South Island Racing Programme: Not Fit For Purpose?!

[Chief Stipe]

2 minutes ago, Doomed said:

If it looks like being an absolute bog with heaps of scratching if should move to that flash new AWT. That's what its there for. I seen to recall they did exactly that at Caloundra just recently.

Actually I've noticed several times over the last year that they have pre-empted track issues in Victoria, NSW and Queensland by announcing early a plan B.

For example if I recall correctly a recent Echuca meeting was transferred BEFORE raceday.

I'm sure that the new NZTR COO is working now on Plan B and has identified the prerequisite conditions that will activate it.  They'll know by midday tomorrow if the forecast will be realised.

Of course they have one big problem with shifting to the AWT - field size limits and distances.

Now there is some irony that South Canterbury may miss getting any rain!

[Shad]

3 hours ago, curious said:

Dance On Ice

1-11	21 Feb 95	1200m	TALLEYS FISHERIES IMPROVERS		$4,000
WEST  Good		G IMP	Got back,powered home thru mid, 1.12.15	Chris O'Brien	$2,600

Interesting can remember that horse some years back, as it was by ravels bolero, ironically a friend had a couple of them at the time that he leased, not sure what happened but they never raced and may have gone back to the owner, hence why I followed the stock, wasn't many around ,vaguely remember the Westport win, but was on course one day at Oamaru,I'm sure mr Johnson rode her and she lead the trip, just when you thought she was going to be beaten, he cuddled her up had had the last lunge, small world, somethings just seem to stick in ones head, I'm sure Mr Jackson trained her, but will see if I can find an old race book.

[Doomed]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

Actually I've noticed several times over the last year that they have pre-empted track issues in Victoria, NSW and Queensland by announcing early a plan B.

For example if I recall correctly a recent Echuca meeting was transferred BEFORE raceday.

I'm sure that the new NZTR COO is working now on Plan B and has identified the prerequisite conditions that will activate it.  They'll know by midday tomorrow if the forecast will be realised.

Of course they have one big problem with shifting to the AWT - field size limits and distances.

Now there is some irony that South Canterbury may miss getting any rain!

To be fair, our people were very decisive and moved Waverley to Awapuni just recently. Only problem was they forgot the AWT hadn't been finished.

[Freda]

4 hours ago, curious said:

Where is Gunner. Was up in the NT.

Still is I believe.  Saw him at Riccarton one morning, quite some months ago.  Hasn't changed a bit.

[Freda]

4 hours ago, curious said:

Horse was leased from a real character, one Mitchell McLeish.

I know Mitch well, although I haven't seen him in quite some time. He bred Generous,  I was told?  

He and Phil Kerr used to pop round home with some rum,  went down very well,  along with fascinating anecdotes of horses - and horsemen - he knew.

Phil is helping Champion/Murphy at the moment, has a very nice horse in work too.

Small world.

[curious]

3 hours ago, Doomed said:

I note Tapanui is likely to have a similar situation to Ashburton, 27 noms for the 65 1,335m race but no intention of splitting the field. 

They did split the Ashburton one.

[curious]

3 hours ago, Shad said:

Interesting can remember that horse some years back, as it was by ravels bolero, ironically a friend had a couple of them at the time that he leased, not sure what happened but they never raced and may have gone back to the owner, hence why I followed the stock, wasn't many around ,vaguely remember the Westport win, but was on course one day at Oamaru,I'm sure mr Johnson rode her and she lead the trip, just when you thought she was going to be beaten, he cuddled her up had had the last lunge, small world, somethings just seem to stick in ones head, I'm sure Mr Jackson trained her, but will see if I can find an old race book.

Garth definitely trained her for that win and she was raced by Mr. McLeish for that first win. Some memory you have Shad.

1-13	29 May 93	1200m	JACK KERIN MAIDEN		$4,000
OAMU  Dead		MDN	Handy,led 800,joined 200,fght best, 1.13.6	Chris Johnson	$2,600

[Doomed]

29 minutes ago, curious said:

They did split the Ashburton one.

They did said they "may" split the Ashburton race. They have only mentioned possibly splitting the maidens at Tapanui. No intention of splitting the 27 nom rating 65.

[curious]

Btw, where did Ravel's Bolero stand?

[curious]

Just now, Doomed said:

They did said they "may" split the Ashburton race. They have only mentioned possibly splitting the maidens at Tapanui. No intention of splitting the 27 nom rating 65.

It is split. Fields are out.

