“the Race by Betcha” - What do harness participants think?

[Brodie]

The Race By Betcha, is nearly upon us again

What do harness participants really think about it and slot races?

Does the trainers and owners of horses that  are not in the race really give it much thought?

How many people get excited about these types of races and does it actually bring enough excitement to introduce new people into racing?

Is it just a transfer of funds between wealthier people rather than what it is meant to do?

There are some people that love the tight class racing whether they bet or not which is interesting!

Personally solely from a punters point of view, I would not be putting a brass razoo on any race such as this at Cambridge and I would highly doubt many serious punters looking to win would either!

You have a field of the very best horses racing each other over sprint distances all on the job, when there is very little between them.

Anyway just looking beyond the media hype to see what others thought and whether they think that the money that Entain will be putting in is money well spent?

.

 

Edited Friday at 09:08 PM by Brodie

[Brodie]

Just as I thought, no one really gives a damn about these slot races apart from the ones with horses in them and the Trackside Presenters that are being paid to be so bullish about them!

Does it bring new people into racing, no it doesnt it just costs the i dustry more money that it can not afford to be blowing at the moment.

Feel free to disagree

[TAB For Ever]

IMO supporting and promoting "Cup Class" horses is an important an exciting aspect of Harness..

The biggest excitement IMO is the attraction of the top Australian Horses......results in a competitive trans-Tasman battle.

We used to have the Interdoms but for various reasons these fell out of favour and they got watered down...not only was series too taxing on horses other high stake races started swamping the calendar. Betting and interest increases significantly in these big races and keeps the sport/industry in the media .

The slot races are very new to Harness ,the high-profile will only be matched by the NZ Cup.

A key to the Slot races is that most of the big stake is funded by the participants .

Personally I'd drive up to 4 hours[did in 2024] for the 'event'......NZ v Australia. I wouldn't cross the road for a card of maiden horses many driven by part-timers !

Harness generally has a bad rap among non-racing folk , but big stakes may catch their attention as apotential  owner in racing or breeding stock.And racing needs more outside investment to prosper.

As for the Cambridge track...it adequate and has hosted a few Jewels days successfully.

[Gammalite]

1 hour ago, Brodie said:

Just as I thought, no one really gives a damn about these slot races apart from the ones with horses in them and the Trackside Presenters that are being paid to be so bullish about them!

Does it bring new people into racing, no it doesnt it just costs the i dustry more money that it can not afford to be blowing at the moment.

Feel free to disagree

The runners PAY a BIG chunk of the prizemoney themselves. 

Doesn't cost the industry much at all to run $1,000,000 races.  The Industry is Looooving It . 👍😍

The BETCHA, The Eureka, The kiwi,  The Nullibor, The TAB trot, The Protostar, The Ascent, The Velocity !!! win win winwin win win  Brodster.

It's called Buying a Slot .you can't buy one mate as they are too POPular and they go like Hot-cakes. and you're showing up as a bit of a DINOSAUR here, not able to adjust with the current way of assembling GReat Fields of the Best. 

GET with the Program Mate. You are the Only one doesn't give a damn . But you do really . as you wrote about it !! on ya mate . Enjoy the Fantastic Racing and watch out for the BIG Queenslander next Friday.  

Addington had a FANTASTIC new Slot for 3 year old trotters and 3 year old Pacers on Show day. They could race in $500,000 races because of this fantastic incentive.  well done NZ Metro club Introducing those !!! 🏆🏆💰💰

Brisbane put on a $500,000 slot for 2 yearold's as well . They went 1.50. last year. Plenty of incentive to run lol. 

Edited Saturday at 09:30 AM by Gammalite

[Gammalite]

26 minutes ago, TAB For Ever said:

We used to have the Interdoms but for various reasons these fell out of favour and they got watered down...not only was series too taxing on horses other high stake races started swamping the calendar. Betting and interest increases significantly in these big races and keeps the sport/industry in the media .

ReBORN soon in July TABman, with 2 heats instead of 3 to qualify for the final, which what was killing it. 

There will be 2 past Championship winners competing . 'Leap To Fame' and 'DON Hugo'. They will scare off a lot of the kiwis. NZ hasn't been the same since Allstars retired during Covid times. (The brand that sent Lazarus and Smolda to Australia for the Interdominion and WON ) and weren't pussies like they are these days. 

The Interdominion Final here in Brisvegas for the next 3 years. Come have a July holiday , and I'll shout you and Greg O'connor (what a fabulous harness man that bloke is) a 'Coffee' or 2. 

