pete

It's hard to shake the feeling that Ian Foster is being lined up as the next AB coach and equally hard to escape the feeling that he is the cause of a lot of the problems with the ABs at the moment. I'm struggling to work out how he's ended up in this favoured position based on his largely uninspiring coaching record. Others may disagree. It's also impossible to understate how important Brodie Retallick is at the moment. It's all gone quiet on his expected return which is slightly ominous.

Just for Rees...

Dive bombing Seagulls PJ? That's what my beloved BHA did to Watford on the weekend.. (We're called the Seagulls for the uninitiated)

Hi PJ I'll call my team 'Under The Radar'. That's where we'll be staying 🙄 Thanks for all your hard work.

Yeah but I was abysmal captain last comp. Never mind, will go again.

I will captain as a very last resort.Not really keen.

Heather is already registered PJ.

https://www.racenet.com.au/news/uk-race-name-used-to-get-square-with-ex-husband-20190812

Jeez I never get any credit. I was actually Blue Kats captain after the original captain bailed. We won against all odds. Happy Days!

Fair enough.

Hmm those stats tend to confirm it. Thanks.

Don't really like bagging anyone but this perception that John Wheeler is a master trainer is not backed up by results for quite a while now. Sure he trained a quinella today but winners to number of starters must be abysmal.

This comp looks a beauty. Best time of the year for mine.

Draft please. After my embarrassing effort last time I'll be giving captaincy a swerve in future.

I miss Kim Hughes

Something seriously wrong. It could just be the fact that she was pushed so hard when still a kid. I do agree with David Leadbetter that she probably needs to break free from the parents' influence.

MEDIA ALERT Vodafone New Zealand Derby – amendments to balloting conditions After the running of the 2019 Vodafone New Zealand Derby, management and the board of the Auckland Racing Club (ARC) undertook a review of the balloting conditions of that race. The issues of concern were: · Placed horses in the Waikato Guineas not making the Vodafone New Zealand Derby field due to not earning enough stake money · Including stake money in the Vodafone New Zealand Derby order of entry for horses placed first to last in the Karaka Million 3yo Classic At the conclusion of the review, and after consultation with the New Zealand Trainer’s Association, the following changes have been made: · If entered for the Vodafone New Zealand Derby, horses placed first, second and third in the Waikato Guineas will be exempt from the ballot in the Vodafone New Zealand Derby · Removal of Vodafone New Zealand Derby ballot exemption status for the fourth placed horse in the Avondale Guineas. The first three placed horses remain exempt, if entered · Only stake money earned for horses placed first to fifth (inclusive) in the Karaka Million 3yo Classic will count towards the Vodafone New Zealand Derby order of entry · Removing the clause that gave the ARC Board discretion to exclude any horse or horses from the Vodafone New Zealand Derby balloting conditions. ”After an in-depth review, ARC is now comfortable with what has been agreed regarding balloting conditions for New Zealand’s most prestigious race – the Vodafone New Zealand Derby” says ARCExecutive GM of Racing & Operations, Craig Baker. ”We had an unfortunate case this year when the third placed horse in the Waikato Guineas - a race recognised as a significant lead up event to the Vodafone New Zealand Derby, missed a start in thebig race due to not earning enough stake money.” “Giving ballot exemption status to the first three placed horses fixes that anomaly.” ”Ultimately, we did not believe it was fair that horses that were well beaten in the Karaka Million 3yo Classic had stake money count towards the order of entry in the Vodafone New Zealand Derby. We believe that including stake money for horses that finished first to fifth is a fair compromise. “ Nominations for the 2020 $1millon, G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby close in November with the race to be run at Ellerslie Racecourse as part of Auckland Cup Week 2020 on Saturday, 29 February

A true Aussie hero.

It may not have occurred to you Weasly that the fact that we couldn't qualify was precisely the reason why we chose to have a bit of fun and try to do a doughnut. You do rather witter on about all this stuff don't you?

https://mobile.twitter.com/attheraces/status/1155126909694443521

In a power of shit if they think they're going to retain the World Cup. Just my opinion of course.

I guess no fatalities are really ever acceptable. I love jumps racing but hate seeing horses die.

I don't actually blame the people that bought the horse in NZ. I believe the same ownership have Gallante. It's the Williams obsession with the Melbourne Cup that ends up with these horses spat out the other end. As I said before, they're merely commodities.

Yeah well done with the idea Rees. Plainly I was crap in this comp. Will stay well away from captaincy in future. A big shout to PJ as usual.

Yeah I was very sad to see that today. The horse deserved better than that. Unfortunately they are and always will be commodities to certain people.