Chief Stipe Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 Te Aroha complete return to racing protocols LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 24 October 2024 Racing is set to return to Te Aroha next week after the club successfully completed the return to racing protocols on Wednesday. The course held a set of nine trials, with 59 horses from the Cambridge, Matamata, Te Awamutu and local Te Aroha training centres attending. Through the latter part of winter, several scheduled meetings at Te Aroha were transferred to other venues to allow for extensive renovations to further progress the track surface and profile functionality. “Over the course of the renovation project, we have completed extensive work on the track including sub soiling, air injection to a depth of 500mm and verti-draining with a variety of tines, among other things,” Te Aroha’s track manager Ryan Gartner said. “We under-sowed the track and applied fungicide multiple times as well, including hand seeding and under-sowing the weak areas almost daily. “I’m pleased to see the jockeys comments reflect the hard work that has been put in, and we will continue to put the effort in to produce a quality surface for the industry.” Among a strong contingent of senior hoops was Joe Doyle, who expressed plenty of confidence after riding in six heats on a Good 4 surface. “It rode perfectly today, there is loads of grass where we are racing,” he said. “Its seems to be holding up perfectly and if the weather holds, I don’t see there being any problems. It rode really, really nicely.” Graham Richardson, who trains at Matamata with Rogan Norvall, had an unraced three-year-old in the final trial and was equally positive in his review. “I’m really pleased with it and it’s so nice to be back,” he said. “The track seems nice and safe and it looks great. I’m looking forward to racing on the 30th.” Northern-based commentator and Racing Te Aroha board member George Simon had hoped to see the venue come into play earlier in the season but is looking forward to the upcoming period of racing, which includes meetings on October 30, November 12, November 27 (Christmas at the Races) and December 8. “Our return has been more delayed than we would have liked, but we needed that additional time to go forward with confidence and be able to maintain our scheduled programme,” he said. “After the trials that took place today, I spoke to a number of senior jockeys who were very complimentary of how the track was presented. They said it rode well, had a little give and was well grassed. “From my perspective, it looked good and with the positive feedback received, it augurs well going forward. “The track will undergo further work in March 2025 after a period of racing.” The Club awaits a final ‘go ahead’ to be given in the coming days, after consultation between the Club, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and the Racing Integrity Board. However, Stipendiary Steward, Brady Jones, gave the club some assurance with his feedback following the trials. “The feedback from the senior jockeys was positive, and I see no reason not to proceed next week,” he said. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 What is it with you and these boring on the pace tracks CS ? Ruakaka and now Te Aroha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 24 Author Share Posted October 24 8 hours ago, Huey said: What is it with you and these boring on the pace tracks CS ? Ruakaka and now Te Aroha The fastest horse always wins @Huey you should adjust you punting strategy accordingly. When you start winning you might get a bit more excited! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 Te Aroha was my favourite track simply because I had so much success as a punter but whilst Ruakaka has even more front bias it never gelled with me. So horses (and punters) for courses. I now need to watch the next meeting at Te Aroha to see if the work done has changed it to any great degree. The fastest horse does not always win. Racing would be very straight forward if that were the case. The term 'tragedy beat' is testament Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 1 hour ago, Wingman said: Te Aroha was my favourite track simply because I had so much success as a punter but whilst Ruakaka has even more front bias it never gelled with me. So horses (and punters) for courses. I now need to watch the next meeting at Te Aroha to see if the work done has changed it to any great degree. The fastest horse does not always win. Racing would be very straight forward if that were the case. The term 'tragedy beat' is testament Good point Te Aroha may be improved, Ruakaka is just awful to punt and watch and Ellerslie is showing pretty clear signs its going to end up the same, future looks bright in the Auckland region indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 25 Author Share Posted October 25 2 hours ago, Huey said: Ellerslie is showing pretty clear signs its going to end up the same I haven't seen that with the new track at Ellerslie. Horses have been making up considerable ground in the straight. For the life of me I have no idea why they didn't fix the problematic bends into and out of the straight. The one into the straight and the sudden dropping off of the camber late in the turn really restricts back runners. BUT as with most perceived biases those that have the most influence on tempo - the Jockey's - tend to sit back and wait too long to make their run. In my opinion that is a mindset not a track bias. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Beau Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 17 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: I haven't seen that with the new track at Ellerslie. Horses have been making up considerable ground in the straight. For the life of me I have no idea why they didn't fix the problematic bends into and out of the straight. The one into the straight and the sudden dropping off of the camber late in the turn really restricts back runners. BUT as with most perceived biases those that have the most influence on tempo - the Jockey's - tend to sit back and wait too long to make their run. In my opinion that is a mindset not a track bias. Agree 100% with your comment regarding the problematic bends at Ellerslie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 18 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: The one into the straight and the sudden dropping off of the camber late in the turn really restricts back runners. Yes. That's definitely an idiosynchrasy there. Horses can't really be flat at that stage without getting off balance and I'm not sure the jockeys have figured out how to manage it yet. Unfortunately, it also means the track will never be ideal for the best, most competitive and fair racing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 25 Author Share Posted October 25 7 minutes ago, curious said: Yes. That's definitely an idiosynchrasy there. Horses can't really be flat at that stage without getting off balance and I'm not sure the jockeys have figured out how to manage it yet. Unfortunately, it also means the track will never be ideal for the best, most competitive and fair racing. They could have moved the 2400m start further over and extended the corner camber until the straight lined up. Even making the bend a little tighter would have helped. I tried drawing it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 (edited) Maybe. Tightening the bend is probably not ideal either. The only real way I see to fix it would be to take out the 2400 start and move the Derby to a more suitable track. Edited October 25 by curious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 24 minutes ago, curious said: Maybe. Tightening the bend is probably not ideal either. The only real way I see to fix it would be to take out the 2400 start and move the Derby to a more suitable track. Like Trentham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 Just now, Freda said: Like Trentham. As it was once... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 4 minutes ago, Freda said: As it was once... Was at Riccarton wasn't it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 25 Author Share Posted October 25 47 minutes ago, curious said: Maybe. Tightening the bend is probably not ideal either. As long as the camber was Ok. There are tighter corners in world racing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted October 26 Share Posted October 26 4 hours ago, curious said: Was at Riccarton wasn't it? Yes, a long time ago. Was considered far too early, and when the classics were 'rationalised ' the NZ Derby was merged with the Great Northern Derby. I could never see the reasoning behind that , I thought the Wellington Derby placement made more sense. The Wellington Derby seemed to throw up more genuine middle-distance/staying sorts too I thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted October 26 Share Posted October 26 5 hours ago, Freda said: Yes, a long time ago. Was considered far too early, and when the classics were 'rationalised ' the NZ Derby was merged with the Great Northern Derby. I could never see the reasoning behind that , I thought the Wellington Derby placement made more sense. The Wellington Derby seemed to throw up more genuine middle-distance/staying sorts too I thought. I never really understood why they got rid of the Wgtn Derby. Famous for being Linda Jones first big win, on Holy Toledo, if I remember correctly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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