Jimmy's having some time off. It sounds like he might be back around late March/early April.

I now own 3% of three horses! They are...

http://www.nzracing.co.nz/GoRacing/H...le.aspx/264961 Pinzaara, trained by Stephen McKee (trainer of Sunline and Mufhasa!)

http://www.nzracing.co.nz/GoRacing/H...le.aspx/254021 So Regal, trained by John Sargent (Red Ruler's trainer!)

And an unnamed 2yo filly trained by Peter and Dawn Williams, who train Planet Rock and Shuka.

Exciting! Pinzaara races Wednesday next week, actually. I'm gonna try and get off work early and see if I can be there.

Oh my God are you kidding? That is sensational!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow huge names (some trainers!) and one is by Pins and the other was in a race with Arakti... I am absolutely thrilled for you!!!

Congrats and best of luck my friend and you had better post every single time they breathe (you know what I mean)!!! :D

Thanks! It's really exciting. :) I just stumbled across the opportunity by accident, saw it comes to about US$160 per month, and I couldn't resist!

It's gonna be great to meet those trainers. I hope I can congratulate Stephen McKee on another great win by Mufhasa when I meet him next week.

I'll definitely keep you up to date on these kids!

Wow, some surprises on the big day at Te Rapa today.

So close, but so far for Mufhasa. :( Everything went wrong for him today. He had a terrible trip. But he fought so hard down the stretch anyway! Congrats to the terrific Veyron.

Shez Sinsational won the International very nicely from Harvey and a fast-finishing Rock 'n' Pop - excellent Derby prep from him.

Zurella was strong in the fillies' race. She might be going to the Derby too - looks like a big group of girls taking on the colts and geldings in the big one this year.

Awww poor Mufhasa.

Haven't looked at results or watched any replays yet so thanks for the news.

Good for Ms. Sinsational though.

It's definitely worth watching. The Sprint was a great race. Mufhasa got as much applause for his effort as the winner.

Pinzaara's not running this week after all. Stephen McKee said she's not quite race-fit.

Knight's Tour is out of the Derby - leg injury. :(

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news...ectid=10785379

Also, in that same article, big news about Banchee. I'll make a post in the Retirements thread.

Noooo! That's such a shame.

Sorry, ed. I know you were waiting for that next extraordinary win.

Oh so you know there's a shiny new retirements / health / etc room so I hope you'll add both of them there too. You're the only one who can do them justice.

Shame about Knight's Tour.

Did you read about King's Rose? Nice way to bow out and hey she has a fun travel companion.

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/ra...asp?NID=239403

What do you think? Which shoujld they go for?

Mufhasa has the option of running in the G1 Haunui Farm Classic at Otaki on the same day as the Futurity but it is worth only $NZ200,000 compared to the half million Aussie dollars on offer at Caulfield.

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/ra...asp?NID=239529

Oops, sorry, didn't notice that! I'll use that from now on.

It is a shame. He was definitely in my Derby top 3. But he'll be back later in the year. :) The Derby's only 16 days away now, by the way! Been busy lately, so it's really snuck up on me.

I hadn't heard that! That's very cool!

Ooh, that's a hard one. But I think Black Caviar's going for the Futurity, isn't she? We all know Mufhasa's great, but I don't think he's quite that great. Winning the Classic at Otaki might be a better option than coming 2nd in the Futurity.

And, speaking of the Derby, it's the final prep race this Saturday - the G2 Avondale Guineas. The super filly is running again. :D And so's good old Shuka.

1 25423 Shuka 1 80 56.5 Hayden Tinsley Peter & Dawn Williams, Byerley Park
2 112 Carrick 5 72 56.5 Leith Innes Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue, Cambridge
3 00191 Roamin 8 70 56.5 Jason Waddell Robert Priscott & Clayton Chipperfield, Te Awamutu
4 31316 Travolta 9 70 56.5 Jonathan Riddell John Kiernan, Te Horo Beach
5 40332 Mr Chez 6 68 56.5 Chad Ormsby Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
6 1X363 Colorado Sun 11 65 56.5 Patrick Holmes Shane Crawford, Cambridge
7 23124 Guess What 4 65 56.5 Reese Jones Paul Shailer, Matamata
8 71 Game Changer 3 63 56.5 Christopher Dell (a) Tony Cole, Te Kauwhata
9 56106 Sacred Knight 10 61 56.5 Craig Grylls Stephen McKee, Ardmore
10 21311 Silent Achiever 7 86 54.5 James McDonald Roger James, Cambridge
11 421 Tilda 2 63 54.5 Masa Tanaka Jeff McVean & Emma-Lee Browne, Cambridge


They should run 1-2 here, I think. Mr Chez for 3rd.

I hope youre right... 1 - 2.

Can't believe the Derby is that soon!

Current Derby odds...

Barney 18
Carrick 14
Colorado Sun 100
Dusty Miller 500
Hope So 100
Jeroboam 51
Joy's Choice 51
Lieutenant Lincoln 200
Mr Chez 21
Nine Pin 31
Ocean Park 3.80
Red Shift 31
Roamin 51
Rock 'n' Pop 5
Sacred Warrior 81
Shuka 9
Travolta 21
Viking Ace 81
Zurella 7
Silent Achiever 3.50f

Maybe a few names you aren't that familiar with here. I'll try to change that between now and then!

But it does seem like the top group of four or five are a long way ahead of the others. Red Shift is the only one at longer odds that I think has any upset chance.

I hope you have the time to... I look forward to it every time around. :)

Are any of these listed with Mike Moroney?

Hey how on earth is Xcellent doing??!!

No Moroney runners in the Derby. His best 3yo this season is a filly called Chicarita (won the G2 Royal Stakes). It looks like she's being set for the Oaks on March 17.

I haven't heard anything about Xcellent for a long time! But I think he's still enjoying a happy retirement at a luxurious property somewhere in Cambridge.

Avondale Guineas odds...

Shuka 5.50
Carrick 7.50
Roamin 31
Travolta 14
Mr Chez 14
Colorado Sun 41
Guess What 16
Game Changer 41
Sacred Knight 26
Silent Achiever 1.60f
Tilda 51

And 1-2 it was. :D

Silent Achiever AMAZING again.

Oh wow that is too funny.

Poor Shuka!

Will watch the replay in a bit... what a lovely horse she is!

Although this thread is mostly about celebrating NZ's great racing, I guess I have to mention the bad as well as the good.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/sabo...tracks-4731048

Absolutely disgusting. I hope they catch whoever did this.

I'm speechless. Absolutely horrific. I hope they hire round the clock guards and catch this sick ****.

Beyond words.