In lieu of anywhere else, I thought I'd put my review of Champions Day here. RETURN TO CONQUER needed the line desperately in the Sistema - forced out wide on the home turn which meant he covered enough ground. I dpn't see him going much beyond 1200m on this evidence. I thought Kevin Stott rode a peach on the second (apart from winning of course). This was a step forward from the fifth in the Karaka Millions. The absence of LA DORADA devalued the race a little (perhaps more than a little). Desperate stuff at the end of a thrilling Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes. The first five split by a length which tells you all you need to know. Did Ryan Elliot go a fraction early on LEGARTO? Perhaps his hand was forced by the way the race involved but Sam Spratt rode an exemplary race on PROVENCE letting Elliot make his move first and then pouncing inside the final 150m but she wasn't the only one who tried that and Warren Kennedy almost pulled it off on JAARFFI who rattled home only to be denied by the length of a well smoked ciggie. KONASANA was a close fourth and provided a useful form line to EL VENCEADOR (of who more anon). A good race for the bookies overall and a great spectacle. If you thought the THoroughbred Breeders was a great race, it was, in my view, topped by the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes which saw a fascinating duel between EL VENCEADOR and LA CRIQUE. We know if you give EL VENCEADOR an uncontested lead, you'll live to regret it and Michael McNab must have realised that at halfway as he sent LA CRIQUE on - I suspect that was the last thing he wanted to but he also knew if EL VENCEADOR were allowed to set his own pace, he'd quicken away in the straight. Wiremu Pinn was therefore forced to sit behind McNab but must have thought on the home turn he'd pick up the filly easily in the straight but LA CRIQUE is a battler and we saw that as EL VENCEADOR came to challenge and the two fought a fantastic battle up the straight with the lead switching but Pinn forced EL VENCEADOR's head down at the right moment and prevailed in a desperate finish. Two very good animals who put on a real show - they were well ahead of the others amongst whom was ORCHESTRAL for whom the race didn't work at all. He got too far back off a slow early and if racing has taught me anything it's that you can give weight but you can't give start. Having run fourth in the Wellington Cup, TRAV got his day in the sun winning the Auckland Cup defeating the ex-British galloper TAJANIS in a race which saw just two come out of the pack in the straight to finish and the front two were well ahead of INTERPRETATION who ran his usual game race giving 6 kg to the front two. It didn't go well for McNab on TAJANIS - he got shuffled back after halfway and was probably further back than he wanted to be on the turn but he quickened with TRAV in the final 150m but the latter was just too strong to save the bookies. On then to the feature - the NZB Kiwi and it's NZ$3.5 million price tag which drew a decent field (though possibly not the best which often happens in slot races). Blake Shinn rightly received all the plaudits for the ride on DAMASK ROSE - I wonder if he'd looked at any videos of Ryan Moore riding in America - but of course you need the horse and he had a more than willing filly. It had gone wrong in the Auckland Guineas but I suspect she needs to be carefully trained and doesn't take a lot of races in quick succession. She was very good in the Karaka 3-y-o race and this was even better and, if nothing else, has confirmed her superstar status as a future broodmare. Had Shinn tried to go round the field, it might well have been EVAPORATE's day and the second did very little wrong. To be fair, he's been mixing it at the highest level - he may have finished last in the Cox Plate but would any of the rest of this field have done any better? Both CHECKMATE and especially SOUGHT AFTER outran their odds and performed with great credit. It wasn't to be for PIVOTAL TEN - I thpought she was beaten at halfway and for all she has looked fantastic down south, this was the top table and she was found wanting on this occasion. Finally to the Derby and why the course commentator, who otherwise did a reasonable job, had to keep saying "let's bring it on" at the start of most of the races is a mystery. I can't imagine Richard Hoiles saying that before the start of a Group 1 at Royal Ascot or a Grade 1 at Cheltenham. It sounded cheap and unnecessary, it's a horse race, not a boxing match. Anyway, back to the 3-y-o over 2400m (nice to see a Derby run over the proper distance unlike the bloody French). However, you then  ruin it by allowing geldings to run - never mind. WILLYDOIT erased the memory of his Avondale Guineas failure with a convincing win under Mick Dee and you could call him the winner on the home turn as he quickened down the inside and basically invited the rest of the field to play catch. THEDOCTOROFLOVE had won the Avondale Guineas but just couldn't quicken to WILLYDOIT over the extended distance. He ran a decent race in second while GOLDEN CENTURY outran his odds in third, again possibly with the extra distance bringing some improvement. TUXEDO was up with the pace but probably did too much and didn't get home. OCEANA DREAM was another who didn't fire. It looked a well attended and enjoyable day at Ellerslie - there are no doubt aspects which will improve with time but the "Champions Day" concept is now seen in most jurisdictions as a defined end to the season which informs the preceeding months and the narrative around those months. The programme of Group 1 races leading to Champions Day probably needs refining a little (it evolves) and you have to ensure Champions Day doesn't become the be all and end all so races like the Zabeel Classic aren't seen just as "trials". You could have a points system to encourage horses to contest the championship races with perhaps a NZ$ 2 million winning pot (money for the yard as well) for the horse accumulating most points and having double points on perhaps Champions Day and Boxing Day races.

Tact Mcleod must be paying his way over in Oz without winning a race. 

