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    • 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 
    • Not a big fish, but I do bet to turn a small profit which I need good odds to achieve.   If this goes through and includes Betfair, I will simply have to stop betting, have no interest in playing the game with the reduced odds on offer with the TAB/betcha and simply giving money away.
    • TAB NZ made up a number to suit their argument would be more like it.  If they're betting with an offshore operator they would be looking for a better price or not wanted by the NZ TAB as they can't easily skin them of their money.  TAB NZ already has the tipster followers and take any price punters who think that one day studying form guides and picking winners will miraculously make them a profit.  
    • HRNZ CEO Brad Steele " Since the start of the new racing season, Harness has seen double digit growth across all core metrics, with starters numbers up 12%, weekly wagering customers up 16%, and total turnover on Harness Racing up over 13%" Well, maybe we should consider what is apparently non core, these figures are up to the 4th November and comparing to the same period prior year; Number of races  655, up 23.8% from prior year 529 Number of starters  6159, up16.3% from prior year 5295 Average field size  9.4, down 6% from prior year 10.01 HRNZ Funded Stakes  $9.9m, up 28.8% from prior year $7.7m GBR to Stakes %  93.6%  DOWN 19.3%  prior year 112% GBR per race $14,188,  down 9.6% from prior year $16455 2023    Stakes  $7,710,189       GBR  $8,704,785      Funding  $9,416,835                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2024                  $9,930,133                 $9,293,361                       $10,111,512  
    • The 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner breezed Dec. 8 at Gulfstream Park.View the full article
    • Thank you for the suggestion! I'll give him a go
    • NZTR welcomes government announcement on legislative net New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is thrilled by the government announcement to introduce a “legislative net” granting TAB NZ the exclusive rights for online wagering in New Zealand. NZTR Chairman Russell Warwick applauded the Rt Hon Winston Peters for his continued support of the NZ racing industry. “This announcement is yet another significant milestone for New Zealand racing that has been facilitated by the Minister for Racing and is a major piece of the puzzle to ensure racing is sustainable long-term,” Warwick said. “The NZTR Board and management would like to thank the Rt Hon Winston Peters, his coalition government, and all parties involved for delivering a critical outcome that will have an immensely positive impact on racing." "The Minister for racing has been the architect and visionary behind the resurgence of racing in New Zealand and his relentless support is greatly appreciated by the entire industry." TAB NZ has estimated Kiwis lose $180 million annually to offshore operators. TAB NZ CEO Nick Roberts believes this decision will see those funds returned to the industry while also properly regulating wagering activity.   “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. In June 2023, TAB NZ commenced a 25-year strategic partnering arrangement with sports-betting and gaming group Entain for the delivery of TAB NZ’s betting operations.  TAB NZ will receive a one-off payment of $100m from Entain once the legislation is in effect, in addition to increased revenue share and other payments over the remainder of the 25-year strategic partnership. 
    • A logical step but as you say highly unlikely unless someone has an epiphany at HRNZ
    • You clearly have no idea of Entain's agenda in NZ. Chucking lots of money around for nothing and without having a major say on how things should be done- i don't think so. 
    • Personally just at the moment i find many aspects of NZ Cricket at the top level irritating. Glen Turner played 6 days a week when jn County champ so did plenty of time at the crease developing, 20 20 doesn't do that.
    • Honestly its terrible now you can't even see the results . Finally they listened to me and spoke to the traders who admitted they made a mistake and it was the same they didnt allow for a deadheat so gave out the full 3 , 2 , 1 
    • With you 100%... on both your recent posts. Dumb to have an X1 unless it's a side that might actually play..(ie from the same or adjacent eras)... why not a Twelth Man (just as much a part of cricket tradition, isn't it?) ...and the PC/woke dingbats in NZC (the ones who've gone all Maorified with TVNZ to tell us that venues are now apparently Otautahi, Whanganui-a-Tara and Kirikiriroa - the TVNZ graphics don't even say Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton as well!  Dumb to make it both genders - too limiting and too PC. Still, it was good to see some of our greats at the Basin Reserve, Turner, Paddles et al. The use of the word 'batter' is also irritating to poor Max - I know it 'makes sense' in that it crosses both mens and womens matches, but ... back in the day, we used to call 'so-and-so a "great bat" (or a a very bad one in Max's own case (on account of his left-handed, walk-away-to-leg against the quicks and try to smack 'em anywhere between third man and cover-point).  LOL
    • The Pegasus World Cup (G1) may be next for the 4 -year-old son of Gun Runner, with the Saudi Cup (G1) and Dubai World Cup (G1) also on the radar. View the full article
    • The year's final Australian group 1 proved another feather in the cap of trainer Ciaron Maher after Light Infantry Man defied a wide gate to seize an elusive elite-level victory in the $1.5 million Northerly Stakes (G1) going 1,800 meters at Ascot.View the full article
    • In early Entain days I had a dead-heat in a Jockey challenge and got nothing because they said he didn't win🤪 Incidentally,after a days racing can you find the Challenge winners without having to go through the cards and add them up yourself?
    • You are a good man, Mr Say No More. MM
    • Email these guys . I had all sorts of problems with a jockey challenge ages ago but they finally paid out helpdesk@tab.co.nz and tell them they stuffed up 
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