Te Akau (David Ellis) comment on downgrading

[Freda]

36 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

You are reading it from your perpetual bias of negativity.  Where does the statement explicitly say that the race should stay a Grp 1?

BTW @Freda extra water on a particular part of a track doesn't necessarily make it wetter.  It depends on the field capacity of the soil and its drainage.  

It did in this case.  

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, Huey said:

You can stare through you rose tinted glasses as long as you like @Chief Stipe , but reality is at the moment they need NZ racing to justify what they are doing. 

Doesn't any full time Trainer or Jockey?  Or any other individual with a significant investment in NZ Thoroughbreds?  That's not rose tinted its being a pragmatic realist.  

1 hour ago, Huey said:

Like you (but not to the delusional extent you do) I wish them the best of luck in Australia and hope they do well, hopefully with some kiwi breds.

Pray tell what leads you to think I'm delusional?  90% of your posts are cynical snipes at the Te Akau business.  You live in some delusional dream land that racing at some time in the past was this fantastic profit making venture.  It has always been a tough competitive game.  Those that have been successful have been really good at mitigating the risk by spreading their investment.

[Newmarket]

On 25/09/2025 at 8:55 AM, Chief Stipe said:

I don't believe he has missed the point.  In fact he is making quite a point regarding the state of black type in Australia.  NSW has been upgrading races to Group 1 without international approval nor in line with guidelines for some time now.  With more in the wind.   For example how can you make a Slot race like The Everest a Group 1.

Good God…. Not another Te Akau post 🤮

[Newmarket]

Hey Chief, 

I know your close to the stable…. you got any oil on La Dorado tonight at the Valley? 
 

Pretty keen on Alabama Lass… $6 is a gift. 

[Chief Stipe]

59 minutes ago, Newmarket said:

Hey Chief, 

I know your close to the stable…. you got any oil on La Dorado tonight at the Valley? 
 

Pretty keen on Alabama Lass… $6 is a gift. 

I think La Dorada is a good chance.

Alabama Lass not convinced.  My partner owns a share in a horse that bet her fair and square in NZ - twice.  

You can't lead all the way in a Grp 1 sprint race in OZ unless you are a champion. 

[Newmarket]

5 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

I think La Dorada is a good chance.

Alabama Lass not convinced.  My partner owns a share in a horse that bet her fair and square in NZ - twice.  

You can't lead all the way in a Grp 1 sprint race in OZ unless you are a champion. 

La Dorada dead last…. next time i assume….

[Newmarket]

5 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

I think La Dorada is a good chance.

Alabama Lass not convinced.  My partner owns a share in a horse that bet her fair and square in NZ - twice.  

You can't lead all the way in a Grp 1 sprint race in OZ unless you are a champion. 

Yep, your right, Alabama Lass ran poorly, 

[hesi]

Alabama Lass beaten on the turn, which was poor, considering her draw, easy uncontested lead and MV suited her style of running.

Might as well bring her home for a shot at the Telegraph/Railway, she still does not have a G1 win.

La Dorada outclassed against an average G3 field after a huge drop in class.  Unless there is some good reason, I doubt they would press on for a start in the Thousand Guineas

[Chief Stipe]

6 hours ago, hesi said:

Alabama Lass beaten on the turn, which was poor, considering her draw, easy uncontested lead and MV suited her style of running.

I had doubts that when the pressure went on Alabama Lass wouldn't throw in the towel.  It happened twice in NZ.  Her wins here were good Sam Spratt rides - stack them up and sprint off the bend for home.  Australian sprint racing is a completely different ball game.  There is always something ready to attack.

That said I didn't expect her to fold that badly and hope nothing is wrong.

[Newmarket]

7 hours ago, hesi said:

Alabama Lass beaten on the turn, which was poor, considering her draw, easy uncontested lead and MV suited her style of running.

Might as well bring her home for a shot at the Telegraph/Railway, she still does not have a G1 win.

La Dorada outclassed against an average G3 field after a huge drop in class.  Unless there is some good reason, I doubt they would press on for a start in the Thousand Guineas

Agree….

Te Akau have a few out today, be interesting to see how they go at Riccarton…. was a time when they just won for fun down here, but struggle now

[hesi]

From Racenet

Alabama Lass was found to be displaying a poor recovery rate post-race.

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, Newmarket said:

Agree….

Te Akau have a few out today, be interesting to see how they go at Riccarton…. was a time when they just won for fun down here, but struggle now

FFS @Newmarket they were the 2024-25 South Islands leading stable.  Their strike rate in the South was better than their national average and a third of their stakes winnings were in the south.  The South Island averages haven't varied much.  Even though they have more horses and a permanent base there now.

Confirmation bias.  I wish people would do the research before making generalisations.

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, hesi said:

From Racenet

Alabama Lass was found to be displaying a poor recovery rate post-race.

That could be just a hard run or she was underdone or illness.  

She was always going to struggle against the top liners with her preferred style of racing.