The last 2 pacing Interdominion Championship winners have run the Miracle Mile Quinella. Luke McCarthy drives a fine race on Don Hugo and is too good. Grant can't keep sitting outside these good horses and win everytime with Leap To Fame. a brave effort though as had to travel 3 wide for whole first bend , and then death-seat the rest. beaten 1/2 length.  Anthony Butt Drives the kiwi into 3rd , running over a few marker pegs up the straight as he desperately tries to hold out Swayzee for 3rd. He succeeded 👍😆 . by a tiny nose which meant 100k for 3rd to him with Tact McLeod,  compared to 60k for 4th for Swayzee. nice driving Ant's !!!  .  

Well the MM itself wasn't quite run at the speed or was the spectacle l expected, but boy oh boy the first corner was tough with some being forced three wide. I expected a hotter pace allowing Captain Ravishing and Catch A Wave to storm home over the top, or at least run Leap To Fame close. But it was not to be, Don Hugo beats the Big 2 for the first time, Leap To Fame brave and Ants Butt and Tact Mcleod brilliant with another dividend bearing place + the Early Crow. But 1.48.2 (l think it was) is crushing speed for those horses 🤣 and it crushed my quaddie 🤦‍♂️

He seems to be getting off balance in the score ups these days Rakman ?  must be not enough pace by the mobile , to keep him balanced,  so he has time to think and play up a bit?  Oscar is a stallion so they do funny things sometimes. 😅 Anyway Kate Gath has flown the Allstars colours well for NZ with a perfect drive on Don't Stop Dreaming  next race, in the Curtain raiser for the Miracle Mile. He won running away , against some solid (but not spectacular) opponents. he still seems NZ's best to me. He nearly won the NZ Cup . did head off Swayzee last November but pipped late on again when Swayzee rallied. I hope DSD can win it this year 👍🏆    

Well, now I'm up off the floor 🤣 don't ask, alot happened in a verrry short time, suffice to say assed up cheerin Don't Stop Dreamin the lil fella done us proud yussss!!! Now, for the big one, gawd I don't think I can watch it.....it's ok, harden up Iraklis you can do it 🫣   Cheers Iraklis

He does it so easy that it's hard to say. Has won both his Menangle Group races by near 4 lengths for 2 of the wins.  won the heat, the semi and the Final of the 2 yearold Vic Sires stakes last Sept. ( against 4 stable-mates like tonight was as well , so that does make it easier)  but when ALWAYS HOT  resumed on 25th January as a 3 yearold , he drew the outside, looped the field to sit parked , and then Busted them open in 1.50.9  at Melton running 27.6 then 27.3 as his 2 last quarters , waltzing away from them. and that was Fresh up . super quick. super impressive. 

Geez Idol mate that's all we need is another Ozzie real deal in the trotters, specially when our hero (Oscar) is busy tryin to imitate Damask Rose at Ellerslie today 😆 bad Oscar, bad bad Oscar.....   Cheers Iraklis

I haven't seen all of his races. Has he ever been pressured? He sure ain't at the moment. Looks the real deal. 

Great win by Willy. Good ride on DR but not worthy of the ridiculous hype George Simon issued it (and his over the top summation of Trav from the Wellington Cup). George got carried away with the day and tried to make a lot of exaggerated calls. Ridiculous. Theres still something about that Ellerslie track that hurts my confidence when punting.

That horse seems could be the Next BIG Thing . ALWAYS HOT , unbeaten in 8 starts now , but it's the way he does it that seems awesome. a bit Like Leap To Fame did as a 3 year old 2 seasons ago. Tonight he left the Slot races horses who ran 1.50 as 2yearolds running the Quinella last winter Fate Awaits and The Highlight Reel,  struggling lengths behind 3rd and 4th. those 2 horses,  I thought would be the huge force in 3 yearold races , being 1.50 capable last season,   but tonight they couldn't Live with ALWAYS HOT. Perhaps in November he will be slaying them in Christchurch in the Velocity and Nz Derby. ? he could be anything.   

Always Hot just destroyed what looked a pretty handy field on paper. Some very impressive horseflesh on display tonight. 

100% agree

Yeah Pure mate I'm still good to go, haven't even sweated up yet 🤣 yes the Knuckle ran well seems he's another that's thrivin on the racin there in Oz, he reminds me alot of BadToTheBone; and The Janitor whoar what a goer dammnnnn.....sad to see me ol mate SouthCoast just floppin round in that race he looks like he's forgotten how to....   Cheers Iraklis

Great ride on Trav though Scooby more than made up for it. Should have won in Wellington so deserved it today.

The Janitor is as tough as old gumboots. So is the horse 🤣 

How about that. That horse could of won the Chariots if he been given a start. Started that field down brilliantly in race 3. Great drive Cam Hart. Didn't give Luke McCarthy a moment of piece in front and then The Janitor won like Gammalite used too lol 😆. That whole field bred in New Zealand in that FFA !!. (bar one horse)  great old kiwi's like South Coast Arden and Terry etc.   Just a shame you can't have them back in NZ strutting their stuff like that. They all try so hard. 

The Janitor about to go in race 3  !! trying a 'The Janitor- OscarB -LeapToFame'  multi for 20 bucks at 12-1 . 

Damask Rose certainly had the best rider in the race. The horse probably ran 50 metres less than most the rest who just fanned out in the straight and said "come on through Blake".  

I think it was the Ferryman on the other channel. "second tier Oz sprinter" or something to that effect. Great run from him today.