[Nowornever]

13 hours ago, Brodie said:

Anyway just looking beyond the media hype to see what others thought and whether they think that the money that Entain will be putting in is money well spent?

No doubt it adds Aus/NZ interest and gathers exciting fields but there is no way the turnover will pay for it. Good as a viewing spectacle but will it entice people to open their wallets. I am not so sure.

I think getting some fields like this during Cup week would be more beneficial especially if the Aussies bought some stablemates over for the supporting races. Turn Cup week into two weeks of high quality fields and have an Australian/NZ drivers championship at the same time.

[Brodie]

Good to see support for the slot races.

Not sure the exact figure that the race is subsidised from the industry coffers, but no doubt it is not inconsequential.

Does it attract new people into the industry as owners or punters, highly doubt it especially seem the race is in Cambridge where there is dwindling interest in the area.

Anything that is beneficial for harness racing is great and we certainly much need it.

Hopefully it will get people talking and punters  offloading but wouldnt be holding my breath.

[Rangatira]

On 29/03/2025 at 10:07 AM, Brodie said:

a brass razoo

 

[Nowornever]

Leap To Fame drawn 8 and paying 2.30 

Even though he is a Champion leave me out of that. I give him no show from the draw.

[Brodie]

20 minutes ago, Nowornever said:

Leap To Fame drawn 8 and paying 2.30 

Even though he is a Champion leave me out of that. I give him no show from the draw.

Seem the race is over 2200metres at Cambridge rather than the mile, he will have a chance but yes it ha certainly levelled things up with that draw.

No you couldnt back him at 2.30 but then again for me it just doesn't make much sense to be betting into the race as many of them could probably win on the night!

Edited yesterday at 07:34 AM by Brodie

[the galah]

On 29/03/2025 at 10:06 PM, TAB For Ever said:

IMO supporting and promoting "Cup Class" horses is an important an exciting aspect of Harness..

The biggest excitement IMO is the attraction of the top Australian Horses......results in a competitive trans-Tasman battle.

We used to have the Interdoms but for various reasons these fell out of favour and they got watered down...not only was series too taxing on horses other high stake races started swamping the calendar. Betting and interest increases significantly in these big races and keeps the sport/industry in the media .

The slot races are very new to Harness ,the high-profile will only be matched by the NZ Cup.

A key to the Slot races is that most of the big stake is funded by the participants .

Personally I'd drive up to 4 hours[did in 2024] for the 'event'......NZ v Australia. I wouldn't cross the road for a card of maiden horses many driven by part-timers !

Harness generally has a bad rap among non-racing folk , but big stakes may catch their attention as apotential  owner in racing or breeding stock.And racing needs more outside investment to prosper.

As for the Cambridge track...it adequate and has hosted a few Jewels days successfully.

Honestly,i havent looked at any pre race coverage,whether it be any media or hrnz website.. 

I don't even know who's in the field although i understand the top 3 aussie pacers are coming.

Personally i think most people think like me. I've heard no one i know even mention the races,although the wife did say to me this morning,whats queen elida coming for as its out of form. So obviously its a starter.

I think the average harness follower thinks like me.

Having said that,come friday,i will certainly be watching the races and i think its great leap to fame is in nz.

I understand people like tabforever have a differing point of view,so good for them and no doubt they have followed the pre race coverage and will enjoy being there on friday.Harness racing needs people like that,so you have to cater to their needs as well. 

also i appreciate its always great to experience being on course when the top quality horses run,especially the aussie pacers .

i agree,these type of races are good for the industry as a whol,but with the caveat that they not be heavily funded by HRNZ.

I have no doubt that HRNZ boosting the last  nz cup stake to 1 million  got not 1 extra horse,or 1 extra $ invested in the tote than they would have ,had the race been run for half a million less. The same horses would have started.As i pointed out ,the best field to line up in the last year that i saw,was in the hunter cup and that had a huge stake cut to only $250,000.

But ,i'm not a party pooper and hope everyone enjoys watching the race,as i will on friday, and i hope everyone on course gets to experience the feeling, that witnessing the very best horses race can give you.

Edited yesterday at 07:58 AM by the galah

[Newmarket]

1 hour ago, Nowornever said:

Leap To Fame drawn 8 and paying 2.30 

Even though he is a Champion leave me out of that. I give him no show from the draw.

