Summer-Autumn Draft Super Comp - Semi-Finals - Sat Apr 13

[PWJ]

SUMMER-AUTUMN CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS - Sat Apr 13

Well, here we are at the penultimate weekend of the Summer-Autumn Super Comp, no Jokers, just win or lose. The Grand Final beckons. Which teams have the punting guile and strategy to make it to the big showdown ?

We start with a couple of dashes down the Riccarton chute, the opener with a big field promising juicy odds for some. Then a 2yo black-type contest with a small field where quinellas may hand the cunning with a small but important HTH lead. Then an interesting restricted stayers where good prices look likely followed by the feature of the day with plenty of form to sift through and some North vs South formlines to unpack.

Then we head to the airport to board the A380 to Sydney where who knows what kind of track we will face ? A ton of form in the Gr2 sprint, an Oaks field that promises big prices outside the Kiwi hotpot then the time-honoured Sydney Cup where you could just about make a case for all of them. The clash of stars in the QE follows and finally the big decider - a fillies/mares Group 1 mile which is always wide open. I can see a match or two changing at the death....

Minor Premiership Champs Kaos take on the well-drilled Showtime, the faves off a loss and the challengers off a win. Magnificent Seven general Midnight Caller comes up against the Serendipitous Maestro Craig - something has to give there - while Captains Ray and Maria meet in what might be a Samson & Delilah remake...

Two tough franchises - Old Mate and Styx - face off in the other semi and appear very evenly matched with less than $170 aggregate separating them after 14 matches BUT Old Mate have proved the bogey team for Styx, downing them twice already in the comp. The big guns on each team - Jack and Our Maizcay - meet in what could be a titanic HTH. Smiler, who is both Magnificent and Unfortunate (always big scoring in his HTHs), faces Old Mate Captain Black Caviar in another tussle of great interest.

The Presidents semis is as much about who can claim at least one trophy after missing the Finals as it is about avoiding being in the Wooden Spoon clash on the last day.

The Seagulls plan an air raid on the Max Factory premises with the clash of Barb and Rees - both listed on the Unfortunate honour roll - looking to inflict even more pain on their opponent. The trash talk and back-handed compliments have already begun in the HTH of Lightning Blue vs Gulls supremo Pete. It could end in tears for someone. The Seagulls have put paid to The Factory crew twice already so Max and his workers are out for revenge.

Finally two teams who always seemed destined for the Finals but missed out - The Reapers and Magic - meet up. On paper stats Magic look to have the edge but the honours are in fact even after earlier clashes. The Magnificent Anita, a Super comp novice, faces off against the Serendipitous old campaigner Ian, with each their teams aggregate stars despite more losses than wins for both (?!) while Porky and Tassie Tiger with identical win/loss records will be looking to come out with a positive result and avoid that dreaded Wooden Spoon showdown.

 

Remember you must have at least 6 different picks (of 20) for those who post after their opponent

Decided to leave out Otaki and keep it simple for everyone.

Please post on time. Let's have some fun and note the closing time...

Close off at 11.45am (NZ time)

Races are:

1. Riccarton R2 - 12.45pm - Happy Retirement Paul Hinz Hinsley - $35k, 1200m, R65 BM

2. Riccarton R3 - 1.20pm - Angus Meats Open Hdcp - $40k, 1200m, open hdcp

3. Riccarton R4 - 1.59pm - Riccarton Park Function Centre Welcome Stks (LR) - $80k, 1000m, 2yos SWs

4. Riccarton R5 - 2.41pm - David Emerson Accountant & Business Consultant - $35k, 2000m, R75 BM

5. Riccarton R6 - 3.16pm - NZB Insurance Stks (LR) - $80k, 1600m, 3yo fillies SWs

6. Randwick R5 - 4.05pm - Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (Gr2) - $1m, 1200m, 3yos SWs

7. Randwick R6 - 4.40pm - The Star Australian Oaks (Gr1) - $1m, 2400m, 3yo fillies SWs

8. Randwick R7 - 5.15pm - Schweppes Sydney Cup (Gr1) - $2m, 3200m, hdcp

9. Randwick R8 - 5.55pm - Queen Elizabeth Stks (Gr1) - $5m, 2000m, WFA

10. Randwick R9 - 6.35pm - Grainshaker Vodka Queen of the Turf (Gr1) - $1m, 1600m, fillies/mares WFA

 

KAOS (1st) vs SHOWTIME (4th)

Stevie N (9/5-3270.40/2775.20) v Paul (8/6-3612.00/2740.60)

Sasha (10/4-3350.60/3135.00) v Blind Squirrel (9/5-3550.60/3082.40)

Ziggy (8/6-3078.60/2606.80) v Punter Pete (6/8-3445.20/3973.20)

Ray (7/7-3747.00/3462.40) v Maria (6/8-2496.00/2983.00)