[curious]

Why they wouldn't split the 65 at Tapanui is beyond me. Also don't understand why they don't run an R60 and an R65. More competitive races then almost certain to generate better wagering revenue.

[Shad]

1 minute ago, curious said:

Garth definitely trained her for that win and she was raced by Mr. McLeish for that first win. Some memory you have Shad.

1-13	29 May 93	1200m	JACK KERIN MAIDEN		$4,000
OAMU  Dead		MDN	Handy,led 800,joined 200,fght best, 1.13.6	Chris Johnson	$2,600

Thanks but for that but have vivid memories of that day, traveled down with my girlfriend at the time, not a racing fan, talked her into taking easy bets, she moaned how useless they were and gave up, I duly said i would take the last few races, and lucky managed to land one with a horse called Vidi vici paid I think double figures for a place,collected 350$, and she duly put the hand out for half of the bounty,back to dance on ice I just remember Johnsons ride, was a good one, just held her up for couple strides,then just gave a couple of slaps and she got there, never seen many of the stock of ravel's bolero,she would one of not many nz winners, someone may know more.

[curious]

I actually bought Ravel's Bolero in the US for stud duty down here. Good looking little Nureyev horse. No great racehorse. Might have been stakes placed from memory. Certainly no great shakes as a sire. Still can't remember where he stood though I was there at least once. Retained a share from memory. May have bred one myself. Can't remember.

[curious]

3 hours ago, Freda said:

I know Mitch well, although I haven't seen him in quite some time. He bred Generous,  I was told? 

I think Generous was bred by Barronstown Stud from memory but I think Mitch had an ownership interest in him. We agisted mares for him when I was in the US. Had a strong connection with the Coolmore lot.

[Chief Stipe]

I understand Hughie has turned the hoses on Canterbury.

[Freda]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

I understand Hughie has turned the hoses on Canterbury.

Yep, he has.

[Doomed]

18 hours ago, Doomed said:

They did said they "may" split the Ashburton race. They have only mentioned possibly splitting the maidens at Tapanui. No intention of splitting the 27 nom rating 65.

As predicted, no intention of splitting the rating 65 1,335 despite 27 noms. That's 13 horses missing a start. They have tried to force some into the open 1,335m and 72 1,200m.

Someone really should explain to them that the shortage of horses in open and 72 races is because it is virtually impossible to get out of 65 grade.

[Chief Stipe]

MEETING NEWS

Ashburton Postponed Until Tuesday

 

The Ashburton Races scheduled for tomorrow have been postponed until Tuesday 21 December.

The RIB inspected the track at 3.30pm Wednesday along with the track manager and there is currently some water pooling. There has been approximately 30mm of rain today. The forecast through to mid-morning tomorrow is for a further 50mm – 70mm of rain. Based on this information and talking to both the club CEO and South Island trainer representative it is considered prudent to postpone the meeting for safety reasons. The fields will remain the same and all scratchings re-instated.

[Freda]

I got a text earlier from NZTR announcing that the races were postponed till Monday.

Later on, on the Loveracing.nz page, both Tuesday and Thursday were indicated.

[Chief Stipe]

3 minutes ago, Freda said:

I got a text earlier from NZTR announcing that the races were postponed till Monday.

Later on, on the Loveracing.nz page, both Tuesday and Thursday were indicated.

Much water on the AWT?

[curious]

21 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Much water on the AWT?

Be a good test to see how that is in the morning?

[curious]

Forecast rain seems to have reduced quite a bit?

[Doomed]

Why on earth was Ashburton not sent to the AWT? Likewise Pukekohe could have gone to Cambridge. Surely that was Winston's main justification for the AWTs? So now we all know that they are only expensive track work facilities.

It's a strange old industry that has better training facilities than racing facilities. It's a bit like the All Blacks training at Eden Park and playing their tests at Mangere Reserve.

[Freda]

10 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Much water on the AWT?

I'll let you know later.

[Freda]

7 hours ago, Doomed said:

Why on earth was Ashburton not sent to the AWT? Likewise Pukekohe could have gone to Cambridge. Surely that was Winston's main justification for the AWTs? So now we all know that they are only expensive track work facilities.

It's a strange old industry that has better training facilities than racing facilities. It's a bit like the All Blacks training at Eden Park and playing their tests at Mangere Reserve.

As far as Riccarton is concerned, the AWT is not due to be raced on until autumn next year.  There aren't even marker posts every furlong - or there weren't three weeks ago.