muzenza365 Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 All the experts here, told me that this mare has to be ridden back in the field to get the best from her. So thinking it is very hard to win from back in the field at Ashburton, I didn't invest on her yesterday. So what happens she jumps straight to the front and leads all the way. I waited to read the Stewards report until it was published and they did report on it, but as per usual nothing happened to the rider or trainers. I assume no change of riding tactics were pre advised to the public/stewards of any decision to ride her completely different to her normal pattern of racing. The normal reply of our Stewards on incidents like this was not offered, eg The riders explanation was noted If we were to model ourselves on Australian policing of all things Racing,this would have in my opinion would have had vastly different result, just as the ride at Auckland were a rider misses the kick by 2 lengths, then takes off and leads by 8 lengths not stops to run last.The horse clearly was not given every possible chance and a charge should have laid. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 19 minutes ago, muzenza365 said: So thinking it is very hard to win from back in the field at Ashburton, I didn't invest on her yesterday. So what happens she jumps straight to the front and leads all the way. So if you had been told that she was being ridden forward would that have changed your decision to not punt on her? Your rating of her in that field wouldn't have changed would it? Was she at value per your assessment of her ability? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 Well, I backed her. Not because I am a clever punter, or anything remotely approaching that. But, because I know, like and respect her trainers, they do a great job,and the mare has some real ability. She has won at Ashburton before coming from miles back, so didn't consider that an impossible task. But, horses are horses, not bicycles. This is, clearly, a horse, and a girl one at that, and as bitchy, independant and contrary as it chooses to be. Yesterday, she surprised her connections and her rider, by deciding to fly the gates and gallop with enthusiasm. Have we forgotten that Chautauqua had his own input into his retirement? 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Centaur Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 Ashburton used to have the longest home straight in NZ. Could someone please refresh me why it was shortened and is there any possibility of re-extending it?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 15 minutes ago, The Centaur said: Ashburton used to have the longest home straight in NZ. Could someone please refresh me why it was shortened and is there any possibility of re-extending it?? I thought Motukarara has the longest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Centaur Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: I thought Motukarara has the longest? What's that got to do with the question I asked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 (edited) 41 minutes ago, The Centaur said: Ashburton used to have the longest home straight in NZ. Could someone please refresh me why it was shortened and is there any possibility of re-extending it?? Sorry, no..although I remember it being done. Used to have jumping races there, too, back in the day. Edited March 18, 2022 by Freda 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shad Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 Certainly interesting tactics, I was going to back her but left it a tad late, was waiting for her to toss the towel in ,but she kept on fighting, quite often horses ridden against their natural racing pattern, don't usually preform well, Good result, she may make a good broodmare. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 6 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: I thought Motukarara has the longest? No way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 7 hours ago, The Centaur said: Ashburton used to have the longest home straight in NZ. Could someone please refresh me why it was shortened and is there any possibility of re-extending it?? Ashburton used to be a very big track. I recall being there one day when they still held trots on the grass track. The fog came in when Hands Down won the last race and you only saw him for about the last 100 metres. It was basically felt that the track was too big and punters couldn't see what was happening over the back (no on course TVs in those days) so it was shortened, and if I recall correctly it became basically the same circumference as Ellerslie. I can't be certain, but possibly it may have been shortened when the all weather trotting track went in. I think both things happened around the same time. Early 80s perhaps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 9 minutes ago, Doomed said: No way. It's at least 400m. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 12 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: It's at least 400m. Possibly about 400m, its a long time since I've been there. It was never really a back runners track though. It was never as long as the old Ashburton course, and certainly not as long as Opaki. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 10 hours ago, Doomed said: Possibly about 400m, its a long time since I've been there. It was never really a back runners track though. It was never as long as the old Ashburton course, and certainly not as long as Opaki. I just measured it on Google Earth and it is over 400m. Geez when did they last race at Opaki!!!!! I remember standing on the concrete pad remains of the Grandstand, in the early dawn breathing clouds of steam watching my horse work nearly 20 years ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shad Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 11 hours ago, Doomed said: Possibly about 400m, its a long time since I've been there. It was never really a back runners track though. It was never as long as the old Ashburton course, and certainly not as long as Opaki. Can recall being at motukarara and remembering one of the best performances I've seen, and it was from a back runner, can any remember, was around mid 90s sometime, from memory, a long time ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Centaur Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 6 hours ago, Shad said: Can recall being at motukarara and remembering one of the best performances I've seen, and it was from a back runner, can any remember, was around mid 90s sometime, from memory, a long time ago. THe way I understood it Nelson probably beat them all for length of straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 7 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: I just measured it on Google Earth and it is over 400m. Geez when did they last race at Opaki!!!!! I remember standing on the concrete pad remains of the Grandstand, in the early dawn breathing clouds of steam watching my horse work nearly 20 years ago! It was always a cold spot whenever they raced at Opaki. Finished mid to late 80s from memory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 1 hour ago, The Centaur said: THe way I understood it Nelson probably beat them all for length of straight. No way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bid Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 On 3/19/2022 at 3:50 PM, Doomed said: It was always a cold spot whenever they raced at Opaki. Finished mid to late 80s from memory 1986 I think, we were still having trials until 1998 or 99 I think it was, I remember wagging school and missing the mock English exam so I could go and watch them, had been helping out at the stables in the morning before school at the time. Still an outstanding training track, so good having the Course Proper with the big straight to educate them. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shad Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 Be interesting to see the riding tactics, this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 More to the point, it will be interesting to se what the mare chooses to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muzenza365 Posted March 22, 2022 Author Share Posted March 22, 2022 1 hour ago, Freda said: More to the point, it will be interesting to se what the mare chooses to do. Do not follow your thinking with what you say. I will give you a couple examples, I rode a very good mate named Top Secret and if you didn't her a good trot and a smack around the bum you would be towards the back of field and never in the race, but by doing this she would be handy get a rest a rest in the race and have a kick in the last 200m of a race. The other horse was Flying View,i rode him at Reefton and Pee Wee Dobbs,Lionel Pratt's son in law said you can not win if you are last,so give him a stir up and get handy,i will get Lionel in the bar and he will not notice, i followed instructions, but there was false start and it took me a lap to pull him up. he was in the rerun and from memory ran 2nd from a handy position, when he won the Telegraph he was in the 4th line on the fence and produce his strong finish to win. I was given the drag but he had 52kg in the Telegraph so i wouldn't be on anyway. The one thing i am certain of is if he had done his normal style of racing he would not have won the G1. Anyway my point with MS on the day i queried was the fact not that she was last in the running, but 4l behind the 2nd last horse with no attempt to improve until the 400m mark and clearly it was at best an ordinary ride and the lack of action by the Stewards on the day borders on incompetence, when in my opinion the horse wasn't given every opportunity. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 2 hours ago, muzenza365 said: Do not follow your thinking with what you say. I will give you a couple examples, I rode a very good mate named Top Secret and if you didn't her a good trot and a smack around the bum you would be towards the back of field and never in the race, but by doing this she would be handy get a rest a rest in the race and have a kick in the last 200m of a race. The other horse was Flying View,i rode him at Reefton and Pee Wee Dobbs,Lionel Pratt's son in law said you can not win if you are last,so give him a stir up and get handy,i will get Lionel in the bar and he will not notice, i followed instructions, but there was false start and it took me a lap to pull him up. he was in the rerun and from memory ran 2nd from a handy position, when he won the Telegraph he was in the 4th line on the fence and produce his strong finish to win. I was given the drag but he had 52kg in the Telegraph so i wouldn't be on anyway. The one thing i am certain of is if he had done his normal style of racing he would not have won the G1. Anyway my point with MS on the day i queried was the fact not that she was last in the running, but 4l behind the 2nd last horse with no attempt to improve until the 400m mark and clearly it was at best an ordinary ride and the lack of action by the Stewards on the day borders on incompetence, when in my opinion the horse wasn't given every opportunity. Fair comment and, with your experience, quite justified. It is possible that a more skilled rider may, just may, be able to galvanize the mare without offending her. But for now, her current rider does the best she can. You will know that old saying ' ask a filly, tell a gelding, and negotiate with a stallion'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shad Posted March 27, 2022 Share Posted March 27, 2022 Another nice race from madam sequoia sequoia on Saturday. hopefully she's turned a corner. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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