Pattern Race issues get dealt to

[curious]

2022/23 Pattern Review Outcomes Sent on behalf of the New Zealand Pattern Committee The review of Pattern races run in the 2022/23 season has been completed by the New Zealand Pattern Committee (NZPC) and the schedule for the 2023/24 season has been finalised. A number of changes have resulted. A significant decline in the number of races run in recent seasons has seen the New Zealand Pattern race percentage increase to over 6%. This was generating international concern and affecting the perceived quality of the New Zealand Pattern. The NZPC formed a sub-committee to review the Pattern with the aim of reducing the percentage of Pattern Race towards international norms of 5% or less. Following consultation with affected Clubs, the total number of Pattern flat races scheduled in 2023/24 will decline by eight races to 142 races. The races below move to unlisted. ·         Rotorua RC, Rotorua Challenge Plate ·         Feilding JC, Feilding Cup ·         Levin RC, Levin Stakes ·         Auckland TR, Newmarket Handicap ·         Timaru RC, Timaru Cup ·         Wellington RC, NZ St Leger ·         Riverton JC, Riverton Cup ·         Canterbury JC, George Adams Handicap The NZPC strongly endorses the “Heritage” race concept for these races as continuing to support races which are major regional targets, have considerable historic importance and wide public appeal. With the exception of the Newmarket Handicap, this will see prizemoney remain as though each race had its former status. To further ensure future quality control of the New Zealand Pattern, the tolerance threshold of three points has been removed from all Listed races. Further status changes for the 2023/24 season are: ·         Auckland TR, Soliloquy Stakes upgraded from G3 to G2 ·         Auckland TR, Mufhasa Stakes upgraded from L to G3 ·         Canterbury JC, Stewards Stakes downgraded from G3 to L Notable race movements for the 2023/24 season are: ·         Wellington RC, Levin Classic (G1) – the Asian Pattern Committee unanimously agreed with the NZPC request that it be given one last chance at G1 level on condition it returns to its former mid-January date. ·         Wellington RC, Wellington Guineas (G2) – returns to its March date. ·         Auckland TR, Uncle Remus Stakes (L) – from Boxing Day to Avondale Cup Day on Saturday, 17 February and reducing the distance from 1400 metres to 1200 metres. This will lead into the newly promoted Mufhasa Stakes. ·         Auckland TR, Great Northern Guineas (G2) – from New Year’s Day to Boxing Day, with the distance lowered from 1600m to 1400m. ·         Canterbury JC, Welcome Stakes (L) – retains its Listed status for one last opportunity on condition of moving to the Autumn to lead into the CJC Champagne Stakes. The NZPC also approved changes to improve the flow of 2YO races in the northern region: ·         Waikato Racing, Star Way-Wentworth Stakes (L) – to Sat 20 April, 1200m – Ellerslie ·         Auckland TR, Great Northern Foal Stakes (L) – to Sat 4 May, 1400m – Te Rapa. ·         Auckland TR, Great Northern Champagne Stakes (L) – to Sat 25 May, 1600m – Ellerslie. A copy of the comprehensive report from the meeting of the Pattern Committee can be found below. https://nztr.co.nz/sites/nztrindustry/files/2023-09/Report-of-the-NZPC-2023_FINAL.pdf   Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Contact: Emma Thompson  +64 21 071 2929 nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz

Edited September 20, 2023 by curious

[holy ravioli]

Still too many imo.

It's been at least a decade since NZ Group races have been taken seriously in Australia ..at least.

[Huey]

How does the Taranaki 2yo race retain its status, same goes for the Wanganui Guineas & Wairarapa Breeders?

[Doomed]

So the same number of group 1s, one extra group 2, and the same number of group 3s. Talk about slash and burn.

I'm just wondering how stupid the CJC are. They have just announced they are going to pay an extra $100,000 of their own money to the first three home in the 2,000 Guineas. I doubt that will attract a single extra horse. That money might have been better spent trying to keep the Stewards at group 3 and trying to keep their two 2yo races going. 

Any club with half a brain, or a little bit more, would be trying to keep the Welcome stakes as listed and boost the Champagne to Group 3. I can't remember the last time the CJC managed to improve the group status of one of their races. I'm sure there must be one, so someone can remind me. This is the South Island's inspirational club.

As Huey said above, there are a lot of very lucky CD clubs.

[curious]

59 minutes ago, Huey said:

How does the Taranaki 2yo race retain its status, same goes for the Wanganui Guineas & Wairarapa Breeders?

The Taranaki race has gone to alert. They have 2 more editions generally to get back on track. Wairarapa Breeders looks fine doesn't it? Wanganui Guineas needs to get its act together.

