Awapuni today

[Huey]

Surely Wolverine on its home track turns the tables today?

Pinarello in the Classic

Brando in the Flying Handicap

Hunta Pence in the Cup

Anyone like anything?

[Chief Stipe]

4 minutes ago, Huey said:

Pinarello in the Classic

Agree.  Surely On The Bubbles is a false favourite?  Don't see him getting 2000m.  Some of Richards decisions I just don't understand.

[Chief Stipe]

I like Maven Belle in the Sires Produce but not the price.  In my opinion was poorly ridden at Ellerslie.  

[Chief Stipe]

12 minutes ago, Huey said:

Hunta Pence in the Cup

Hypnos.

[Huey]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

Agree.  Surely On The Bubbles is a false favourite?  Don't see him getting 2000m.  Some of Richards decisions I just don't understand.

Walkers decision

[Chief Stipe]

22 minutes ago, Huey said:

Walkers decision

The official decision may well have been Walkers but he has only been there five minutes so the recommendation would have come from Richards.  It will take six months before Walker gets a handle on all the cattle at his disposal.

[MarkyMark]

16 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

The official decision may well have been Walkers but he has only been there five minutes so the recommendation would have come from Richards.  It will take six months before Walker gets a handle on all the cattle at his disposal.

It would have been discussed a while ago with the man who is in charge and makes the actual big calls on star horses D Ellis. What other big 3 yo races would really be left for him now

[MarkyMark]

Additionally he's a gelding and can see out a mile, for future targets wouldn't you think it's no harm testing the waters so to speak and find out if he can get some distance

[Chief Stipe]

10 minutes ago, MarkyMark said:

Additionally he's a gelding and can see out a mile, for future targets wouldn't you think it's no harm testing the waters so to speak and find out if he can get some distance

I'm not convinced he does see out a mile.  His galloping style and his looks are very much like his sire Brazen Beau.  I'd be sticking to 1400m with the occasional 1600m.

Surely you can tell in his training if he will get 2000m rather than "testing the waters".

From the comments made by Richards and Bosson the horse is a laid back dude around the stable and in his work and trials.  That may be giving a false impression of his ability to relax and stay.

As for the lack of 3yr old races well that's where our whole pattern in NZ is screwed.  The only options are Brisbane winter carnival.  But that might be stuffed if the big wet continues.

[Chief Stipe]

22 minutes ago, MarkyMark said:

It would have been discussed a while ago with the man who is in charge and makes the actual big calls on star horses D Ellis.

I don't think Ellis has that type of influence as he leaves the training to his trainers.  His job in the Te Akau machine is inspecting as many yearlings as he can each year and giving the wink at the sales.

[Doomed]

3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Agree.  Surely On The Bubbles is a false favourite?  Don't see him getting 2000m.  Some of Richards decisions I just don't understand.

I don't follow NZ racing much these days so pretty out of touch, but he is thrown in at the weights. He has won numerous races and almost $1m. A couple of the others have won two races, but not much money, and the rest are one win horses and maidens. So surely he has to be favourite? Whether he will win is another question. Gives them a chance to test him out and hopefully get another group win. If he wasn't there we would all be saying what a shocking Group race that is.

[Chief Stipe]

1 minute ago, Doomed said:

I don't follow NZ racing much these days so pretty out of touch, but he is thrown in at the weights. He has won numerous races and almost $1m. A couple of the others have won two races, but not much money, and the rest are one win horses and maidens. So surely he has to be favourite? Whether he will win is another question. Gives them a chance to test him out and hopefully get another group win. If he wasn't there we would all be saying what a shocking Group race that is.

Most of the $1m comes from his Karaka Million 2yr old win.

[Doomed]

21 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Most of the $1m comes from his Karaka Million 2yr old win.

I think you only get just over $500,000 for that, they give a lot to the also rans. So even if you take that out he has won approximately $400,000, more than the rest of the field combined. I think he won the Manawatu Sires last year, probably his most prestigious win so far. 

[Chief Stipe]

10 minutes ago, Doomed said:

I think you only get just over $500,000 for that, they give a lot to the also rans. So even if you take that out he has won approximately $400,000, more than the rest of the field combined. I think he won the Manawatu Sires last year, probably his most prestigious win so far. 

But predominantly over 1200 and 1400m. 

Don't get me wrong I have always been a fan of the horse.  I just don't think he is a 2000m horse.  

$2 is far too short.

[Doomed]

Possibly he didn't stay.

[Chief Stipe]

Class carried On The Bubbles as far it could.  I like the fact Walker has taken the side rolls off him.  Perhaps we might see a little less head gear on the Te Akau horses going forward.

Sadly On The Bubbles will be handicapped out of NZ racing very quickly.

[holy ravioli]

chances of  a relegation...100/1.😉

[MarkyMark]

4 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

I don't think Ellis has that type of influence as he leaves the training to his trainers.  His job in the Te Akau machine is inspecting as many yearlings as he can each year and giving the wink at the sales.

He is the boss, he wants group 1s. I don't necessarily disagree, I think 1400 looks his best distance, but he's one of the top 3 yo Olds in the country, I can see why he had a go.

You mention earlier you don't think he's a miler, he was close to winning a group 1 mile the start before, it's one of the last bug 3yo races, why the hell wouldn't you

[Doomed]

4 minutes ago, holy ravioli said:

chances of  a relegation...100/1.😉

It will be interesting to see if they are brave enough. I thought the runner up was going to get there. She was interferred with badly enough to be over a length away at the line. If she had got within a head she might have been promoted.

[holy ravioli]

' His job in the Te Akau machine is inspecting as many yearlings as he can each year and giving the wink at the sales.

First part...not imo...2nd part ..=definitely.

[holy ravioli]

Just now, Doomed said:

It will be interesting to see if they are brave enough. I thought the runner up was going to get there. She was interferred with badly enough to be over a length away at the line. If she had got within a head she might have been promoted.

The momentum shows would have gone right..on by.

[Chief Stipe]

2 minutes ago, MarkyMark said:

You mention earlier you don't think he's a miler, he was close to winning a group 1 mile the start before, it's one of the last bug 3yo races, why the hell wouldn't you

But that's our mentality in NZ.  "Oh we may as well give it a go and see what happens".  

That is also magnified by the lack of age group opportunities over a number of distances towards the end of the season here.

Personally I wouldn't run the risk of racing a horse past its distance.  Who knows what it does to their attitude going forward.  Don't forget OTB has also had a wind op.

[Chief Stipe]

5 minutes ago, holy ravioli said:

First part...not imo

So you are saying he doesn't inspect a large number of yearlings each year?

[holy ravioli]

1 minute ago, Chief Stipe said:

So you are saying he doesn't inspect a large number of yearlings each year?

No,I'm saying that he would not do it alone!🤪

Is he a good judge?

[Doomed]

11 minutes ago, holy ravioli said:

The momentum shows would have gone right..on by.

Any benefit of the doubt should favour the interferred with horse. I thought it was going to go straight past the tiring leader.