Geez Colin, after slagging Trentham these last few weeks at every opportunity, Facebook in particular, I am amazed that you are even considering running your very good filly in the Wellington Guineas.  However welcome and I wish you every success being a South Island horse.  Chances are you will go away and totally change your stance once you tap into all of the information available, rather than the mistruths and slanted views of so many keyboard warriors hell-bent on attacking the club.     

Speaking of the North ,i did a nostalgia run there over the weekend as i had previously owned land in the Patumahoe district where quite a few trainers were located. Crouth,McGowan,Small and Reid to name a few. The pub used to be full of Harness trainers on a Friday night but come 7 the publican would shut the TAB down, and another trainer would play bookie I \Any ideas who that would be as his name escapes me?

You wont annoy many Bigrig ,what you say is spot on ..I have been going to that place for 40 yrs ,and its always been that way ..I will always be found in the public area ,and watch the races from on top of the tunnel entrance ..As you say ,you will never see the powers that be anywhere near the public stand ..You would think that they would take a stroll around the place to see how we are going , and what the public experience is like  ,so that improvements can be made..I have always thought they should operate a loyalty card system like most other business ,so that frequent attendees like me could get free entry into all racedays ,or maybe some betting vouchers now and then..Some of us are there for the love of the horses and the endeavour of the participants ,mind you our numbers are decreasing rapidly ,as like you say the party crowd are spoilt rotten ..Thats the party crew who dont bet and dont see a race all day..

appreciate your honesty mjs. Good call.

Should of travelled to NSW this weekend with the NZ Derby winner WE WALK BY FAITH for the Hondo Gratten Race 6 Sat night. . Olivia would of done fine?  . Instead they have one of the Fricken Fitzpatricks on it (and they can't drive for shit).   The QLD Derby winner MAJOR HOT is in the race too, and hasn't won for them (Fitzpatricks) in 10 starts lately. showing how poor they are. The horse should of been kept with  the White's (from Canterbury)  who did a great job with the horse.  and yet another Fitzpatrick driving BETTER KNUCKLE UP in it ???  Why is this ?   can't Nzers drive any more or something ?   Mark and Ants won plenty at NSW. Cam Hart is driving the Victorian visitor drawn the poll so should go close. . The good Queensland horse they have made the Emergency 🙄 , the bastards. THE JANITOR would of pushed them hard too.  (good name ? 😆)   

Thanks Colin for the reply...yes horse should always come first, but I was just surprised nobody had mentioned her as she is right up there with the good 3yo's this year.  

With her current run of form, Pivotal Ten’s name has been bandied around for a possible $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) slot, however, Wynne said their focus is firmly set on her upcoming targets at this stage.  “If the opportunity came you would definitely have to have a look at it, but it is not on our radar at the moment,” she said.   “We will just concentrate on Saturday and get her home, because she has stayed down here for the last two weeks, and then we will look at the Wellington Guineas (Gr.2 1400m).”  https://loveracing.nz/News/48339/PivotalTenvyingforsouthernstakesthreepeat.aspx

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 🤣