I’m not sure, I would punt him around $2-50. Gonna be some real speed on early, Don Hugo drawn 2 and Republican Party drawn 3, will view for lead but maybe couple others out wide might try too. 
I can see Leap to fame being up parked about a lap from home, and will outstay them and win by a neck from Hugo…. Only 2 that can win. 
 

Good racing that night 👍

[TAB For Ever]

49 minutes ago, the galah said:

Honestly,i havent looked at any pre race coverage,whether it be any media or hrnz website.. 

I don't even know who's in the field although i understand the top 3 aussie pacers are coming.

Personally i think most people think like me. I've heard no one i know even mention the races,although the wife did say to me this morning,whats queen elida coming for as its out of form. So obviously its a starter.

I think the average harness follower thinks like me.

Having said that,come friday,i will certainly be watching the races and i think its great leap to fame is in nz.

I understand people like tabforever have a differing point of view,so good for them and no doubt they have followed the pre race coverage and will enjoy being there on friday.Harness racing needs people like that,so you have to cater to their needs as well. 

also i appreciate its always great to experience being on course when the top quality horses run,especially the aussie pacers .

i agree,these type of races are good for the industry as a whol,but with the caveat that they not be heavily funded by HRNZ.

I have no doubt that HRNZ boosting the last  nz cup stake to 1 million  got not 1 extra horse,or 1 extra $ invested in the tote than they would have ,had the race been run for half a million less. The same horses would have started.As i pointed out ,the best field to line up in the last year that i saw,was in the hunter cup and that had a huge stake cut to only $250,000.

But ,i'm not a party pooper and hope everyone enjoys watching the race,as i will on friday, and i hope everyone on course gets to experience the feeling, that witnessing the very best horses race can give you.

As in most things in life Galah the creme of the crop causes excitement , publicity , media attention and ultimately extra investment.

NZ used to have the Golden Kiwi Lottery with one life changing prize and it often took weeks to sell each draw. I note Lotto started and has increased in sales 10 x fold with people investing much of their disposable income to chase a few big wins in Jackpots etc. The big races which capture the publics attention still attract big investment , which racing administrators hope will convert to more regular betting eg the once or twice a year punter will convert to twice a month or even twice a week.

Race for a bag of kumaras , ownership and interest would die in NZ . Coz the TAB is forever folk will still bet on Aussie races and Sports. Sport is already overtaking Racing some months eg February 2025.

Thousands of jobs will be lost , NZ breeders will cease etc etc ...its a slow burn but there are 'new' people entering the Sport. With the Asian invasion ,this obvious influx has often been slower to enter NZ racing than was hoped.

Like many enthusiasts I continue to invest a few pennies in O/ship  now that stakes have risen and there remains the chance of your horse contesting a big race. Dull that possibility and revert to plodders racing for kumaras and I  like many wouldn't cross the street to waste time to watch even let alone bet !

As for Friday...I may attend....but it so tempting to sit at home in comfort at home , with plenty food and drink and enjoy the TV coverage...just like Rugby games now , TV coverage so much better and saves time and money.

And I can note all the presenters errors , poor picks and not only curse at them at top of lungs but I can jump on Internet and vent my spleen.
And pretend I'm a participant .....

[Brodie]

HRNZ/Entain/ TAB are subsidising “ The Race” substantially by $400,000 that is right $400,000 smackeroos if my arithmetic is correct!!

Ten starters paying 60k for a slot and the stake is $1 million !

Where us the $400k coming from, clearly bring massively subsidised and being paid to the slot holders who probably do not need the extra $400k that would be far better spent elsewhere!

Anyway, not surprising going by other decisions being made by HRNZ and Entain although they will not be worried they promised the dosh so they will blow it and then drop racing big time.

Anyone actually believe that Brodie is not on the money and why ?

Edited yesterday at 10:28 AM by Brodie

[Gammalite]

19 minutes ago, Brodie said:

HRNZ/Entain/ TAB are subsidising “ The Race” substantially by $400,000 that is right $400,000 smackeroos if my arithmetic is correct!!

Ten starters paying 60k for a slot and the stake is $1 million !

Isn't it great. They can run a Million Dollar race with the VERY BEST of BEST from 2 countries. With a few of the best trainers and drivers involved in the HISTORY of the SPORT. and it only has to put in a measley 400k.

HRNZ must be dreaming and totally thrilled to bits,  how lucky they are to get this roll up of great and tun such a great race in a back water place. for the cost of not even one house. Aren't they worth a million these days ?

Putting Harness racing BACK on THE MAP . well done HRNZ .