Midnight Caller (8/6-4102.00/3809.00) v Craig (9/5-2551.80/1938.60)

 

OLD MATE (2nd) vs STYX(3rd)

Jack (8/6-3779.00/2787.40) v Our Maizcay (10/4-4076.00/3162.40)

Richie (5/9-2898.80/3226.20) v Howie (9/5-2692.80/2675.20)

Black Caviar (8/6-3287.60/2946.00) v Smiler (6/8-3767.40/3937.00)

PJ (9/5-3049.20/2867.40) v Robert (6/8-2810.40/3761.40)

Rex (8/6-3627.60/3042.00) v Gordy (7/7-3506.00/2949.60)

PRESIDENTS SEMI-FINALS

SEAGULLS (5th) vs MAX FACTORY (8th)

Maurice (4/10-3000.40/3293.20) v Gee (7/7-2792.60/3175.00)

Rees (7/7-3496.20/4158.40) v Barb (5/9-2499.40/3824.80)

Pete (8/6-3022.20/3004.60) v Lightning Blue (5/9-2514.80/3507.60)

Graeme (4/10-2678.20/3193.60) v Max (7/7-2605.20/2714.40)

Steve P (8/6-3475.20/3502.60) v Rob (6/8-2612.40/3779.80)

MAGIC (6th) vs REAPERS (7th)

Heather (5/7-2888.00/2424.60) v Tonka (6/8-2354.00/3085.20)

Anita (6/8-3724.00/3421.80) v Ian (6/8-2996.60/2272.20)

Sharne (7/7-3343.20/2850.00) v Secret Squirrel (5/9-2779.00/3148.20)

Jamison (8/6-3096.00/2711.00) v Hesi (5/9-2831.20/2974.00

Porky (4/4-2229.80/1756.00) v Tassie Tiger (7/7-2912.00/2833.00)

 

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

4102.00 Midnight Caller (Kaos) (8/6)

4076.00 Our Maizcay (Styx) (10/4)

3779.00 Jack (Old Mate) (8/6)

3767.40 Smiler (Styx) (6/8)

3747.00 Ray (Kaos) (7/7)

3724.00 Anita (Magic) (6/8)

3627.60 Rex (Old Mate) (8/6)

 

THE SERENDIPITOUS SIX (those with the least $$ scored against them)

Max (7/7-2714.40) (Max Factory)

Jamison (8/6-2711.00) (Magic)

Howie (9/5-2675.20) (Styx)

Ziggy (8/6-2606.80) (Kaos)

Ian (6/8-2272.20) (Reapers)

Craig (9/5-1938.60) (Showtime)

 

THE UNFORTUNATE FIVE (those with the most $$ scored against them)

Midnight Caller (8/6-3809.00) (Kaos)

Barb (5/9-3824.80) (Max Factory)

Smiler (6/8-3937.00) (Styx)

Punter Pete (6/8-3973.20) (Showtime)

Rees (7/7-4158.40) (Seagulls)

[PWJ]

Each Time They Have Met-

ROUND 2

2 KAOS*** (8th)

$932.20

1 (x 3 Triple Joker play) equals 3 points

3 SHOWTIME (3rd)

$907.60

2 points

252.80 Midnight Caller

178.40 Craig

 

196.60 Sasha 

119 Harewood

 

237 Ray

331.20 Punter Pete

 

195.80 Stevie N

196 Maria

 

50 Ziggy

83 Blind Squirrel

 

ROUND 12

4 KAOS (1st)

$1110.00

3 points

1 SHOWTIME (6th)

$1114.00

1 point

338.60 Ray

113 Maria

 

195.80 Midnight Caller

178 Craig

 

194 Stevie N

80 Punter Pete

 

207 Ziggy

593 Blind Squirrel

 

174.60 Sasha 

150 Paul

 

ROUND 3

3 OLD MATE (2nd)

$1268.80

2 points

2 STYX (1st)

$926.00

0 points

113.60 Richie

192.20 Robert

 

284.40 Rex 

143 Smiler

 

256.20 Jack

320.20 Gordy

 

354.60 PJ

179.60 Howie

 

260 Black Caviar

91 Our Maizcay

 

ROUND 9

4 OLD MATE (5th)

$1321.00

4 points

1 STYX (1st)

$878.60

0 points

148.60 PJ

146.40 Smiler

 

394.40 Jack

105.80 Howie

 

517.40 Rex

377.20 Our Maizcay

 

106 Richie

124.80 Robert

 

154.60 Black Caviar

124.40 Gordy

 

ROUND 1

1 MAX FACTORY

$919.40

0 points

4 SEAGULLS

$1151.40

3 points

441 Rob

310 Graeme

 

100.40 Barb

297.40 Maurice

 

147 Gee

190 Steve P

 

231 Lightning Blue

265 Rees

 

