Wait til when the 330 Apartments are built there because there's likely to be people after a bit of left overs on top of all their Disposable Nappies lining the area as there will be absolutely no Outdoor Washing lines except on decks...   Oh and by the way, where is all the SAND coming from to make the Glass windows and Cement? Oh that's right it will be from our ever declining coast that's eroding because they keep dredging it? There's going to be some very serious issues the Racing Sector will be forced to confront at future Karaka Million and ordinary Race days where these Slum by Numbers apartments are being dumped around New Zealand.

Seems like none in the Industry...just another pen pusher...waste of time.

Co Founder of Auto-M8 an innovative business specialising in Ai, Automation and Robotics.   No idea what if any potential "Conflicts of Interests" have been disclosed as one would reasonably expect to be.   Has worked at Sky City Auckland amongst other places.   Look up his name with Timelines in chronological order and context of when he was in various roles, what happened and why he left and what was left in his tracks.     He's been around the bushes a lot more than some dogs we know! We just hope he's not a Boy racer that likes leaving burnt rubber and skid marks.  

A hell of a lot of words to tell us absolutely nothing. Background, relevant experience and skills…. ??

I agree. I thought Nomates comments were a bit strange and harsh. Although the way he wrote it he may have meant that is how it is perceived rather than how he views it. Surely people don't think Perfect Scenario and Harlech have both been "dumped in the south? Both have won $500,000 each. Perfect Scenario has won 11 races and  ran third in a Trentham Group 1 three starts back. Harlech ran 2nd in a Group 3 five starts back. The southern sprinter Our Echo won an open sprint at Trentham on Wgtn Cup day, and to be fair he probably wouldn't be rated in the South Island's top 6 sprinters. The northern raider was well beaten in the Gore Guineas last week, as was the northern contender in the Timaru Stakes the week prior. And of course the Southern 2yo was placed in the sweepstake race at Ellerslie and Matscot was placed in a Group 1 WFA earlier and goes around again this weekend. I think some of the comments about the quality of Southern racing are extremely harsh. And that is without mentioning recent Timaru Cups after that race was delisted. It probably attracts better fields than at least 10 similar northern races.

Make sure you are on Wifi. Btw I wish I didn't find out 😄

Riccarton: R1 FRENCH FIILE - Super win a trial, looks ready for a bold outing. R2 MANALI - Solid run after being 3 wide the trip, super bred to run over a little more ground, keep watching.  R3 PURPLE PROSE, surprised me when running well third up, distance should help  R7 ROCMONT - Nice trials win, looks to have held fitness for today. EW. R8 POLLY PLUM - ready now to strike form and back to favorite 1400m.  R9 THE DIVINER- Wide draw and no 1600m form but ran on like was next up. watch here. will win one soon.   Roughies:  BYH HER RULES -Blinkers on, solid with threating, will be running on. MILLEFORI - Can run a good 1100m on this track,  HIVARI - Has had two runs in 75 grades now, ready to step up at this level.  THE ARCTIC BLAST - going better than the 30 to one odd, has drawn to be a show.      

Don't agree. My data says rating band races in the SI are equally hard to win as in the NI. In fact the trend (though not significant) in the last two seasons is that they are harder.

Much better to just look down and have a snooze , you could be waiting a while .

Sorry , I should have said , "there would have been a number of excellent candidates " etc, etc 

Maiden Watch: Week of Jan. 27- Feb. 2View the full article

Group 1 and Royal Ascot-winning trainer Mick Halford has announced his joint venture with Tracey Collins will come to an end shortly and that he will retire before the start of the turf season.View the full article

Absolutely agree with the first, second and fourth point. That said, I have to admit I thought the 3rd point was already enshrined.  

Who?

He will have to be good as there were a number of excellent candidates who missed out ?

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.”