Watch out for the Aussie Quinella Brodster. In both races 😉 Gamma on the money . Brodster just 'spent force' with no money left.  tough times mate, tough times for you old time battlers. 🏆😋

[TAB For Ever]

2 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

Isn't it great. They can run a Million Dollar race with the VERY BEST of BEST from 2 countries. With a few of the best trainers and drivers involved in the HISTORY of the SPORT. and it only has to put in a measley 400k.

HRNZ must be dreaming and totally thrilled to bits,  how lucky they are to get this roll up of great and tun such a great race in a back water place. for the cost of not even one house. Aren't they worth a million these days ?

Putting Harness racing BACK on THE MAP . well done HRNZ .

Watch out for the Aussie Quinella Brodster. In both races 😉 Gamma on the money . Brodster just 'spent force' with no money left.  tough times mate, tough times for you old time battlers. 🏆😋

Exactly Gamma....fantastic to bring the best Aussies over to little ole NZ to race v our best.

I'm tempted to travel to the night...last year it was great seeing the two 'teams' led down the straight before the test match ! Behind the National flags .....hair raising stuff !

At little ole Cambridge too !

Of course Entain /HRNZ are contributing .Where does Brodie 'always on the money' think the money came from to launch this new strategic plan to rebirth Harness in NZ.

Answer ...the money came from Entain ,and 70% of the money has gone to grass roots racing with extra stakes for everyone...across the Board. 

Plus monies are held in reserves for the planned events/promotions etc hoping to stimulate things so if Brodie has a good idea then he should forward it to HRNZ for consideration.

Cos the slot races ,plus those during Cup week are part of the plan , as is resuscitating the North Island hence Manawatu and Auckland events also feature in trying to excite people . Not easy but they trying !

Every club in NZ receives HRNZ /Entain money so a bit pointless in choosing one meeting to point out how betting doesnt cover stakes and meeting expenses..

[Brodie]

8 hours ago, TAB For Ever said:

Exactly Gamma....fantastic to bring the best Aussies over to little ole NZ to race v our best.

I'm tempted to travel to the night...last year it was great seeing the two 'teams' led down the straight before the test match ! Behind the National flags .....hair raising stuff !

At little ole Cambridge too !

Of course Entain /HRNZ are contributing .Where does Brodie 'always on the money' think the money came from to launch this new strategic plan to rebirth Harness in NZ.

Answer ...the money came from Entain ,and 70% of the money has gone to grass roots racing with extra stakes for everyone...across the Board. 

Plus monies are held in reserves for the planned events/promotions etc hoping to stimulate things so if Brodie has a good idea then he should forward it to HRNZ for consideration.

Cos the slot races ,plus those during Cup week are part of the plan , as is resuscitating the North Island hence Manawatu and Auckland events also feature in trying to excite people . Not easy but they trying !

Every club in NZ receives HRNZ /Entain money so a bit pointless in choosing one meeting to point out how betting doesnt cover stakes and meeting expenses..

TAB you are not on the money.

They are chucking money down a black hole for little benefit.

Throwing $400k to people who do not need it is in line with other silly decidions being made to use up the $900million.

What will we have when the 5 years of the Entain spend up is finished?

No better than before Entain started splashing the cash.

You are delusional if you think they will continue to chuck their money around.

The stake money will drop significantly and Entain will have what they wanted!

If this is not true, I challenge the management spokespeople for Entain to come on here and dispute this!

They wont because Brodie is on the money.

[TAB For Ever]

11 hours ago, Brodie said:

TAB you are not on the money.

They are chucking money down a black hole for little benefit.

Throwing $400k to people who do not need it is in line with other silly decidions being made to use up the $900million.

What will we have when the 5 years of the Entain spend up is finished?

No better than before Entain started splashing the cash.

You are delusional if you think they will continue to chuck their money around.

The stake money will drop significantly and Entain will have what they wanted!

If this is not true, I challenge the management spokespeople for Entain to come on here and dispute this!

They wont because Brodie is on the money.

Again....same ole same ole......NZ would not have attracted the Aussie horses without slashing the cash.

The idea is to stimulate in terest in Aussie as well ,to increase Aussie interest in NZ racing , long term thinking  !

If it doesn't then are we ....you and me ...any worse off than we were a couple of years ago before Entain , and the NZ Racing couldn't pay its Bills and was bailed out by the Guvmint.

And if the horses have to race for a bag of Kumaras , you will still follow them cos you love the horses ,not the money you can make off the place punt !

You do love the horse ?