0 Max

89 Pete

 

ROUND 8

2 MAX FACTORY*** (8th)

$1189.00

0 (x 2 Triple Joker play) equals -1 point

3 SEAGULLS* (7th)

$1458.60

3 (x 2 Joker play) equals 6 points

84 Barb

397.20 Pete

 

268.60 Rob

153 Maurice

 

167 Max

393 Graeme

 

392.40 Gee

143 Rees

 

277 Lightning Blue

372.40 Steve P

 

ROUND 2

3 MAGIC* (6th)

$1062.60

2 (x 2 Joker play) equals 4 points

2 REAPERS (7th)

$895.80

0 points

170.60 Sharne

172 Tonka

 

228.60 Anita

151 Tassie Tiger

 

222 Pam

491.80 Ian

 

325.40 Heather

14 Secret Squirrel

 

116 Jamison

67 Hesi

 

ROUND 12

3 REAPERS (7th)

$655.20

2 points

2 MAGIC (4th)

$606.00

0 points

64 Ian

46.60 Jamison

 

287 Tonka

158.60 Porky

 

62.60 Secret Squirrel

96.80 Heather

 

139 Hesi

225 Anita

 

102.60 Tassie Tiger

79 Sharne

[Lightning Blue]

Turf Digest odds are out for the Finals after the completion of all The Rounds play 

The Championship

STYX ridden hard all season by top jock Howie. cruised into finals triple-Jokerless and with Maizey and Robert fast out of the barriers Everytime , and Gordy 'In and Out ' (more times than a NZ test cricketer)  from behind the couch to snatch wins.. this team looks Set for the Victory   1-1 Even Money 💰

OLD MATE ridden hard up near the front with perfection by the ever reliable Black Caviar. It Took a superstar of the track to beat Black Caviar in the previous Super 7 comp, but his strong 2nd placing has him tuned to perfection , along with the scorer PJ to take it right up to STYX this week for the GF spot.  2-1   2nd fav

SHOWTIME guided by one of the best in the business, Dancing 'Kah' Maria the show might end stop here this week , and gallop on into the final after some impressive lead up form . If Craigos is 'On Song' from his music channel and the blind squirrel see's any light at all ..into the final they will go !!!   3- 1  firm

KAOS using joker play , and team driving to great effect to look for a place in the final .' Razor' Siegfried Ray may be starting to get a bit blunt after too many 'close shaves' and with a loss last week , they have drifted in the market and will need a bit of 'Control' to Get Smart and take the Win this week and next  4- 1 drifting  

The President's Cup 

Reapers with Hesi riding like a man possessed all season the Reapers have been at the back , up the front, buried on the fence and attacking 3 and 4 wide. This jock never gives up and will be hammering out strong sectionals this week to get a Cup spot. Subject of a betting plunge ..    1- 2    two to one ON   Fav

Seagulls masterly handled all season by reinsman Pete , who pops up all over the place on Nz tracks to lend his experience and expertise to great effect. Even handed the trotting blokes a 'hammering' in the last trot comp ( a feat he is likely to repeat this Friday on that form ) and along with his Solid Team handed Hesi back his Triple Joker last week with a Minus one score , so goes into the Cup with a strong chance to repeat . Pete has drawn poorly this week though , a wide barrier against an erratic opponent 😉, who chops at legs and is already an Nz cup winner and might be looking to add a Presidents Cup to the Factory shelf 😎    2- 1 2nd fav

Magic has seen Sharne and the team including the lucky Cat , cast a spell over the opponents and not far off the final . If Jammo gets his head out of the Whiska's and stops licking his .... this team could be kicking some this week and be a great Presidents Cup hope   .  3- 1 firm

The Factory ridden by the factory manager Max 'kiwi' million , Max saw KIWI come home from the back once (Melbourne Cup 83')  and is awaiting some similar finish from his team . been over 40 years since that great day . so is still lingering at the back of the pack with his 'outsider' factory workers . so at least are always an out-side Chance !!  5- 1   no support😅

[Globederby19]

11 minutes ago, Lightning Blue said:

Even handed the trotting blokes a 'hammering' in the last trot comp ( a feat he is likely to repeat this Friday on that form )

Shaaadup.!!! That was pure fluke as he would even admit. But then we both know how fickle Harness results can be. Some nice Aussie representation on Frid and they will no doubt attack the front as always in true Aussie fashion , so won't die wondering. 👍

[Dancing Show]

Turf Digest and Best Bets ...  Those were the days!!  🙂 

[Double R]

3 minutes ago, Dancing Show said:

Turf Digest and Best Bets ...  Those were the days!!  🙂 

Was the other one, the Sportweek Maria?

