TooFast

maybe.

Always leaves a bit of a sour taste in the mouth when you take a horse (let's say, Cheval D'or), make it your best bet, it come in from 3rd favourite to outright favourite, so when there's a sleuth of late scratchings every man and his dog ends up by default on the horse you had actually put the effort in to select. Absolutely detest wet weather racing.

Frustrating day. 2nds with The Radiant One, Marroni, Atishu, Numerian, Montefilia. A bit of luck there and I would have ended up with a worthwhile total.

It seems like every week there's something, Richie, in one or more teams. Things have gotten sloppy. Never used to see that.

Lead the way for some 12 to 15 years Maxi, long before you arrived. Yeah sure I know my efforts weren't ever appreciated - 33 of 36 - but I did unfailingly manage to fulfil my Captaincy role, as I said, for 12 to 15 years. You may not think so Maxi ... but there would be an admittedly small pocket of participants present and past who would say that I did my bit. Certainly we never went in a man (or woman) down on my watch. Hesi is of the view that 'we try our best'. I take the view that some need to do better.

Not a great run overall from Captains this version of PJ comps, with on more than one occasion a set of selections not subbed-in for missing personnel, and scratchings not replaced for those team-mates who did get entries in.

Absolutely, Maxi, they were never going to take the race off Prowess on the basis of Campionessa, with Prowess pulling away from Campionessa towards the finish. Now if Defibrillate had finished where Campionessa did, then Prowess would have been tossed out in quick time.

Defibrillate and La Crique were very lucky to keep their feet. Regardless of the outcome 2nd v 1st, jockey Michael McNab will be embarking on a bit of a holiday from race-riding.

The very well-supported Opal Ridge a scratching in Comp R7 (Flemington R6). Does anyone know if this is a late-scratching ? If it's not a late scratching, then drat ! 🤨

We've got this, Dream Team ! 🙂

Rubicon Crossing's sustained attack on favourite Ulanova set the race up beautifully for the former's stablemate Zourion. Front-running hot favourites are always vulnerable.

Should have been a BB Quinella for you, Zig ! Gwen's Daughter dead stiff in running 3rd. Still, if ya blow the start then you're not makin' it easy for yourself. So it ends up coulda, woulda, shoulda.

hmmm ... picked 33rd out of 36 😒... a bit sobering after the many, many years I've supported these comps and captained teams when all around me, just as now, very few willingly put their hands up to be a Captain, and in most cases those that eventually do have had to have their arms twisted. Even poor ole PJ has had to step in to a Captaincy role at times, because apparently he isn't busy enough organising, scoring, and providing updates. 🙃 (If anyone is wondering what this emoji is, it's the emoji for 'sarcasm'). Anyways, I guess that 33rd of 36 puts me into context, and of course, is duly noted.

Please can I go in the Draft. Thanks.

Well done, Maria. Close call, but you got in the decisive bound when it mattered as the post loomed, after a see-sawing contest. Grand competitive start to the New Year. These comps are great fun. Happy New Year, Maria. 🙂

1. Te Rapa R2 - 1-2-7 2. Te Rapa R3 - 1-2-10 3. Te Rapa R4 - 2-3-4 4. Te Rapa R5 - 1-3-4 5. Te Rapa R6 - 2-6-11 6. Te Rapa R7 - 7-8-10 BB 7. Te Rapa R8 - 1-6-7 8. Te Rapa R9 - 2-5-9 Many thanks, PJ, for another marvellous PJ Comp. Happy New Year to you, PJ, and to all Raceplacers ! 😊

1. Hastings R2 - 1-3-12 2. Hastings R3 - 2-5-6 3. Hastings R4 - 5-6-8 4. Hastings R5 - 1-3-4 5. Hastings R6 - 4-8-11 BB 6. Hastings R7 - 3-4-8 Thanks very much PJ for another year of very entertaining PJ Comps. 👏 Wishing a very happy New Year to you, PJ, and to all Raceplacers. 😊

1. Taupo R3 - 2-4-8 2. Taupo R4 - 8-9-10 3. Taupo R5 - 3-4-8 BB 4. Taupo R6 - 4-5-9 5. Taupo R7 - 3-5-6 6. Taupo R8 - 3-5-10 Many thanks for another fine comp, PJ.

1. Coffs Harbour R1 - 2-5-6 2. Coffs Harbour R2 - 2-3-8 3. Coffs Harbour R3 - 2-4-10 4. Coffs Harbour R4 - 1-7-9 5. Coffs Harbour R5 - 1-8-11 6. Coffs Harbour R6 - 1-4-5 BB Thanks, PJ.

1. Phar Lap R2 - 4.6.13 2. Phar Lap R3 - 1.6.12 3. Phar Lap R4 - 1.8.9 4. Phar Lap R5 - 5.6.8 5. Phar Lap R6 - 1.2.10 BB 6. Phar Lap R7 - 2.3.7 Thanks, PJ.

1. Woodville R2 - 1/4/5 2. Woodville R3 - 1/2/3 BB 3. Woodville R4 - 1/6/9 4. Woodville R5 - 1/2/6 5. Woodville R6 - 1/5/6 6. Woodville R7 - 3/6/9 Thanks, PJ.

Best Bet Race is Comp R5 (Pukekohe R8), please PJ. Thank you.

1. Pukekohe R4 - 7x9x15 2. Pukekohe R5 - 1x6x8 3. Pukekohe R6 - 1x2x8 4. Pukekohe R7 - 1x4x6 5. Pukekohe R8 - 11x14x17 6. Pukekohe R9 - 1x2x8 Many thanks, PJ.

Smiler, you can take my spot in the Blues ... I'm still sorting dates but it's looking like I'll be out of the country mid-comp so best I step aside and wait for another comp down the track. Good luck, Smiler and Blues.

r1) 7x8 r2) 3x6 r3) 1x3 BB NZ r4) 1x2 r5) 3x7 r6) 5x6 r7) 4x12 r8) 3x10 r9) 2x4 BB Aus r10) 3x4 Good luck to my opponent today, Sharne. All the very best to my team-mates Our Maizcay, Stevie P, Graeme and Lightning Blue. We'll finish on a high. Many thanks for this fine comp, PJ. 👏