[Doomed]

What about that WFA mile at Wanganui in June? Didn't it get 5 or 6 starters? How can anyone claim it has more merit than the Timaru Cup?

[Freda]

13 hours ago, curious said:

2022/23 Pattern Review Outcomes Sent on behalf of the New Zealand Pattern Committee The review of Pattern races run in the 2022/23 season has been completed by the New Zealand Pattern Committee (NZPC) and the schedule for the 2023/24 season has been finalised. A number of changes have resulted. A significant decline in the number of races run in recent seasons has seen the New Zealand Pattern race percentage increase to over 6%. This was generating international concern and affecting the perceived quality of the New Zealand Pattern. The NZPC formed a sub-committee to review the Pattern with the aim of reducing the percentage of Pattern Race towards international norms of 5% or less. Following consultation with affected Clubs, the total number of Pattern flat races scheduled in 2023/24 will decline by eight races to 142 races. The races below move to unlisted. ·         Rotorua RC, Rotorua Challenge Plate ·         Feilding JC, Feilding Cup ·         Levin RC, Levin Stakes ·         Auckland TR, Newmarket Handicap ·         Timaru RC, Timaru Cup ·         Wellington RC, NZ St Leger ·         Riverton JC, Riverton Cup ·         Canterbury JC, George Adams Handicap The NZPC strongly endorses the “Heritage” race concept for these races as continuing to support races which are major regional targets, have considerable historic importance and wide public appeal. With the exception of the Newmarket Handicap, this will see prizemoney remain as though each race had its former status. To further ensure future quality control of the New Zealand Pattern, the tolerance threshold of three points has been removed from all Listed races. Further status changes for the 2023/24 season are: ·         Auckland TR, Soliloquy Stakes upgraded from G3 to G2 ·         Auckland TR, Mufhasa Stakes upgraded from L to G3 ·         Canterbury JC, Stewards Stakes downgraded from G3 to L Notable race movements for the 2023/24 season are: ·         Wellington RC, Levin Classic (G1) – the Asian Pattern Committee unanimously agreed with the NZPC request that it be given one last chance at G1 level on condition it returns to its former mid-January date. ·         Wellington RC, Wellington Guineas (G2) – returns to its March date. ·         Auckland TR, Uncle Remus Stakes (L) – from Boxing Day to Avondale Cup Day on Saturday, 17 February and reducing the distance from 1400 metres to 1200 metres. This will lead into the newly promoted Mufhasa Stakes. ·         Auckland TR, Great Northern Guineas (G2) – from New Year’s Day to Boxing Day, with the distance lowered from 1600m to 1400m. ·         Canterbury JC, Welcome Stakes (L) – retains its Listed status for one last opportunity on condition of moving to the Autumn to lead into the CJC Champagne Stakes. The NZPC also approved changes to improve the flow of 2YO races in the northern region: ·         Waikato Racing, Star Way-Wentworth Stakes (L) – to Sat 20 April, 1200m – Ellerslie ·         Auckland TR, Great Northern Foal Stakes (L) – to Sat 4 May, 1400m – Te Rapa. ·         Auckland TR, Great Northern Champagne Stakes (L) – to Sat 25 May, 1600m – Ellerslie. A copy of the comprehensive report from the meeting of the Pattern Committee can be found below. https://nztr.co.nz/sites/nztrindustry/files/2023-09/Report-of-the-NZPC-2023_FINAL.pdf   Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Contact: Emma Thompson  +64 21 071 2929 nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz

...changes to ' improve the flow of 2 y o races in the northern region '

We down here don't have a flow to improve.

And - while only nit-picking - why shift the Welcome Stakes to autumn?   It's days are clearly numbered as a stakes race, leave it where it is and put another race on as a 'lead up ' to the Champagne.

Doomed will know, wasn't the two year old race at the Midsummer meeting called the Challenge Stakes?  Thats gone, put it there are as a lead up .

[Freda]

10 hours ago, Doomed said:

What about that WFA mile at Wanganui in June? Didn't it get 5 or 6 starters? How can anyone claim it has more merit than the Timaru Cup?

Lord knows.

The Timaru Cup has consistently had good numbers of decent horses.  I think someone checked the ratings of the horses on at least one occasion that I'm aware of, and found the Timaru Cup quality far outweighed the equivalent N.I race around the same time.

[Freda]

11 hours ago, Doomed said:

So the same number of group 1s, one extra group 2, and the same number of group 3s. Talk about slash and burn.

I'm just wondering how stupid the CJC are. They have just announced they are going to pay an extra $100,000 of their own money to the first three home in the 2,000 Guineas. I doubt that will attract a single extra horse. That money might have been better spent trying to keep the Stewards at group 3 and trying to keep their two 2yo races going. 

