee to canter-and-sprint in front, and even a champion can't run 600 in 30 secs. Judgement of pace is everything..and lacking often. I used to drum it into my apprentices, sent the younger ones home with a stopwatch and grilled them until I thought they had some idea. Jamie Bates was pretty effective in front, Jamie Bullard not so much, he always reckoned he hated being there..but was a competent and successful rider nevertheless. Andre Gillett - a leading apprentice and second only to Mark Sweeney one year - went to Aus later to ride work for Gai. My last pupil, Kim Lange [ now married to Damian Browne ] rang him to complain. 'The bitch,' she said, 'she's at me and at me about times'. Andre said, 'yeah, she annoyed me too, but , if Gai wants 14 and half to the furlong, that's what you do. If you don't, you get a bollocking. Listen to her, it's important ! ' he said..! Now, I can put a rider up and say, half speed from the 1400, home 600 in 45, and get a look of utter incomprehension. Seniors too. And, I have to say that the majority of the 'imports' that I have dealt with also have no idea whatsoever. When the apprentice mentor locally is one of the best judges of pace we have had, I really don't know what they do at apprentice school. Lisa Allpress , currently, is a shining example of getting it right much more often than most.

No doubt a bumping duel affects momentum - for both parties. But also, give some thought to the potential damage caused to joints, tendons and muscles with sudden changes of direction and tempo - not to mention the confidence to put in, especially with a timid or delicate sort.

Yes, good points. A rider who is now in Aus [ provincial] but rode a fair bit for me when he was here, was often to be found flanking the leader, or one out, two back. As the perfect position was always [ so I was told ] in behind the leader on the fence - never mind how much the poor creature had its head pulled around to be there - I asked him why he was so often in the open? He grinned, and said, the shortest way home is the one without a bump. You will notice too, in the Uk in particular, how often you will see horses ambling along miles away from anything else, no one seems to mind.

Not here, I wouldn't think...but it is the way it is done in Europe.

Agree re. handicapping system. But, the purist in me, regardless, doesn't think that Grp 1 or 2 should be attached to a handicap. Grp 3, listed, perhaps. The piss up would still happen on Melbourne Cup day irrespective of what rating it had. The money is huge and the best that can be obtained, turn up for the race. It certainly isn't about stud value, many competitors are geldings anyway and it has been long thought that staying handicaps won by an entire will see that horse relegated to National Hunt status. Even Vadamos has joined that queue. To quote : handicaps are for betting , WFA is to determine best of breed/crop. Different aims all the way.

I have read, and do comprehend. Opie is superbly balanced and yes, definitely a Grp 1 rider. No argument there. Tina? How many Grp 1's has she even ridden in? Apples with apples. Different education, different requirements re. employment, no exposure to the high-faluting stuff, nah, can't compare with any degree of fairness. But I have seen Opie have brain fades that I wouldn't expect either, from a rider of his quality. Earlier in his career those top Aussie jocks could put him where they wanted him...and I think HK might have found him out a bit too. But, coming from a different perspective altogether, would i pick Opie for my runner? Do you think the lot I am getting up to every morning would interest him in the slightest? My experience of top NI jocks has been ( generally ) woeful, they don't rate either SI horses or their trainers as a rule, unless they have been brought down by trainers to ride their team. I'm not the only one to find that instructions are ignored and the whole experience to be a waste of time. At least the fledgling apprentice will try for you. Exception would be Lisa Allpress, who is a consummate professional . James Mac rode a winner for me a while ago, he was pretty switched on too and great post race feedback.