curious

12 minutes ago, Maximus said:

if your horse that 'can run 1400m' isnt a product of a Karaka sale it wont be running for a slice of 4.5m. We must remember that these innovations are all about NZB/TAB/Entain and the growth of their bloodstock business and raceday wagering.

MM

Rubbish. All NZ breds are eligible.

23 hours ago, mardigras said:

Gotta love the inability to separate the Racing industry from the Breeding industry. All at the press conference seem to think they are the same thing.

Winnie's the worst. Completely misunderstands that they are separate if overlapping. The figures he cited confirmed that.

55 minutes ago, Hesi said:

It would appear that apart from the slot and sweepstake races, that Entain is underpinning the funding,

I haven't seen where that is indicated? Great if it is but if it's coming from NZTAB revenue at the expense of stakes funding etc., then not so good.

54 minutes ago, Hesi said:

Some points that were not made clear in yesterday's announcement, the move of the Railway to Karaka brings G1 status to that night which brings a range of world benefits.  Someone can explain

Having a G1 on the day means it will be eligible for the world tote pool for the day.

1 hour ago, von Smallhaussen said:

Correct! - it was even cutting out before the first race 😉

Yeahh, the morning gallopers.

50 minutes ago, Freda said:

S.I  industry days appear to be 'doing their bit'  - stakes dropping from April.

Nothing as yet advertised for N.I industry stake levels.

Supposed to drop to 17k for the off-peak season from April 6 to 25 August as advertised and that is nation wide, not just SI. Feature stakes to 40/35/20 for the same period. At least that was what is in the funding document.

13 minutes ago, Hesi said:

Yes, and while it is for 1400m, if you have a horse that can run 1400 what are you going to go for 1 million or 4.5 million

1500 I think. The whole thing is a rather large disappointing anti-climax for me. Might be beneficial to breeders but can't see how it will make much difference to the racing industry as a whole.

5 minutes ago, Hesi said:

I note also the slot race for 3 year olds will be on NZ Derby day, so that will put more pressure on the Derby, just as the Karaka Millions races have diminished fields for the surrounding group races, Royal Stakes, Desert Gold, Thorndon Mile etc

It does seem a bit odd programming that slot race on the same day as a premier G1 race for 3yos.

Speaking of throwing cash about, I didn't hear anything about where it is coming from?

31 minutes ago, mardigras said:

I'd love to hear the rationale behind the thinking that stake drives punter interest. I don't think it does that anywhere I know of.

Yes. He's got it completely arse backwards. Punter interest provides the revenue that drives stakes, among other things.

1 hour ago, Hesi said:

Dates for this season, it has 3 or 4 still

You mean 23/24? Yes. That was planned due to Ellerslie being shut down etc. but I was meaning 24/25. Those draft dates should be about. Someone (from a club) may have them? Be interesting to see.

OK. Just wondered how you knew that Avondale had been issued dates?

1 hour ago, Hesi said:

I presume the Avondale situation will end up with some arrangement with ATR (Ellerslie and Counties) or in court.  Some sort of talks must be going on or TAB NZ would not be continuing to issue dates for racing there.

Have you seen the draft dates for 24/25? I've seen the harness ones but can't find the thoroughbred ones.

29 minutes ago, Our Maizcay said:

it rained here for much of the morning

Yes. I know that but I don't think it was a lot. I was really pointing to the fact that the inconsistency was already evident. It appeared to be cutting out on the inside from the 600 in the first and certainly in the straight whereas it was not a few metres out. In the second down the chute the inside horse was marking the ground the whole way down whereas the others a few meters out were not. That's not satisfactory for any race day, let alone Trentham's biggest and makes a mockery of NZTR's SOI objective:

Racing surfaces and tracks are consistent, safe and well maintained across the short, medium and
long-term, leading to safer racedays for both horse and rider, as well as increased confidence in
wagering

Gore was also a Soft 6 and raced evenly across the track for 11 races. I certainly won't be betting at Trentham next week if that's what they are going to dish up.

Except the inside was cutting out before the rain.

IFNDOUBTGETOUT (L Allpress) - Stewards concluded an inquiry today into the reason for the gelding being checked
near the 600 metres. After interviewing riders involved and reviewing video footage, which proved inconclusive, no
further action was taken with the lack of pace through the middle stages found to be a contributing factor.

Spent 400

Return 1100

Trentham R3 #1 Perfect Sister 100 win@ $34 {tab.com.au}

5 minutes ago, Hesi said:

And some commentators who always seem to put focus on a horse being wide without cover, usually from a wide draw, then getting cover.

All this without ever considering the numerous horses that come wide in the straight, from last to win.  Aequalis at Riccarton on Thurs came from 2 lengths last at the 700m, took off 7 wide around the home turn to keep up a sustained run in the straight to win.  Imagine the drain on reserves to do that

Agree. Watch American and UK racing. There's a thing about it here. I'd much rather see my horse sitting 3 wide if that's where it lands, traveling comfortably within itself, than being dragged back or pressed forward using it up early.

1 hour ago, brown fox said:

With all the comps going on now I've decided to do more revision on past racedays.Last week I backed 7 horses that drew outside

barrier 8.Two were dragged back immediately,One raced to the front and had little in the straight and 4 were trapped wide for a considerable

distance.Nobody can tell me Barrier draws aren't important😣

 

Did it occur to you that irrespective of barrier draw, there may be another explanation for there performance. Perhaps there were other better horses in the event?

Spent 300

Return 1100

Riccarton 18/1

R6 #16 Smokin' Josie $100 win @ $18

3 hours ago, Buller Rep said:

Setting a stupidly slow pace, like I said. 
A 36.10 opening 600m is incredibly slow for the class of horse involved. No wonder those in behind were bouncing around, all over the place. 
 

One could argue that it is more stupid to take one back in behind in a race with no obvious speed or leader expecting anything different. It appeared to me that both, Not Guilty and Bonny Lass at least had the opportunity to go through to the lead at about the 1000 and ensure a stronger tempo but elected to take up and stay in behind. The ones bouncing around behind were doing so because they wouldn't settle. As I see it, that's their problem. There is no rule saying the leader must set a strong pace. Sometimes they don't want the lead and are hoping something will go around them and take it up so they get a sit in behind. That didn't happen here. I don't see how you can blame the leaders. Their strategy worked and their riders have done the job for their connections and supporters.

4 hours ago, Buller Rep said:

Disagree. Setting a stupidly slow pace will always cause problems. It's a race after all, not a parade.

What do you disagree with?

I think that pretty much confirms it was slow from the get go. First 600 36.10, last 600 32.41. So, so no reason to consider applying 638(4)(5). The leaders are entitled to set whatever pace they want and it was the intractable racing manners of those behind and perhaps the inaction of jockeys that created the debacle.

1 hour ago, pete said:

Just watched it again and I think you're right. It was a slow pace from the off.

I naively wonder why someone didn't take the initiative and make a move.

Yes. Good question. Several horses wouldn't settle with the slow pace and over-raced, some quite badly. Jockeys either chose not to do anything about it or were not in a position to do so.