I note that only two of the starters in the Tauherenikau listed race would have got a start in the Hazlett. Certainly some easy black type in the NI. On a more positive note, that sprint at Te Rapa would be one of the best fields I have seen assembled in NZ for some time. The top and bottom horses certainly make it interesting. It might be about time they went back to running the two WFA races at Te Rapa for the same stakes. $600,000 each would seem much fairer.

Does anyone know about the extent of Matt's ownership interests? Thanks.

I look forward to the Pattern Committee removing some Nth Island black type races this year instead of picking on the Sth Island

No images? Click here New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Appoints New CEO New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is pleased to confirm the appointment of Matt Ballesty to the position of CEO, effective 5 March 2025. Ballesty is a highly respected senior executive who has more than 30 years’ experience in high performance leadership as well as strategic commercial development and execution. “This is a homecoming,” said Ballesty of taking on the new role. “I’ve been passionate about racing for a long time as both an enthusiast and an owner and I can’t wait to get stuck into the hard work of further developing thoroughbred racing in New Zealand.” Ballesty has a vast commercial career, and although a New Zealand-Australian citizen, has held a number of senior executive roles internationally across Australia, Macau and Canada. Matt has also undertaken studies at the New Zealand Institute of Directors and was a board member with Heart of the City Auckland NZTR Chair Russell Warwick said Ballesty’s unique skill set makes him ideal to lead the organisation. “The racing industry is going through a period of significant change and Matt is the perfect candidate to ensure that every person contributing to the industry continues to play a key role in the future,” Warwick said. “This appointment is about securing the legacy of the racing industry in the long term. We could not be happier to have someone of Matt’s calibre holding the reins at this critical point.” In addition to his impressive corporate background, Ballesty has also demonstrated his strength in connecting key stakeholders across every part of the businesses he has worked in. “The success of the racing industry has always been built on the hard work done at a grassroots level by generations of Kiwis,” said Ballesty. “What excites me most is the opportunity to meet the people around the country who contribute to making the racing industry what it is today. Everyone from the breeders, trainers, owners and jockeys, right through to the clubs, play a critical role in creating a vibrant community and sport that continues to excel on the global stage.” The arrival of Ballesty was also welcomed by Dean Shannon, the Chief Executive for Entain Australia and New Zealand, a key strategic partner for NZTR. “Matt is a genuinely good human who’s fully committed to ensuring that the racing industry reaches its full potential in New Zealand,” said Shannon. “We can’t wait to see what he brings to the table in the coming years.”

It would be interesting to be able to put a real person's name to the programming shambles. Surely it is someone's responsibility to oversee the nationwide programming? It would be interesting to know who that person is. They come out with all the press releases when they move group races from the CD to Auckland and brag about how it improves the pattern, but other than that we hear nothing to indicate that anyone has noticed there is an actual problem.

They will Pete he is a champion and champions are always champions and find a way back to the top...he will and I also wish him all the success in the world.

Top export trading partner for each U.S. state…..😆

Haha , he didn't con them , most are too dumb to be conned and live in bubbles . Most in America wouldn't know more than half a dozen countries in the world , so busy naval gazing they can't see their being shit on by the people empowered to make their lives better . Almost makes me pleased we have Winston Peters and David Seymour . 

The black type racing in NZ (and Aus) is a bloated whale , driven by the breeding sector . Every time they say they're looking at it but always put a blindfold on before hand . We should lose at least 40% of black type races in NZ and we would still be too heavy .  As for SI racing , as I've said before it is looked upon purely as a dumping ground and doesn't actually have any real correlation to the NZ racing structure . And just like true NZ ratings don't hold up in AUS most of the time , the vast majority of SI ratings wouldn't hold up in the NI , not bagging it , it's just the way it is . But like the NZ/Aus correlation the very best race to their rating . The fillies race is the perfect window into how piss poor our calendar and programming is fucked , they ran a listed fillies race over 1800 at New Plymouth last week with a larger field , did it have an affect on this weeks field , of course it bloody did . But this is a regular occurrence now , simply no thought put into it . Has no one looked at this and gone "Why are we still doing this shit?'. Apparently not . 

