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    • Aussies already have dozens to choose from.  Doubt they would want the hassle of an off shore account?
    • Kiwi-bred a sprint star LOVERACING.NZ News Desk@LOVERACINGNZ     2 Ka Ying Rising (Image: HKJC) New Zealand has been synonymous with producing quality middle-distance and staying thoroughbreds, but now it can lay claim to the best sprinter on the planet after Ka Ying Rising took out the Gr.1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The Kiwi-bred gelding has been a dominant force since making his debut in Hong Kong in December last year, posting eight wins from his 10 prior starts, including three at Group level, and he was duly backed into $1.10 favouritism for Sunday’s sprint feature. However, things didn’t go to script for the son of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress, who was slow away and jockey Zac Purton had to get busy on the four-year-old early to make up the deficit, urging him forward to sit outside California Spangle. He was quickly met on the outside by Victor The Winner, who continued to apply pressure throughout, but Purton kept a cool head and sat quietly on Ka Ying Rising until the 300m mark where he asked his charge for his best, and he quickly responded. The David Hayes-trained gelding put several lengths on his rivals in a few bounds, but the pressure from the middle stages began to tell and Helios Express and Satono Reve began to close late. However, Ka Ying Rising was able to call on his brilliance to hold on for a half-length victory, much to the delight of his adoring Hong Kong fans. While they were in full voice as Ka Ying Rising thundered down the Sha Tin straight, back in Marton, New Zealand, his breeder Fraser Auret was also at full volume when cheering him home. Group One success is nothing new to Auret, who has posted multiple elite-level victories as a trainer, but he was over the moon to add Group One-winning breeder to his name on Sunday. “It was a massive thrill,” he said. “It is just one of those joys and it has been a fairytale.” That fairytale began five years ago when Auret decided to head into the breeding game and he struck gold at this first attempt, resulting in the now Group One sprinting sensation. Fresh off the victory, Auret said winning a Group One as breeder gave him the same rush as his Group One victories as a trainer. “It gives you the same euphoria,” he said. “It was the same sort of pride there as when we trained our first Group One winner.  “At that elite-level, we all know how hard it is to get there and the journey that is involved. “It seems like it was just the other day that we turned up in the truck at Windsor Park to pick him up as a foal. It has been really fantastic all the way through.” While proud of producing the world’s best sprinter, the ever-humble Auret said he is delighted to continue New Zealand’s proud breeding record on the global stage and help change the narrative that it can also produce world-class sprinters. “We (New Zealand) have always punched well above our weight in terms of results, and we haven’t necessarily been looked at as producers of top sprinters, but there you go,” he said. Auret is also hoping Ka Ying Rising’s success can entice more Kiwis to enter the thoroughbred breeding industry and help bolster the foal crop. “Our foal crop has dwindled a fair bit in recent years here in New Zealand. I just hope that this is a good advertisement (to breed),” he said.  “With the smaller foal crop, I think it is actually a wonderful time for anyone to get involved in our industry.” Ka Ying Rising was raised and educated at Auret’s Marton property, and he is proud that a product of provincial New Zealand has made it to the peak of world racing.  “From Marton to the big smoke, it is really that pinch yourself moment,” he said. Ka Ying Rising left a strong impression on Auret from the moment he laid eyes on him as a foal when picking him up from Windsor Park Stud, near Cambridge, with his family, and their initial impression of the horse has now come to fruition. “We still laugh with the kids because the day that we went to pick him up he was running around the paddock like a mad thing and our middle son, Oscar, said ‘Dad, we better call him Rocket because he is running around the paddock so fast’. As it turns out, he really is a rocket,” Auret said. While Auret lost Ka Ying Rising’s dam Missy Moo a couple of seasons ago, he still has plenty to look forward to with her only other progeny, Ka Ying Glory, who is making an early impression on trainer David Hayes in Hong Kong. “He (Ka Ying Glory) was a magnificent horse, and it is such a shame that we lost the mare so early in the piece,” he said.  “In saying that, I have always said that horse welfare is first and foremost and as she got more and more pregnant with Ka Ying Glory, she was getting lamer and lamer with the arthritis that she had in her back leg (and ultimately had to be euthanised). “Obviously, he (Ka Ying Glory) has got big shoes to fill but he will certainly leave his mark because he never put a foot wrong and showed a tremendous amount of ability as well.” The son of Letham Stud principals Nigel and Adaire Auret, thoroughbred breeding was a focal point of Auret’s formative years, and while he elected to go down the training path, he said he has now well and truly caught the breeding bug, and his broodmare band has quickly grown. “I have watched Mum and Dad be quite successful in the breeding arena over a 40-year span. One of their earlier bred horses (Pompeii Pearl) went on to win a Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, so I have certainly seen the better side of breeding,” he said. “It (breeding) is a long timeframe and investment before you know what you have got. In saying that, it is safe to say that I am being converted pretty quickly. “We have got five mares that have gone to stud this year, so we have certainly gone on from the one mare we started with.” Auret is hoping Ka Ying Rising can continue on his upward trajectory and quickly add to his elite-level tally, with his trainer David Hayes now eyeing the Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin next month before possibly looking to extend his charge over a mile. “We will see how he pulls up, but the initial one (target) will be the Group One sprint in late January, six weeks between runs, and after that we will make the decision on whether we go for the mile or not,” Hayes said.     
