Sandpiper

13 hours ago, Turny said:

A Corporate response carefully prepared to reduce response 

In street talk just BS and spin

BS and spin: other materials needed in great quanitity for the rebuild.

NZ was dealt a pat hand and played it accordingly. I think we (collectively, not NZ) may owe a debt of gratitude to Sweden for taking a nonstandard approach because there was some doubt about the best approach for more infected nations and in that case a mixed strategy amongst similar nations (those with reliable reporting) allows for better analysis after the fact. JMO

The weaker economies in the eurozone are going to be pinned down very hard. NZs biggest issue isn't printing money so much as getting a half decent return for the investments.

4 hours ago, Maximus said:

All joking aside, for RITA to present their Draft Calendar in that disgustingly difficult-to-read format says a great deal about their capabilities and attitude to the stakeholders they are paid to serve. The most important information they have released in months and they don't care whether or not we can read, absorb, digest and assess its merits. And it's supposed to be a consultation document

Very true and they made sure to get rid of a key avenue to discuss via radio beforehand too

12 minutes ago, Hesi said:

NZ Racing would buy flash new ovens and pay for them in full, and probably not even ask for a discount......you see, not their money

Don't forget the service contract!

Rebuild from the ground up at a few key venues and incentivise training to relocate there. Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch. World class turf, AWT (whatever the best surface is). Adjoining dogs stadiums. Integrated casino and restaurants.

Racing can't do anything other than suffer a slower death unless how the product is experienced is transformed.

Awful to lose the connection to all the history and the annual festival at all of these clubs.

6 hours ago, mardigras said:

I like the idea of returning to things like Castlepoint races as being the 'norm'.

The job cuts indicated etc are just superficial and in the aim of presenting the façade that something is happening (imo), and is why none of this had happened pre-covid.

There has been no cost/benefit analysis done by RITA - if there had been, they would have chosen to shut the operation down - since none of what they do has cost/benefits that are justifiable (as evidenced by being insolvent). RITA doesn't do them, and neither did NZRB. Which is why we ended up with Commingling, Fixed Odds and a new betting platform delivering nothing.

It's easy to claim that RITA inherited this mess - and they did. But after inheriting it, they've been delivering in exactly the same fashion. Anyone defending their efforts, is a supporter of individuals or similar - and unable to form an unbiased opinion.

And now tax-payers are coming to the rescue - again. To further support the notion of no accountability - safe in the knowledge that the government can be hoodwinked again for more money.

Those with the skills needed (i.e. from overseas) to make a go of operating NZ betting systems have already shown how easy it is to tickle the soft underbelly. Why get involved in administration when you can clip the ticket 17 million p.a!!

Bottom line, hard to see how NZ racing can be offered as an internationally comparable attractive betting proposition. I have always thought if training and racing could be centralised to two regions with an awesome AWT each we could build a good product but that's not culturally possible. We have to field proper group racing not the worse-every-year fare thats been the story the past 10+ years.

If you have a product then you can promote it and grow revenue. Cutting hunks of flesh out of it and hoping for growth is an odd gameplan.

5 hours ago, mardigras said:

You've got more faith in that than I. I think the money will run out again, and the hands will be put out.

Inevitable and the talk of future recapitalisation started approx 10 seconds after the bailout, from the same mouth!!

Im picking and hoping the antibody testing is cheapn and widely available so a lot of people can get on with things in a bit.

Would lead to a perverse incentive to catch it for many tho and that could be ugly.

Brazil is so fucked

2 hours ago, Maximus said:

Wouldn't be at all surprised if the same happened between now and the Oaks to Jennifer Eccles, who, along with TL, has performed with great strength and courage since September. 

Its a full schedule for an Oaks winner for sure taking in the guineas and everything else along the way. As impressive as Saturday was the will be the usual pack of late developing unexposed types. I liked Grand De Flora to mount a challenge as well but shes not accepted today no idea why.

Shin sore makes perfect sense that was an awful effort when asked to put in. I dont think she will ever run over a mile and a half now.

TL taking on Two Illicit and Dragons Leap on Saturday over 2000. With two leaders in the race the picture is about to get a lot clearer.

1 hour ago, Buller Rep said:

That’s not what I am saying at all. 