Following a successful return to the races, 2-year-old champion male Citizen Bull widened his lead on stablemate Barnes in the second week of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top 3-Year-Old poll, released Feb. 4.View the full article

A five-time winner in Iowa in 2024, Seventeen Black was named the Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association Horse of the Year and top older colt/gelding.View the full article

Byron King's Top 12 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, presented by Spendthrift Farm.View the full article

As if Americans are not dumb enough, let’s do this….. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/04/politics/education-department-trump-executive-order/index.html

Bright boy strikes again….. 2.2 billion gallons of water flowed out of California reservoirs because of Trump’s order to open dams               The US Army Corps of Engineers opened two dams on Friday in Central California and let roughly 2.2 billion gallons of water flow out of reservoirs, after President Donald Trump ordered the release with the misguided intent to send water to fire-ravaged Southern California. Trump celebrated the move in posts to Truth Social post on Friday and Sunday, declaring, “the water is flowing in California,” and adding the water was “heading to farmers throughout the State, and to Los Angeles.” There are two major problems, water experts said: The newly released water will not flow to Los Angeles, and it is being wasted by being released during the wet winter season.   “They were holding extra water in those reservoirs because of the risk that it would be a dry summer,” said Heather Cooley, director of research for California water policy organization the Pacific Institute. “This puts agriculture at risk of insufficient water during the summer months.” On Friday, Trump posted that 1.6 billion gallons was being released adding that “in 3 days, it will be 5.2 billion gallons.” About 2.2 billion gallons were released from Friday to Sunday, local water districts said in a statement released Monday. That water was discharged into the dry lakebed of Tulare Lake, according to a letter from Sen. Alex Padilla to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.     “Downstream entities used these releases for limited irrigation demand and groundwater recharge,” the statement said.     “This release is extremely concerning,” Cooley said. “It’s providing zero benefit and putting California farmers at risk of water supply constraints in the coming months.” California Department of Water Resources director Karla Nemeth told reporters that there was little coordination between federal officials and the state and local water managers for the Army Corps releases at the Terminus Dam at Lake Kaweah and Schafer Dam at Lake Success. “These reservoirs were federal reservoirs, and the state of California was not part of the decision making in this instance,” Nemeth said. “We traditionally have a high degree of coordination at the operational level, which really wasn’t a part of this decision.” California’s State Water project supplies water from Northern California to Southern California, including to Los Angeles. Los Angeles’ water supply comes partly from state reservoirs and partly from the Colorado River. But Los Angeles’ water sources are completely separated from the water system that Lake Kaweah and Lake Success supply. That water system flows into the agriculture-heavy Central Valley — where large farms grow nuts, citrus and grasses for animal feed, among other crops. The water-stressed region is heavily reliant on groundwater and winter precipitation stored in state reservoirs to irrigate crops. The US Army Corps of Engineers and the White House did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.

Simple….

No, it’s the orange impeached felon who conned 75m dumb arses to put him there.

Rating 82s balloted in the Hazlett. I doubt you would be able to find an open race anywhere in the NI where a rating 82 couldn't get a start. And that poor bloody maiden stayer having to race in the open race. Its because it is hard to find a maiden stayers race in the SI and the rating 65 on Saturday isn't an option as he would be balloted in that, and in most other southern 65s.

What a raw and honest and emotional interview with Jamie Richards.   Good to see the real man not the one bound by the another lovely horse bought by Dave script that came with the Te Akau job. Best trainer they ever had and sad but not surprising how it all ended. 

A total of 373 3-year-olds, led by champion 2-year-old male Citizen Bull, were made eligible to this year’s Triple Crown series with a $600 early nomination payment that was due Jan. 27. This year’s total represents a 7.8% increase from last year.View the full article

It's the same for all programming top to bottom. The tinkering is totally ineffective. As you point out, at Wingatui you've got R80s on the ballot in the Hazlett and a maiden gets a run in the open 2200.