Any club with half a brain, or a little bit more, would be trying to keep the Welcome stakes as listed and boost the Champagne to Group 3. I can't remember the last time the CJC managed to improve the group status of one of their races. I'm sure there must be one, so someone can remind me. This is the South Island's inspirational club.

As Huey said above, there are a lot of very lucky CD clubs.

In fairness I don't think it is the CJC as a club that is putting up the money - that couldn't possibly happen given the state of their finances.  The Racecourse Trustees were, I think, the body to provide the funding. It might seem a small matter but they are a separate entity.

I agree that a better use of spare dosh might be to try and foster - or resurrect - some two year old races.  There are some who think the Guineas races will be lost down here. To have some smart rising three year olds trained locally, coming through from a nice two year old series, to support those Guineas races, seems to me to be a better way of  [ attempting ] to retain these spring 3 year old classics than throwing extra stakemoney up.

[curious]

48 minutes ago, Freda said:

Lord knows.

The Timaru Cup has consistently had good numbers of decent horses.  I think someone checked the ratings of the horses on at least one occasion that I'm aware of, and found the Timaru Cup quality far outweighed the equivalent N.I race around the same time.

The 22/23 race rating for the Timaru Cup last year was 100.5 cf. the expected minimum of 100. There is no specific information in the report justifying the decision to delist it. Only the general criteria below against which those decisions were apparently made.

Key criteria for the removal of races from the Pattern included: consistent
depth and quality of the field; whether the race was well-placed as a lead-up
to Group races; whether the race was an important target in its own right in
the region, with no alternatives; opportunities for the category of horse to
attain other black-type in similar races over the season.

[Doomed]

2 hours ago, curious said:

The 22/23 race rating for the Timaru Cup last year was 100.5 cf. the expected minimum of 100. There is no specific information in the report justifying the decision to delist it. Only the general criteria below against which those decisions were apparently made.

Key criteria for the removal of races from the Pattern included: consistent
depth and quality of the field; whether the race was well-placed as a lead-up
to Group races; whether the race was an important target in its own right in
the region, with no alternatives; opportunities for the category of horse to
attain other black-type in similar races over the season.

Well we all know NZTR hate Timaru, all their meetings are industry meetings, which is bizarre, so they must have hated them retaining a listed race. The only thing more despicable than Timaru having a listed race would have been if the Reefton Cup was listed.

[Doomed]

Lots of interesting things in the report. Probably two things stood out to me. The comment that there were only about 13 black type fillies and mares races and there should be more. Then they proceeded to place most of those 13 under warnings. And talk about the ultimate hospital pass for the Levin Classic, moving it to January to compete with the industry funded sweep-stake race. I can just see that going well.

I also found the comment amusing that the Asian body didn't take into account the great successes our 3yos went on to have as older horses. Until last season's crop, which have hardly raced as 4yos yet, I don't recall many of our Derby, Oaks or Guineas winners going on to be super stars on the world stage in recent years.

[curious]

26 minutes ago, Doomed said:

Well we all know NZTR hate Timaru, all their meetings are industry meetings, which is bizarre, so they must have hated them retaining a listed race. The only thing more despicable than Timaru having a listed race would have been if the Reefton Cup was listed.

It also seems to me that the race fits the criteria to stay listed. I'd certainly say it is a target race for many in its own right at that time of year. It meets the rating criteria and wasn't on a warning or alert. It is also well placed for SI horses leading up to Group races at the Wellington Cup meeting. Hard to figure out where it failed.

[Huey]

1 hour ago, Doomed said:

Well we all know NZTR hate Timaru, all their meetings are industry meetings, which is bizarre, so they must have hated them retaining a listed race. The only thing more despicable than Timaru having a listed race would have been if the Reefton Cup was listed.

Yep, you're spouting facts right there, they are in a special club of clubs that NZTR would do anything to be rid of!

[Doomed]

24 minutes ago, Huey said:

Yep, you're spouting facts right there, they are in a special club of clubs that NZTR would do anything to be rid of!

I don't know anyone involved with the Timaru club, but it must wear you down over time and you probably give up even trying. You spend all your time trying to defend and retain what you have without having any energy to promote your meetings. It must be so hard to attract any younger enthusiastic people to help run the club. It must be soul destroying when you know you are perfectly located in the SI and have one of the best tracks around and you see all the cash and resources being poured into Riccarton and Wingatui.

If you compare the Timaru Cup with that Wanganui race over the years there is just no comparison. The Timaru Cup has always been on the same date and has been won by most of the SI's best horses going back to Show Gate and Grey Way. The Wanganui race is a homeless race with no reason for being. It used to be in the Spring and used to attract great horses, I was there the year Axeman and Bourbon Boy clashed, but then it got moved to mid winter so it didn't clash with the HB. Now it is a pointless race.