[Dancing Show]

I used to love the Racing Calendar 🙂    I collected them and had years and years of them.... That's what helped me find the owner and trainer of Skoota 🙂   The whip that was a race win prize, that I had on my wall that we found on the Trentham track at the 800m mark, for years, but I returned it 🙂 

[Dancing Show]

16 minutes ago, Double R said:

Was the other one, the Sportweek Maria?

Friday Flash perhaps? 🙂 

[Lightning Blue]

2 hours ago, Globederby19 said:

Shaaadup.!!! That was pure fluke as he would even admit. But then we both know how fickle Harness results can be. Some nice Aussie representation on Frid and they will no doubt attack the front as always in true Aussie fashion , so won't die wondering. 👍

Yeah we have to take Pete down on Friday trots Rees on our home 'harness' tracks . Before he smacks into me on Saturday on the galloping wonders 😁.

Maybe we can DQ him Friday after the running on Friday evening if Pete does well.... as if he's running it?  isn't that 'Running and Handling' 😁

[brown fox]

1 hour ago, Dancing Show said:

Turf Digest and Best Bets ...  Those were the days!!  🙂 

One thing I remember about those books was after each race form they showed the 3 place getters from the previous years race.I was always amazed how many had disappeared without trace.🙄

[Lightning Blue]

12 minutes ago, brown fox said:

One thing I remember about those books was after each race form they showed the 3 place getters from the previous years race.I was always amazed how many had disappeared without trace.🙄

I have one of these old Turf Digest from Nz (a while back lol ) and yeah there's 5 meetings and even the 2 tiny trots meetings have the first 3 from the year before listed under the selections.

Here's the Grand national Hurdles field. I remember seeing CURDU race for the great Ken Browne. (Crown Star showing as the year before winner)

 

Edited April 9 by Lightning Blue

[Double R]

7 hours ago, Dancing Show said:

Friday Flash perhaps? 🙂 

I am sure on a Tuesday, the Turf Digest, and the Sportsweek books with the fields in came out. They were exactly the same size books.

Someone else might be able to recall.

[pete]

The Friday Flash obviously came out on Fridays published in Wellington. I have the name Organ Bros floating around in my head as publisher.

News Media Auckland published Racetrack on Thursdays.

[Hesi]

If you went into Grey Lynn on a late Thurs afternoon, you could buy a Friday Flash

[Black Caviar]

2 hours ago, Double R said:

I am sure on a Tuesday, the Turf Digest, and the Sportsweek books with the fields in came out. They were exactly the same size books.

Someone else might be able to recall.

Turf Digest & Best Bets.

[richie]

2 hours ago, Double R said:

I am sure on a Tuesday, the Turf Digest, and the Sportsweek books with the fields in came out. They were exactly the same size books.

Someone else might be able to recall.

Think the Turf Digest used come out twice a week.Might have been Sunday and Thursday

[Double R]

28 minutes ago, richie said:

Think the Turf Digest used come out twice a week.Might have been Sunday and Thursday

I remember that Richie, but I have still have in my dottery mind, the Sportsweek book coming out on a Tuesday, certainly in Dunedin, along with the Turf Digest.

[Globederby19]

3 hours ago, Black Caviar said:

Turf Digest & Best Bets.

Definitely.  Turf Digest had one for midweek and one for weekend. 

 

2 hours ago, Double R said:

the Sportsweek book

There was Sports Post in Wgtn, part of the Evening Post. Don't remember a Sports week Robert. 

[PWJ]

14 hours ago, Dancing Show said:

I used to love the Racing Calendar 🙂    I collected them and had years and years of them.... That's what helped me find the owner and trainer of Skoota 🙂   The whip that was a race win prize, that I had on my wall that we found on the Trentham track at the 800m mark, for years, but I returned it 🙂 

So did I - what nerds ~!

[pete]

48 minutes ago, Globederby19 said:

Definitely.  Turf Digest had one for midweek and one for weekend. 

 

There was Sports Post in Wgtn, part of the Evening Post. Don't remember a Sports week Robert. 

It mentions Sports Week in this article about Dick Hunt.

https://www.racingnews.co.nz/hunt-calls-time-on-judging-career/

[Globederby19]

That was about 1966, I was in my last year at Intermediate and a bit before I took a more in depth interest in racing. Can only remember Best Bets and Turf Digest. 

[pete]

They were pretty much identical but had different selections in them.

I can remember Percy The Place Punter and Longshot Larry.

[PWJ]

I think Sportsweek became Best Bets with a name change somewhere in the early 70s

[Double R]

Race 1: 7,16.

Race 2: 4,11.

Race 3: 1,3.

Race 4: 1,2.

Race 5: 9,14. (Best Bet)

Race 6: 1,6.

Race 7: 1,2.

Race 8: 1,12.

Race 9: 5,7.

Race10: 1,2 (Best Bet)

Thanks.

[Godzstar1]

I used to remember the little booklet HOOF BEATS had photos of horses and also horse breeds to follow for the month 

got many winners from that!!