As a breeder/owner that was on course yesterday at the Ellerslie trials I was absolutely disgusted and disappointed at the lack of services available to us. At about Heat 10 (not quite half way through the trial card) the club ran out of food to serve to people!  I wouldn't normally worry, but as the country's 'richest' and 'most prestigious' club - this is absolutely appalling, especially with 29 Heats operating yesterday. Not only was there no catering services to owners/breeders like myself. But more importantly, there was nothing available to any of the stable staff/strappers - most of whom had been up since about 3am, before heading to the trials up there all day. Only one little table available to serve any sorts of food and drinks.. yet Entain were having a huge meeting in their new TAB bar room and I can bet they didn't miss out on any gourmet food they wished for. ATR should be ashamed of themselves and take a long hard look at what they are about.. They are quick to get on TV and promote booze, parties and flash expensive fashion- but quickly forget the grass roots and foundations of this Thoroughbred industry. I really felt for more the stable staff, truck drivers and onsite people such as the farriers, clerks of the course, truck drivers, who had put in long hours who rely on the racing club to have something decent on offer. Country clubs like Te Aroha, Ruakaka, Cambridge, run rings around this club for things like this. I did notice ATR's racing manager looking absolutely dis-interested, and only willing to speak to his own 'mates' who he wanted too - again, this is so poor for NZ's biggest Racecourse; instead of getting around and about the facility talking to anyone and everyone as well as checking if everything was operating okay down at the horse Stables area. It's a club that certainly isn't there to help the foundations of this industry with poor performances like this. Yes they have good stake money but what else do they do? Its Quite embarrassing when you take along new and excited owners into the Thoroughbred industry and this is what they experience. The club will make an excuse and defend this situation as the always do, however there is no excuse and boils down to shaping up and having some decent management.   Anyway, rant over - this will annoy some people - so what! Yesterday annoyed me, especially after all my investment in this industry. Thanks ATR for looking after yourselves as usual - you take the crown of being the most selfish club in existence

I note a couple of new names among riders too; Annie Lindahl and Hayley Hassman who rode a TA horse. Is she their apprentice? And though I know he's suspended at present but is Parmer still indentured to TA or has he moved elsewhere? No big deal, just asking.

It may but may take a wee while. While a good horseman, Nathan has a way to go to emulate his Dad and this is a new era. I doubt I'll live to see the same success enjoyed by the Purdon/Rasmusson juggernaut in either the training or driving areas. They were a phenomenal team.

From memory it was at least 90 acres probably more (130 springs to mind)   about 35/40 years ago , I rode a little track work there about 50 years ago , good fun . A side issue the then caretaker had a lucky escape from the freezer under the public stand , he locked himself in and that was mid week a working day by pure chance a some one came along and heard him banging on the door with a leg of lamb , he was saved but the old saying when your times up it's up , he and his wife drowned in a car accident in a flooded stream around the Pauatahanui some time after . 

Applies to the horse as well I think.

Around the mid eighties lol

Olivia has already won a couple of G1. She won a memorable G1 on Chase A Dream, where she was last turning for home but powered down the outside to win. Why hasn't the horse been driven that way since? Olivia also won with the brilliant but erratic filly NoMatter What which was also a huge performance and an upset for some. The filly must have broken down cos not sighted for long time?

I remember the days at ATC when the Purdon team would dominate the main pacing races week after week. Will be interesting to see if that will resume.

It's a good field for the time honoured Hondo Grattan Stakes at Menangle Saturday night. I think We Walk By Faith can win it. This field is no harder than what he beat in NZ Derby so I think he can win. I have also backed my old mate TheJanitor F3. Pure, has a high opinion of the horse but to date he has only performed at Albion Park. Will he measure up this time Pure mate?     Form Horse Trainer Driver   Class  Hcp   1 412s6 BAY OF BISCAY  Emma Stewart Cameron Hart    NR100  FR1   2 25253 MAJOR HOT NZ  Paul Fitzpatrick Cameron Fitzpatrick    NR91  FR2   3 9112s THE JANITOR NZ (Em 2)  Chantal Turpin Pete McMullen    NR86  FR-   4 92s13 DELE ROW  Chantal Turpin SCRATCHED   NR88  SCR   5 12214 THE BIGBOSS  Jason Grimson Jack Callaghan (C)   NR78  FR3   6 15s11 VITE MONET (Em 1)  Chris Judd Will Rixon    NR70  FR4-   7 112s3 WAR DAN BUDDY  Emma Stewart Bailey McDonough    NR92  FR5   8 53160 BETTER KNUCKLE UP NZ B Purdon, S D T Phelan Gavin Fitzpatrick    NR85  FR6   9 09211 WE WALK BY FAITH  H J Cullen, A J Cullen Blake Fitzpatrick    NR90  FR7   10 133s2 KINGMAN NZ  Emma Stewart Ashleigh Delosa (C)   NR96  FR8   11 06s22 SOHO SPECTRE  Rickie Alchin Rickie Alchin    NR90  FR9   12 12118 DEE ROE  Aaron Dunn Aaron Dunn    NR93  FR10

