Yes and more to come still. We are waiting---

Starting to feel Trentham has run its course, which would be very sad to see close but looking almost inevitable. Public stand gone, won’t be rebuilt. Members stand under question. Track has its moments. But the big factor is the value of the land, asset rich cash poor syndrome  Maybe, just maybe you cash up and move to Ōtaki Māori course and create a premier venue  Saddened by this as have had 55 plus years there and many treasured hours with our dear departed friend Rumpole who would be very very grumpy about the thought of Trentham not being his second home Very sad where Trentham currently sits, but it may work out  

While the Karaka Millions might be done and dusted for 2025, maybe, just maybe, the “futures best horses mightn’t have been there at all” given the “blue bloods” that ran around Ellerslie today, looking at the results. 

Even if you don’t have any idea, choose your favourite trainer, go to the NZB website, see what they bought, then chose the four yearlings that you like best and post them.  Going outside the “big one - TA just to make it more widespread” check out Marsh, Pike, O’Sullivan, Latta, the Taranaki boys and the Riccarton trainer (just for starters) or anyone  who bought at least four.  I’ve probably left out the “winner”, but so be it.  The more entries the better and in-fact it might prove that the chance of picking a winner is an in-exact science, as so many of us already know 😂

A few more horses for the Auckland meetings, that’s a good thing. 

Tomorrow at Te Aroha, seven maidens on a nine race card. Heard Dan Corbett mention storms in the area on the weather tonight. Will the morning course update contain a downgrade in the going?

HISTORIC ERA AT ROLLESTON TO END Feb 11, 2025 The sensationally successful era of the Purdon partnerships at Rolleston is to come to an end with the announcement the Nathan and Mark stable is to shift to Auckland. The stable will take over the Pukekohe barn formerly operated by Steven Reid in May and expect to be in full operation by June 1. “Dad had suggested it before but I resisted it because the current setup suited me. But when I was based in Auckland over Xmas with friends and family I began to have a change of heart and just before New Year we started having talks with the Auckland club” Nathan said “I was a bit worried too that our local owners might resist a major change like that but I have been really surprised at their reaction.Nearly all of them have signed up to it and we should have about 25 horses heading north in May.Its a great boost for us” Mark Purdon,now based in Matamata, moved south from Auckland in 2000 and began an unparallelled run of success on his own account and then in partnership with Grant Payne,Natalie Rasmussen, Hayden Cullen and finally Nathan. The Rolleston property, which Mark developed from scratch into one of the finest harness racing establishments in the world after starting out training at Yaldhurst, has been under option for other uses for some time and was due to be handed over in the foreseeable future. It included a straight track that proved a boon to the stable over the years and may other innovations. “Some of the staff want to remain here because of their ties to Canterbury and you would expect that but I am sure they will not be short of offers given their skills and attitudes. We couldn’t have achieved all this without top staff. “Now its go I am really looking forward to the challenge” Nathan said “It will be quite different in some ways but great in others. We will still naturally be travelling south for major races when we have the horses to suit.” “I have enjoyed it here and met some great people but its time to try something new” The Purdon family emigrated to Canterbury from Scotland early in the 20th century but a branch headed by Hugh Purdon moved north in the 1920’s and then  descended Roy Purdon a legendary trainer in his own right,and his highest achieving sons, Barry and Mark as famous as their father. Nathan’s brother,Michael, is one of those who will remain in Canterbury developing his own property and interests.

Having a good night.... BET ON RED.!!!!

Hedley hang your head in shame , Chemo has saved my life (twice I hope) so much of the bullshit on that clip is total crap . We all know cancer in many cases is a life threating problem  but some of the claims about how long Chemo controls cancer is sort of true for some Chemo , it all depend on what backup medication is available , Chemo knocks the crap out of cancer and then the follow up is so important , in my case after my first Chemo I had a medication that lasted 17months the 2nd about 12months after that I don't remember but the initial treatment lasted about 5.5 years so I have just finished 7 cycles (26weeks) of self funded Chemo my PSA has halved which might be ok ?? but this time there is no backup medication so let's see what happens .  Now Hedley please stop posting CRAP because that's what you are doing and of course the ultimate question if you were diagnosed with cancer would you do Chemo when you are told to do it quick or in a short time you are gone ???? , in my case 6 years of treatment , including 2 rounds of Chemo and I'm still here , Stop posting garbage .   

She's a filly. My hunch is they might rather aim for listed black type in the Southland and Dunedin Guineas.

So many meetings in CD last 3 months that was always going come a point of poor noms.Seen somewhere where 40% of the races in CD this summer have had 8 or less starters.

Big Al's a legend,great to see good people winning races

I would say he reads the NZ Thoroughbred page that Mr Wightman posted this on.

Pete, you could be right but I would like to know where Snapper heard it, just in case there is something ‘official’  out there that I don’t know about.  I don’t want to be putting people wrong.   

The rumour came from the ubiquitous Mr Wightman on Facebook. "Tell me this isn’t true. The whisper was out that the slash & burn merchants had Trentham in their sights which is consistent with parcels of land being sold to developer mates in recent years taking it from being 64 acres owned by the club to now just 15 acres, asset stripping at its best with the proceeds essentially under the control of the once near bankrupted Awapuni club (RACE initiators) that moreorless went tits up after a seriously botched subdivision project that their Club committee directed 15 to 20 years ago. Down comes the public stand recently at Trentham for future land developers (saves them the cost) and in walk the boys from the Upper Hutt City Council today (Club committee Chair is also Mayor of the district) to apparently red sticker the Members Stand. Who wants some land to develop????"

Just to be clear about this, I think Ciaron Maher is an exceptional trainer.

So you're quite happy to keep flogging a horse that clearly doesn't want to be there on account of his past performances? By your logic (and I use that word very lightly) you should just keep racing them until they drop. The Legends Day last Saturday was a wonderful event. Some of those horses wouldn't be around if your 'logic' was applied. Stand what I said about Rogie. Are you game enough to post his strike rate for the last 5 seasons?

A mistake so edited out but can’t do a smiley face instead 😂

Snapper where did you hear that? I can confirm that the Annex (the clip-on) going out from the Members stand which was built in the 1960’s or thereabouts has asbestos within it and has therefore been closed/condemned.  Now this is my opinion. To remove the asbestos safely will cost a fortune and probably not worth it so I guess “your words” condemned is probably accurate.  The biggest worry is: How have us 70+ year old Cafers who have spent more than 2/3’s of our life frequenting the place, only to lose all our money too, still survived while being subjected to asbestos? It beggars believe doesn’t it?        

If true that would mean insider would become 'outsider'  😊