Edited 10 hours ago by TAB For Ever
typo

[Gammalite]

21 hours ago, TAB For Ever said:

Of course Entain /HRNZ are contributing .Where does Brodie 'always on the money' think the money came from to launch this new strategic plan to rebirth Harness in NZ.

Answer ...the money came from Entain ,and 70% of the money has gone to grass roots racing with extra stakes for everyone...across the Board. 

Plus monies are held in reserves for the planned events/promotions etc hoping to stimulate things so if Brodie has a good idea then he should forward it to HRNZ for consideration.

Alas Brodies idea is don't have BIG scale racing (like the brilliant slot races) Don't have Manawatu for the battlers ( as not enough punting is done on those race apparently )  don't have harness racing in the North Island ? Cambridge Midweeks were 'bad' Auckland race for too much money because they are 'elite'  . so on so forth

Manawatu has been excellent at getting young drivers like Harrison Orange, Wilson House, and young Crystal Hackett and some other juniors a HEAP of drives , to improve their technique and judgement. That not important to many punters BUT it is critical for the industry to have competent competitor drivers coming through. (too many old codgers go round in NZ all the time ) I wouldn't punt on them lol 🤣

You CANNOT HAVE Huge fields on the Big South Island tracks with the poor horses flogged over long distance racing. They do a lot of that shit from the 'out-dated standing starts too. it's a dinosaur of a race model.  

What Brodster hasn't considered is that these BIG south Island grass tracks fields may be better odds for his place punt or whatever the hell he does, BUT they are technically very slow horses. I think they race for too much money already 😁😂. QLD puts on slow race fields for the 2.00 minute mile horses every week for about an average of $6000. doubt anyone punts on them BUT they run them !! It's a SPORT. you need participants. they need somewhere to start every week. (in a  vain effort to Pay their Way) 

Surely the Fast horses should ( and DO ) race for the BIG bucks. A better investment than running $16 k maidens at Addington or the like.

The maidens should just run for 10k and pop that extra cash left over into a BRAND NEW 2 year old slot race  !!💰( another great idea for progress in the sport by Gamma 😉 ) and will happen I reckon . HRNZ doing a Sterling job . 

Best slot race yet coming up this Friday. The BETCHA race. One of BEST RACE fields EVER ASSEMBLED . I would say the Best ever in Southern Hemisphere. and people bitch and moan about a miserly 400 k ?? 😋  that is so funny .The galloping people must think harness are complete Tight-Arses haha 😅

[the galah]

Brodie simply pointing out..

If your expenditure exceeds your income,you end up in trouble.

so they are pumping money into 2 year old racing,yet we consistently are seeing the smallest fields numbers wise ever,for 2 year olds .

they are pumping money into the group 1 races.

they have not told anyone what their plans are for auckland ,other than auckland has to continue,because thats where the most people live. That sounds such simplistic thinking. But thats the current position. 

So what is there to show for those policies..

A significant drop in the number of mares being bred. I read somewhere that the number of licence holders is also decreasing.

i started a thread some months ago saying people are looking at where HRNZ are putting the money,and are saying,this sport doesn't value me anymore and i'm out.

i predicted the policies of HRNZ would lead to a significant drop in mares being bred and trainers giving the game away.

 

I coud see it,people i talked to could see it ,but those in charge never did.

the sport is run by people in a bubble which excludes and is out of touch with significant sectors of the industry.

 I started a thread recently about tanzania. 

tanzania is the current leading point scorer in the country cups series after 8 races.hes won 1 country cup and placed 2nd or 3rd in 4 others. 

So how much has he earnt in the last 4 mionths. $26,000 thats all.

Money spent on many of those group 1's would have far more positive impact if they were directed into country cup races.The winners of all those 3-5 horse 2 year old races, get double the payouts that  most of those country cup winners get. 

Thats what a horse just below the highest tier of horses in the sourth island earns if its too consistent to continually drop back in the ratings.

i accept that the next gen bonus was a factor in the higher prices at the recent sales helped the commercial breeders with high end horses. But,surely people can see the overall drop in number of mares bred is of more significance to the industry.

i can see a couple of positives in the future.

They are the redistribution of funds that greyhound nz has been receiving,once they finish up.And entain have that deal where they pay more if the geo blocking eventuates by a certain date.

i also think there have been some good decisions made by hrnz. The extra meetings are a good thing,but they have to be careful with the stake levels paid there as well.