Very good advice which I shall heed.

Yes, I would say the property will be subdivided and worth plenty. Purdon is cutting back and he is from the North originally. Smaller fields and better stakes up there too so I understand the decision. Good luck Mark and Nathan. End of a golden era!

Latest figures for the first half of the 24/25 season, compared to the prior season at the same time;                Races     F/S     HRNZ Funded Stakes   GBR/Stake        GBR                    Funding                                                         GBR/Funding      GBR/Race 24/25    1385      9.79          $25,768,192                84%             $21,667,524         $26,841,323          LOSS  $5,173,799             80.7%             $15,644 23/24    1234     10.21         $20,514,269               105%           $21,562,013          $24,237,789         LOSS  $2,675,776              89%                $17,473              +12.2%      -4%             +25.6%                    -21%                +0.5%                      +10.5%                  my figures                      -8.2%               -10.5%

It's time to be both sharp and smart and close your eyes and pretend he's not there. And hopefully when you open them he won't be 🤣

Please take note of the Regular Scratching rule - up to you to replace scratchings else you will be at a disadvantage.

Knockout type format this week.  New entrants welcome - if you didn't post last week you can still enter and still have 5 rounds to work your way up the points table. 1.  Simply pick two horses in each of the 12 races listed below. 2. The aim is to have at least one of your two runners finish in the first 4, while at the same time earning as many dollars as possible. You will have $10 each way on both runners and a $2 quinella with the two of them.  You will earn $1 for a runner which finishes 4th, or for a runner which finishes 3rd in a no third dividend race. You will have three "lives".  In each race where you don't have a runner in the first 4 you will lose a life.  The point at which you lose your 3rd life determines how well you place in this round. 3.  You will have two best bet races where your dollars earned are doubled.  They can be any two of the 12 races listed below. 4.  Finishing order for this round will be determined firstly by the number of races that you survive without losing three lives.  Where entrants lose their 3rd life in the same race, or where a number of entrants survive all 12 races, they will be split by dollars earned over all 12 races.  Race order for scoring purposes will be chronological, using actual race start times. Posting deadline this week is 1.30pm This weeks 12 races are as follows.   1. Matamata R6 2. Matamata R7 3. Matamata R8 4. Flemington R2 5. Flemington R3 6. Flemington R4 7. Flemington R6 8. Flemington R7 9. Flemington R8 10. Randwick R2 11. Randwick R6 12. Randwick R7 Please enter horse numbers, with some form of punctuation (eg. / ) between each number, and don't forget to mark your two best bet races.   Regular Scratchings - any regular scratchings can be replaced up until the posting deadline.  There will be no subs for regular scratchings - if you don't replace them you will be down a runner (or two). Late Scratchings - any late scratchings can be replaced up until the posting deadline.  After that you will get the sub, or the 2nd win favourite if you already have the sub.  If there are equal 2nd favourites on the tote the one with the lower saddlecloth number will be deemed as the more favoured. Abandoned races - we need 6 races to be run for the results of the round to stand.  If races are abandoned before the posting deadline you can change a best bet race, but after the posting deadline that is just the rub of the green. If two runners dead heat for fourth both will save you a life and both will earn $1.

Geeez Charlie that musta been 70 or 80 years ago?

Guy's take a tip from me and self ban yourself from responding to him in anyway. Then he might just go away. Well hopefully anyway.

Thanks and oh so true.

Oh dear Hoki's on the desperation trail again Must be all the even more winning the Don has done in the 48 hours that sets him off  CHOO CHOO

Lucy In the Sky wearing Lindsay colours (that fooled ya.) Trained by Pikey. Tonys got another couple of Hellos yet to come. Watch out for them.