Riccarton last week vs Rotorua this week

[Chief Stipe]

12 minutes ago, Freda said:

Well, it beats hanging around going nowhere with no grass meetings locally.

And Blenheim used to put on a great breakfast for stable staff,  so costs wrt accom. were kept to a minimum 

Last week everyone was complaining about transport costs i.e. Otaki vs Hawera.  Either way the Owner pays.

[curious]

41 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Last week everyone was complaining about transport costs i.e. Otaki vs Hawera.  Either way the Owner pays.

I tend to agree. Though it's only the about the same trip as Wingatui for Canterbury horses. As much as I used to love that Blenheim (formerly Nelson/Blenheim?) circuit, It's a bloody expensive trip for a couple of free breakfasts when equally good nearby tracks like Rangiora and Motukarara lie idle.

[Doomed]

6 hours ago, supporter61 said:

Some off the horses nominated for Riccarton last week may well have been happy to go around on the bog. I dont think that was the issue. Its a bit selfish to not consider upcoming race meetings and the impact it may have on them and the horses hoping or expecting to run , and that is what I believe the decision of the club was based on.

I find that statement a bit strange. I think most of the horses nominated last week would have been happy to go around on the bog. Just look at Riverton and Ascot Park this weekend. They nominated and raced on a heavy 10 down there. Hardly any scratchings. Ballots missed a start. $17,000 races too. No $35,000 2yo and 3yo races like at Trentham yesterday with 5 and 7 starters. Pretty good racing both days down there as well.

And, to be honest, the statement about considering upcoming meetings is just plain weird. There is one grass track meeting scheduled for Riccarton in a 12 week period. With a couple of $40,000 "features". The transferred meeting had two $80,000 races, including a listed race which was the premier southern 2yo race of the season.

We now have the ludicrous situation where NZTR has attempted to close down most Canterbury tracks with good winter surfaces in favour of the Yaldhurst AWT. Meanwhile, it appears the CJC is increasingly reluctant to host meetings on its grass track during the winter months. And as there is virtually no grass track alternative if the CJC considers its track isn't up to it, it looks like transfers to the AWT might become more common.

[Doomed]

15 minutes ago, curious said:

I tend to agree. Though it's only the about the same trip as Wingatui for Canterbury horses. As much as I used to love that Blenheim (formerly Nelson/Blenheim?) circuit, It's a bloody expensive trip for a couple of free breakfasts when equally good nearby tracks like Rangiora and Motukarara lie idle.

And Waterlea is not a good winter track. Meanwhile Timaru and Oamaru sit virtually unused, not to mention Waimate, Rangiora and Motukarara, although to be honest, Motukarara is not a good winter track either.

[Dark Beau]

11 hours ago, Trojan said:

So Trentham will be "repaired" enough to race next weekend i.e. in a week?  Then again 3 weeks later?

More chance than Rotorua I guess.

P.S. I didn't set the dates or create the chaos that the Lower North Island - SORRY, all of NZ racing finds it's self in. 

[supporter61]

2 hours ago, Dark Beau said:

More chance than Rotorua I guess.

P.S. I didn't set the dates or create the chaos that the Lower North Island - SORRY, all of NZ racing finds it's self in. 

Was talking to one of our very well respected jockeys of a few years past the other day about track bias. An interesting statement he made , while agreeing with track bias , was that he felt Rotorua wasnt one of them. He said Rotorua was a rider bias. You had to know how to ride Rotorua. Do you agree ? Or think its changed.

 

[Murray Fish]

7 hours ago, Doomed said:

Pretty good racing both days down there as well.

there was good vibe at both meetings...

[curious]

11 hours ago, Doomed said:

And Waterlea is not a good winter track. Meanwhile Timaru and Oamaru sit virtually unused, not to mention Waimate, Rangiora and Motukarara, although to be honest, Motukarara is not a good winter track either.

This was Rangiora last Saturday morning.