Hesi

The Autumn Sun trifecta

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1. 7/9/10 2. 1/3/6 3. 3/5/7 4. 1/9/10 5. 1/3/15 6. 1/2/11 bb 7. 1/2/13 Thanks for the afternoon's entertainment PJ

Oops, changed

He lives in Auckland so the Blues can legitimately claim him

The usual suspect strikes, but who is this NG fella

https://www.foxsports.com.au/video/league/nrl/one-of-the-great-characters-of-our-game!879679?minutetv=true

1. 1/2/7 2. 1/2/7 3. 1/2/7 bb 4. 2/11/13 5. 5/7/9 6. 1/2/4 Thanks for this PJ, working today so I nice interlude to look in on in between. Hope you are feeling somewhat improved Cheers

The NZTR calendar has been updated, but no stake money levels yet

THE RULES 1. Players. It's an individual comp. If you miss a round just join in for the next one. 2. Selections/Closing time. Competitors are required to select THREE runners per race. No subs are to be posted with your original selections. All selections should be posted at the same time although I may make allowances if this is not possible due to late arrival for posting. The comp will close 45 minutes before the first comp race. This will be firmly adhered to as I have a lot of writing up to do. 3. Scratching Rule. You may post replacements for any scratching by making a new post clearly indicating your replacement selection(s). This may now be done any time up until 45 minutes before the first race which I will refer to as CLOSING TIME. After this point ALL selections are LOCKED IN. Late scratchings will then go to the TAB sub if not replaced prior to closing time. Normal scratchings will NOT BE REPLACED. If you have two late scratchings one will go to the TAB sub and the other will go to the TAB 2nd win fave. 4. Investments. Each selection will be regarded as an imaginary $10 each way bet. A $1 box quinella and a $1 box trifecta will combine all 3 selections. 5. Best Bet. Each selector may choose one race each round as a "best bet" race. All $$$ earned from these races will be doubled. In the event of scratchings the same best bet (BB) will apply. There will be no transference to a subsequent race. If your best bet race is abandoned - bad luck !@ 6. Elimination Card - Here's the catch ! THIS IS IMPORTANT. If you fail to collect twice - ie. from two of the comp races - during the course of they day, then you are automatically and immediately eliminated. Doesn't matter what your tally is at that point - you lose the lot ! So in other words to complete the day you are only allowed to draw one blank across the 7 races.

Synthetic tracks were only built in NZ, thanks to the Provincial Growth Fund, as training surfaces to allow horses to be trained and race on over Winter, in preparation for Spring racing. Well Cambridge was anyway, which is due to be sold to help fund the Waikato Greenfields project

I would venture to say also that a very large percentage of the 55 mil has gone anyway into building the base and drainage system for the track, bearing in mind that Ellerslie sits in the middle of several extinct volcanoes, therefore a lot of excavation required. Avondale for example would not have had the same sort of excavation issues with it's alluvial soil. but that is digressing.

It is a valid point Mardi, as the only difference between what you are talking about and Strathayr, is the top turf/mesh elements layer, Ellerslie now has a track with a superb drainage system, just something not quite right with that top layer. Something that Barry, who has been associated with the installation, firmly believes will come right, as it was raced on too soon. I presume there was a lot of discussion on the type of grass to be used in Auckland based on climate. NZ has much expertise in breeding and growing perennial rye grass, for sports use I guess they went with Strathayr because it had an established name in sports and racetrack surfaces. You have seen the ferocity with which the industry turns on itself, from all the amateur DIYers who know very little, when it tries to do something and gets it wrong, especially when it is seen to be re- inventing the wheel. Your stance is supported by a track like Randwick who had 230mm the other week, yet still raced fine on a soft surface the same day. As I said they probably should have all got themselves over there and found out how they do it

That is a total u-turn to what Paul Wilcox talked about on Weigh In, the need to test the track, get more intel etc etc. I realise they are trying, but all these conflicting messages is not a look of credibility

Seems that senior jockeys are saying that the track will be fine, just needs more time MG also seems to be conducting himself quite well, far from being an apologist for ATC, saying everyone is learning as they go along as this is the first time Strathayr has been done in NZ, which I think is a fair and reasonable stance