Anyways,i just looked at that pacers fileld, the nz horses won't beat the aussies,so that money will go to australia.

and 5 australian based trotters and 1 ex australian trotter make up 6 of the 9 horses  in the trot race. 

 

Edited 8 hours ago by the galah

[Brodie]

2 hours ago, TAB For Ever said:

Again....same ole same ole......NZ would not have attracted the Aussie horses without slashing the cash.

The idea is to stimulate in terest in Aussie as well ,to increase Aussie interest in NZ racing , long term thinking  !

If it doesn't then are we ....you and me ...any worse off than we were a couple of years ago before Entain , and the NZ Racing couldn't pay its Bills and was bailed out by the Guvmint.

And if the horses have to race for a bag of Kumaras , you will still follow them cos you love the horses ,not the money you can make off the place punt !

You do love the horse ?

TAB, I say if the wealthier owners, trainers or Corporates want to shell out $60k and 10 starters race for  $600k and transfer the stake between them, then they can go for it!

The $400k plus the other costs to run “ The Race” to my mind is not going to be beneficial for grass roots harness in NZ.

So if the Ozzies take the major spoils then prey tell how this is of any benefit to  NZ Harness?

Now if Entain had not promised all this $900m then the race would not be $1m and probably $600k if it got off the ground, do what is wrong with that?

How many new owners or punters has the previous “ The Race” attracted to harness racing?

I Personally do not know any, in fact no one actually mentions it to me ever!

Entain know that they have to splash the $900m around snd that then gives them half of the  TAB profit for another 20 years .

If they had not promised this 900m there is no way on earth they would be subsidising this slot race as it just makes absolutely no business sense!!

Have a word to your connections and get their media man to come out and state that Entain has no intention whatsoever in abandoning harness racing when the 5 years of guarantees is up!

Where is their spokesman TAB?

 

 

 

 

[Gammalite]

20 minutes ago, Brodie said:

TAB, I say if the wealthier owners, trainers or Corporates want to shell out $60k and 10 starters race for  $600k and transfer the stake between them, then they can go for it!

The $400k plus the other costs to run “ The Race” to my mind is not going to be beneficial for grass roots harness in NZ.

So if the Ozzies take the major spoils then prey tell how this is of any benefit to  NZ Harness?

Well you are right with that I think Brodster. 

I reckon they should pay to enter the Interdominion and that as well . say 20k each. The standard would be exceptional then , like the selected field slot races. 60k not much for a chance at glory in these slot races. They pay double that for  yearlings that 'some' don't even get to the races sometimes. Is a Great Investment to Get a TOP horse in a TOP race and have a bit of fun trying. a $120k dud yearling not much fun  🤣😜

The Eureka Slot race at about 2 million$ is Australias biggest purse at Menangle and it has NZ trained horses  prohibited from entering. Seems a bit racist to me lol, but the money stays in Aus and the industry might benefit. 

Alas, the Aussies ARE allowed to enter your slot races , so Keayang Zahara , Just Believe and co are cleaning up in NZ and the cash is coming to Oz. that will happen again in the new 'Ascent' this year too. Marketplace won't hold out the best Aussies 😋.  they should of excluded Aussies?. because can't see any benefit to the local breeding industry , if that happens too many years. ( And it WILL) 

Do you think the Aussies will get the FIRST 4 in the TAB trot Friday night Brodster ? like last year .

But the Grins 'Race' was won in it's 3 years by 'Self Assured', 'Copy That' and 'Merlin'. All owned by Multi Millionaire Aussies . so the banning of the Oz trainers seems frivolous I spose. money going to Aus anyway, but they do re-invest at the yearlings sales usually to support NZ. as well as Big money in training Fees to your top trainers are paid. 

The Last 5 New Zealand Cups are sitting on Australia mantle Pieces.  A grass roots person winning the NZ Cup is COMPLETELY out of the question now. The Group 1's will be the Millionaire owners and/or the Aussies. 

And no good going on about 'grass roots' racing when every time a little meeting is on at Manawatu or Cambridge or even Auckland at times seems to often get shot down by a lot of the biased Southerners with NO respect for Trainers like Donnolly, Chilcott and co , who support those little meetings. It's their LIVELIHOOD and they have owners paying fees and enjoying racing their horse.(s) they won't win a Cup so pay them huge stakes. they can just dribble around in their 10k races. 6 horses fields are EXCELLENT with the 2 yearold s as they get a Winner more easily that way. 

Let's Go Larry !!! and the Don . Is DON -Is good. home ya go Lukey baby.