Jump to content
NOTICE TO BOAY'ers: Major Update Coming ×
Bit Of A Yarn

2000 Guineas field


Wingman

Recommended Posts

Only 8 acceptors, last year, 11 and previous 14. Like it or not this race and 1000 Guineas are going to have to head north. That is the reality/impact of Karaka millions and other big money races. Short term monetary gains, potentially immeasurable long term losses to breeding credibility. NZTR have had their heads in the sand for far too long re having a major overhaul of the calendar. Any further fluffing about will put the G1 value of these races in real jeopardy. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are limited G1 races for 3yo  which is as it should be. You are entitled to your opinion . Mine is keeping those G1 is imperative even if it means moving location. The only way they will not lose their status is by moving as the large training establishments are showing stronger reluctance to travel. The NZTR have egg on their face yet again as they have allowed the Karaka meeting to become the tail that wags the dog.

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Pattern Committee govern the Group criteria.  If the "classics" do not consistently attract quality I think it is fair for the race/s to drop in status.

I think moving location is not the only method to retain quality thus Group One status.  I think clubs need a swift kick in some cases.  The Levin Classic is a prime example where various committees have folded to the whims of NZTR and RACE.  As their attempts to keep the race at Group One have failed I think it is time for some fresh thinking to get the Levin Classic back to the great race it once was.

Tinkering with programming and fitting in with the ever increasing novelty races has done the 2000 Guineas no favours.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The quality of the 2000 Guineas field has very little to do with where it is held.  The issue is a screwed pattern which has been stuffed up even more this year with two key lead up races being cancelled and then moved to other locations.

Add to that a high attrition rate and the field quality has suffered.

Of course one of the key factors undermining everything is the appalling state of our tracks. 

Ellerslie isn't the saviour either.  Why spend all that money on an experimental surface and not fix the constraints with the bends?  

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

41 minutes ago, Murray Fish said:

"Christchurch is forecast to hit 26C every day for the next three days, seven degrees above what they would normally expect in early November as a daytime high."

From my memory those are typical Cup Week temperatures.  Great racing!!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't agree that 19 degrees is a normal daytime high for early November in Canterbury.  Maybe not near those Queensland highs but getting close to 30 degrees at Riccarton would not be a surprize for Cup and Show Week.

Have you noticed how Robbie has a vice like grip on that Melbourne Cup?  Not even fellow countryman Ronan Keating was allowed more than a touch of the bottom.  It's like the dream he doesn't want to be woken from will be broken if he releases his control of the trophy.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

29 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

I don't agree that 19 degrees is a normal daytime high for early November in Canterbury.  Maybe not near those Queensland highs but getting close to 30 degrees at Riccarton would not be a surprize for Cup and Show Week.

Lived there for 20 years and 18 years on the West Coast.

I always remember Cup week being high 20's with a Nor'West foehn wind blowing in Canterbury and dumping rain measured in feet on the West Coast.

I worked for Apple Fields for a time and did research on the first two weeks of November.  If you got a normal hot week or two in those weeks you could accurately predict the apple crop by measuring the heat units.  This is the map for Friday next week.  Classic Nor West.  

copyImage.gif

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, curious said:

26C is hardly an issue is it? NZTR have a HOT WEATHER POLICY but it only kicks in for forecast temps above 30C doesn't it?

sigh, I posted more 'concerned' about how they will be approaching the Watering of the track in the leadup! :)
ps, that nor wester can take a lot of moisture out of the turf!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, Murray Fish said:

sigh, I posted more 'concerned' about how they will be approaching the Watering of the track in the leadup! :)
ps, that nor wester can take a lot of moisture out of the turf!

Is that a bad thing?  The best horses win on Good 3 or Good 2 tracks.  

The issue is managing the irrigation and the wear and tear over three racedays.  No doubt there will be some fast lanes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, curious said:

Soft 7 this morning after 18mms irrigation.

Penetrometer reading?  Or even ideally a Going Stick reading?  Moisture Meter 51.4%.

Nomination Morning 
Weather: Overcast
Track: Soft 7
Moisture Meter: 51.4%
Rail: True
Rainfall: No Rain Last 24 Hours | 9mm Rain Last 7 Days
Irrigation: 18mm Last 24 Hours
Weather and Track updated at 9.15am Friday 8 November

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Friday Morning 
Weather: Overcast
Track: Soft 7
Moisture Meter: 51.4%
Rail: True
Rainfall: No Rain Last 24 Hours | 9mm Rain Last 7 Days
Irrigation: 18mm Last 24 Hours
Weather and Track updated at 9.10am Friday 8 November
 
Thursday Morning 
Weather: Fine
Track: Soft 6
Moisture Meter: 42.3%
Rail: True
Rainfall: No Rain Last 24 Hours | 9mm Rain Last 7 Days
Irrigation: 10mm to be applied today 
Weather and Track updated at 10.53 Thursday 7 November
 
 
Withdrawal Morning
Weather: Fine
Track: Soft 7
Moisture Meter: 50.9%
Rail: True
Rainfall: No Rain Last 24 Hours | 9mm Rain Last 7 Days
Irrigation: 12mm Irrigation Applied Over Weekend
Weather and Track updated at 8.55am Wednesday 6 November
 
Nomination Morning
Weather: Overcast
Track: Heavy 8
Moisture Meter: 51.8%
Rail: True
Rainfall: 1mm Rain Last 24 Hours | 9mm Rain Last 7 Days
Irrigation: 12mm Irrigation Applied Over Weekend
Weather and Track updated at 9.12am Tuesday 5 November
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Trojan said:

Is that a bad thing?  The best horses win on Good 3 or Good 2 tracks.  

The issue is managing the irrigation and the wear and tear over three racedays.  No doubt there will be some fast lanes.

it was meant as a neutral comment...  FWIW, Riccarton us to be the track I betted the most on, almost totally stopped at that track!  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Wingman said:

And there in is the heart of the problem. Tracks that experienced punters no longer trust. Changing direction what do boay posters now think of the Ellerslie track? 

 

For me also, I used to be happy to share any insights I might have had to mates etc, stopped all that sort of thing as well.  I've gone from being 'a halo' to a 'black hole'.  Cashed out a couple of little friendly betting groups I once belonged to! Leading them to all fall over...
re Ellerslie,  I'm still waiting to see how it will present when proper summer racing kicks in...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...