I am saying that I could easily see her winning the Oaks but not the Derby and was using a sprint bred but highly talented filly that did win the Oaks as an analogy.

I meant she needs some reason to reverse form with Loire and Jennifer Eccles. And it's not breeding or preparation. I think she'll be held by JE and Two Illicit over 2000+

20 hours ago, Buller Rep said:

Well I see it differently. In the Oaks she would bolt in, just like Snap. 

Bold! You are saying the ride cost her the guineas?

Top 2 look strong not my idea of a betting race in general though being something of a warmup for many.

Grand De Flora worked her way into the race well last time having gone back from the draw. She's one I can see getting amongst JE and Two Illicit come Oaks time. Will have a tickle e/w if price holds up at 16s+ on the tote.

No winners yet for El Roca at 1700+, only 12 runners though.

I can certainly see her in contention in any NZ Oaks and winning a moderately run one this year. As long as Jennifer Eccles isn't there. But I'd doubt they go there, it seems an undue risk when she could target a G1 mile / 2000 in aus.

Boys Get Paid are aiming to have a $240k punters club going at Karaka millions night. Is it even possible to get set for say 8 bets at $30k without destroying the price? We've all seen bets get referred / reduced for hundreds let alone tens of thousands.

40 minutes ago, Hesi said:

for the troll's amusement

 

This is a non obvious part that certainly escaped me for quite a while. I had a work contact who in a quieter moment admitted to being a troll and you could see his eyes light up thinking about how he gets a rise from people. Good worker, nice guy, just with this weird antisocial disorder / addiction thing going on the side. 

I only skip the comp as dont follow aus racing much. Happy to be an emergency too

2 hours ago, Maximus said:

The timing of the Levin Classic is all wrong IMO.

I dont think the timing is wrong, its a G1 mile 7 weeks out from the nz derby. Its fine imo if it naturally downgrades to a G2 if connections choose a softer leadup. The option and the prizemoney is timed sensibly tho imo.

I agree that nz racing calendar should in essence deliver us the best delegates to  go on to lead an assault on aus.

Agree mustie .. a mile suits too many to have a championship feel like a derby. Even the guineas races only really have an early miler feel. Maybe like a minor premiership winner. And thats fine. 3yo stuff evolves fast.

Harlech for me on saturday. I think he has them on whats in the book given how the track and distance will suit. Being a colt on the improve for a derby is a bonus. That said, 2.50 is only a fair price. Theres a few shorties looking tough to roll on saturday.

Keen.

What I'd push for as the most fitting and fun approach is to have a couple of decent punts as the main goal. If everyone involved is aligned towards that it could be a very exciting project.

A cheap ready to run would be an option so long as we have some syndicate members able to spot lemons from goats.

Or how about buying a sound but exposed type from some disillusioned soul who is sick of racing it in $10k r82s. And then win back to back r65 -> r72 18 months later. NZ isn't the best place to attempt this in for sure but that only adds to the appeal for me.

Welfare is important, I'm sure that can be figured out with some planning.

The intangibles are up from $8m FY18 to $45m this year. Its the website amd software yes. Page 19 of the annual report.

Nothing unusual about the accounting - a 50 mil project isnt going to be expensed in year 1.

It does however hugely weaken the balance sheet. For one thing it cant be sold. They didnt even engineer it themselves. Intangible assets is an area ripe for abuse even so a lot of the time items in there such as brands can have a realisable value.

I think will we see effective nationisation of the betting operation with govt issuing bailouts to save face avoiding job losses etc while racing continues to operate at a loss. This is for all purposes the same as the industry issuing bonds against the eventual, inevitable, taking of the golden goose of monopoly to market.

My personal view is borrow big and invest in world class night racing to hit asia in the morning their time. Theres no more money to be squeezed from NZ. We are the wealthiest we have ever been and still only punt 20 bucks on a rugby game. Give it up. Needs a strong hand at the tiller to do any such thing we are world class in no single associated process yet (broadcasting, track management, form, integrity, stewards etc etc).

Yes 100% Hesi m. Thats a good home for the trophy.

Compare that to Travelling Lights connections who were worried about being at the sales 8.30 tomorrow. Now its not their fault that the money is in breeding or whatever, good on them. The trophies always sit best on the mantlepieces that have a space set aside for them thats all.