[curious]

They also on one hand want more opportunities for fillies and mares to get black type, then take this one away for SI horses.

[Doomed]

5 hours ago, Freda said:

...changes to ' improve the flow of 2 y o races in the northern region '

We down here don't have a flow to improve.

And - while only nit-picking - why shift the Welcome Stakes to autumn?   It's days are clearly numbered as a stakes race, leave it where it is and put another race on as a 'lead up ' to the Champagne.

Doomed will know, wasn't the two year old race at the Midsummer meeting called the Challenge Stakes?  Thats gone, put it there are as a lead up .

I'm sure everyone is sick of me going on about the terrible pattern of racing in the SI, the lack of 2yo races, the lack of 3yo races past 1,600. The lack of any leadership from the CJC.

There is a comment in the report about the John Grigg. That has been killed by being placed a week before the old Nth Canty 3yo mile at Riccarton. No horse ever races in both races. How hard would it be to have those two races two weeks apart? Both races would improve out of sight if that was done. 

I don't mind the Welcome being in the Autumn, but it needs to be part of a well thought out pattern. They will just plonk it in somewhere. There used to be a 2yo fillies race mid summer, but that has long gone along with the SI Champion Stks for 3yos.

Canterbury needs to think a bit like SA where they have developed a significant Autumn carnival. There should be three major Autumn 2yo races; the Welcome Stakes, leading into the Champagne Stakes, which needs to go to Group 3, followed by a 1,400m 2yo which the club needs to get to listed status. And reintroduce the 2yo fillies race before all that.

Wouldn't it just be nice to see them trying something. It took them many years to pull down the old grandstand, that will probably tire them out for a while.

 

[Reefton]

5 hours ago, Doomed said:

Well we all know NZTR hate Timaru, all their meetings are industry meetings, which is bizarre, so they must have hated them retaining a listed race. The only thing more despicable than Timaru having a listed race would have been if the Reefton Cup was listed.

Dunno about listed status for the Reefton Cup

The Reefton President is listed with the RIB - black effing listed!

 

 

[Reefton]

3 hours ago, Doomed said:

I'm sure everyone is sick of me going on about the terrible pattern of racing in the SI, the lack of 2yo races, the lack of 3yo races past 1,600. The lack of any leadership from the CJC.

There is a comment in the report about the John Grigg. That has been killed by being placed a week before the old Nth Canty 3yo mile at Riccarton. No horse ever races in both races. How hard would it be to have those two races two weeks apart? Both races would improve out of sight if that was done. 

I don't mind the Welcome being in the Autumn, but it needs to be part of a well thought out pattern. They will just plonk it in somewhere. There used to be a 2yo fillies race mid summer, but that has long gone along with the SI Champion Stks for 3yos.

Canterbury needs to think a bit like SA where they have developed a significant Autumn carnival. There should be three major Autumn 2yo races; the Welcome Stakes, leading into the Champagne Stakes, which needs to go to Group 3, followed by a 1,400m 2yo which the club needs to get to listed status. And reintroduce the 2yo fillies race before all that.

Wouldn't it just be nice to see them trying something. It took them many years to pull down the old grandstand, that will probably tire them out for a while.

 

I wanted to have a crack at redoing the entire SI calendar a year of so back but why bother?  They will only ignore it and if the CJC didn't like anything(not that there would be anything for them to dislike) then it would be altered to suit them. 

[Assange]

As a matter of interest, who is on the pattern committee and more importantly, what conflicts of interest are there?

[Huey]

4 minutes ago, Assange said:

As a matter of interest, who is on the pattern committee and more importantly, what conflicts of interest are there?

Conflicts of interest in NZ racing...never!!

Chairman: Mr Matthew Goodson, Auckland NZTR Nominees: Mr Bruce Sherwin, Cambridge Mr Neville McAlister, Wellington 7 Mr Jeff McCall, Christchurch NZTBA Nominees: Ms Michelle Saba, Karaka Mr Andrew Stewart, Cambridge Mr Mark Freeman, Wellington Auction House: Mr Andrew Seabrook, Karaka

[Freda]

38 minutes ago, Huey said:

Conflicts of interest in NZ racing...never!!

Chairman: Mr Matthew Goodson, Auckland NZTR Nominees: Mr Bruce Sherwin, Cambridge Mr Neville McAlister, Wellington 7 Mr Jeff McCall, Christchurch NZTBA Nominees: Ms Michelle Saba, Karaka Mr Andrew Stewart, Cambridge Mr Mark Freeman, Wellington Auction House: Mr Andrew Seabrook, Karaka

Oh dear.

[holy ravioli]

Quelle surprise!...conflicts of interest ..all done in the best possible..taste...the punters are the ones that pay...they can vote with their..feet.