    • Clearly.  But i thought it was obvious i think  Entain called the shots.  Including getting rid of your mate Sharrock.  But you win.  Have a nice Christmas. 
    • Interesting that the finance minister  wants more competitive banking, yet Entain want no competition in their field, would make more sense to open up the market for Australians to have accounts here, have unique promotions and then increase your customer base.
    • Their $180m estimate includes only racing and sports losses overseas by NZ punters. They estimate Casino losses at $600m plus – again as a loss not turnover number.
    • Especially as they're extremely unlikely to get anywhere near $100 million for Pukekohe. They'll be lucky to get $35million, based on other valuations, plus the $10 million deposit they get to keep. But as they're reportedly paying $500,000 per month in interest to the bank, and the lack of speed in which big deals move, much of that  $10 million could disappear before anything concrete happens. If they end up losing/selling Alexandra Park and need to build a replacement facility as well as a new training facility, they'll need a lot more than $50 million dollars. A lot more. 
    • Gary is my cousin and he would love to help too 😀
    • They're so dumb at the basics sometimes. 
    • Sounds good in theory & they may be forced to by the bank if a new buyer doesn’t emerge with a similar offer to the failed one.   The problem I can see is that, after paying off the debt they will be left with approximately $50m to purchase the new land & build a new track, stand, stables etc.  They would need to be careful they don’t go from the frying pan into the fire. 
    • Certainly has a lot of 'Phar Lap' inspiration.
    • I have drawn this post to the attention of a few of our senior and retired commentators
    • I will be very happy to be proved wrong.  However I don't think the sum of money been reported as punted offshore is correct, I think the calculation is not right.  I think there is also a lot of on line casino type bets in this calculation.  These will continue via the dark web. The old TAB only started to improve because of competition.  No competition does not help a company stay sharp.        
    • I see Jason Lee give a flourish of the whip in his first start, but nothing after the first win. Was Jason spoken to or relieved of some money.
    • Most horses from a stand theorically once the tapes are released , are on the second , third , or fourth row from a mobile or worse . So standing starts don't give them an even chance but know what you mean . Different for some of the smaller fields in the North 
    • Well if the TAB Entain deal gets past the 5 year it will take the Geo blocking to do that I reckon.. T/O not that flash at the mo. I didnt go to Ellerslie Saturday but a mate did. Said there were 20 people in the members and the 5th floor was closed. Probably a lot in the Winning Post area. Theres the pre Christmas swill midweek where a lot Neds go down. But T/O? Ah well BGP will boost the big days - unless BGP get lucky
    • Moreira should have been put out for mine. Severely checked Antino several times from the turn.
    • Standing starts have their place when there is a big disparity in horse ability and the handicapper wants to give every horse a chance and a more even betting field. As I've said before, HRNZ should invest in research to upgrade the current 100+year old "technology". In addition, trotters and pacers get treated differently for no logical reason. A good example are the $100K G1 f&m races at Auckland this Friday.  A standing hcp start for the trotters and a mobile 2200m for the pacers which has horses from R40 to R90!!  So the highest rated pacers will be red hot favourites while I'd put my money on one of the front markers in the trot.  
    • And perhaps I am missing something when looking at this statement, but aren't Entain UK based (a foreign company), and I assume over the next 25 years they fully intend to send money (probably lots of it) offshore? “This is a positive outcome which will have national impact. Retaining this money in New Zealand will not only maximise funding to our communities instead of providing profits to foreign companies but also ensure Kiwis can bet in a safe and regulated environment,” Roberts said. One thing with the old TAB model was the money passing thru it all sloshed around in NZ in some shape or form.
    • A chance to review yesterday’s action in Hong Kong which demonstrated not only the global reach of our sport but the power and wealth of the Hong Kong Jockey Club for whom, it seems, life has continued much the same since the transfer of sovereignty from Britain in 1997.  Four championship races starting with the Vase over 2400m for which there were contenders from Britain, Ireland, France and Japan in a division which has always been the weakest for the locals. A wonderful win for GIAVELLOTTO and a masterpiece from British champion Oisin Murphy and I think horse and jockey benefitted from being stopped on the home turn and having to cut back inside. Both reacted superbly to the setback and GIAVELLOTTO found a real turn of foot to sweep to the front and move clear. DUBAI HONOUR came out of the pack to reward each way players at a decent price in a way where the pace collapsed after the home turn and those coming from off the pace had to navigate their way through those weakening from the front. The Japanese filly STELLENBOSCH ran well in third - she was at the rear for much of the race but clearly has plenty of speed. ENTHUSED was fourth for James Macdonald just in front of LUXEMBOURG and MARRISAT - all three split by two necks. The winner is better known at 2800m in the UK and this was a taking performance at the shorter trip. I’d love to see him in a Sheema Classic or a Breeders Cup Turf on this evidence. DUBAI HONOUR once again performed with credit on the global stage and I hope connections of STELLENBOSCH will consider other options for her outside Japan. WITHOUT A FIGHT was disappointing but this was very different from a Melbourne Cup and the Hong Kong style of racing different from that seen in Australia. On to the Sprint over 1200m and while Breeders Cup Turf Sprint winner STARLUST was an intriguing challenger, all the money was for the new local sprinting superstar KA YING RISING who had won seven on the bounce. KA YING RISING may not be the fastest horse you’ve ever seen out of a stall but he was just too good for these and cemented his reputation as Hong Kong’s sprinting champion. HELIOS EXPRESS has now been beaten three times by the champion but both he and the Japanese SATONO REVE got pretty close. LUGAL and STARLUST were disappointing.  Much as I’d love the winner to come to Ascot, I can’t see why the connections would be interested. Could he go to Australia and take on their top sprinters? Who knows? The Mile saw DOCKLANDS and RAMADAN running for Britain but they looked to have it all to do against the likes of top Japanese miler SOUL RUSH and VOYAGE BAUBLE, representing the locals. The latter hadn’t done much in visits to Meydan and Tokyo earlier in the year but was a big player on home form. The first two home are clearly top notch types but on his home turf VOYAGE BAUBLE was just too good and James Macdonald was able to break well and utilize his number two stall while Joao Moreira on the Japanese runner found the inside berth a real problem as he just didn’t have the gate speed to lay up with the leaders. SOUL RUSH ran home well and I can see why he’s a star in Japan but as we’ve seen, the way races are run varies hugely from country to country. VOYAGE BAUBLE would likely do well over shorter trips in Europe while SOUL RUSH would be a test for all our milers having beaten Queen Anne winner CHARYN three lengths at Kyoto last month. Finally, the Cup over 2000m and would this be another Group 1 for ROMANTIC WARRIOR, on many measures the best in the world currently? Three Hong Kong Cups for ROMANTIC WARRIOR and while you can question the depth of the field, you can’t question the winner’s superiority over these and having not tasted defeat since the 2023 Turnbull (where he finished behind two Melbourne Cup winners and a Cup runner up).  ROMANTIC WARRIOR has earned his connections nearly £18 million in win and place money. LIBERTY ISLAND is no mug and TASTIERA chased home DO DEUCE over 2000m before the latter went on to win the Japan Cup. The Japanese had another frustrating night with plenty of places but again sent a powerful message to the rest of the world. The locals won three of the four races with their champions and the Vase is the race where the Europeans prosper - bit like the Breeders Cup Turf.  That’ll do for the Northern Hemisphere this year and as I won’t be back in Europe until March, I hope you’ve enjoyed another year of my ramblings from far away. It’ll be ramblings from NZ on other threads for the next couple of months.  
    • When you analyze the standing starts . The first thing that comes to mind is many didn't get a fair start lol . So what's the difference between a horse galloping in the run or galloping in the run up and checking another horse . How many get checked leaving a standing start we ask ? Just common sense really its about time they sorted it out 
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