No joy. :( She's not the same horse.

But, yeah, Thorn Prince was spectacular! Big weight on his back but he didn't care.

I don't even want to watch the replay... :(

First list of awards finalists...

Champion Two-Year-Old: Dal Cielo, Marky Mark, Rocanto, Serena Miss.
Champion Three-Year-Old: Mongolian Khan, Platinum Witness, Turn Me Loose, Volkstok’n’barrell, Werther.
Champion Sprinter (up to 1500 metres): I Do, In Style, Sacred Star, Whosyourmaster.
Champion Middle-Distance Horse (1501-2100m): Iamishwara, Puccini, Sakhee’s Soldier, Silent Achiever, Soriano.
Champion Stayer (2101m+): Maygrove, Mongolian Khan, Rising Romance, Rock Diva, Werther.

Stayer was the one I was really unsure about, but I see Mongolian Khan is nominated! I thought it would be just the older horses.

Poor VSB! How can he win anything (as you pointed out earlier in the year)?!

Wonderful Middle Distance category!!!! Exciting to see Iamishwara (yay!) there but do not see how he could beat SA. Would be thrilled to see Soriano win though. :)

Will be interested to see your ballot (assuming you're allowed to post your choices?).

I don't see why not. :)

2yo: Marky Mark
3yo: Mongolian Khan
(3yo Filly: Platinum Witness - it's decided by points, so this is already confirmed)
Sprinter: Sacred Star
Middle Distance: Soriano
Stayer: Mongolian Khan

And Horse of the Year: Mongolian Khan

I'm a little confused by this... just this one category?

edit - Sorry to see The Filly was scratched... hope she is alright (?)...

It is a bit unusual, but it's become a tradition for more than 40 years now.

Here's a more detailed explanation: http://nzb.co.nz/info/filly.cfm

I haven't heard anything about The Filly, so I would assume there is nothing serious. The track has ended up being quite dry at Ruakaka today, which might not be suitable for her.

What a win by Moochi Me. So good to see her back.

Oh no, she bled again. :(

No Lasix here and bleeding a second time means she's not allowed to race again. So sad.

Thanks for that. Interesting and wow I just would have thought Tavy would have been higher!

Oh that SUCKS.

By the way my heart is in my throat now cause I just watched Mr. Mor and wow he is really something but oh... The Oysterman has such heart as well.

Feel like I need to go and fan myself now and try to recover... :D

That's the main flaw in the series - points are only awarded for races restricted to 3yo fillies, so anything they do in races against male horses doesn't count!

Tavy's stakes win was against males in the Trevor Eagle.

For the same reason, Silent Achiever, Habibi and Rising Romance all finished nowhere near the top of the points table in their 3yo year!

:eek:

Looks like a nice group for the Opunake Cup this weekend. Going with Queens Rose for my preview.

Looking forward to reading it!

Was wondering about something and I know she raced twice last month and all but had North and South been injured?

Nice to see so many horses from last year in this again even if they don't look too threatening for lack of a better word.

No idea if the conditions are right for Illumaniti but would be happy to see her do well against the likes of such outstanding types as Thorn Prince and Queen's Rose. :)

I just don't think any edition can match last years for me though... that was spectacular!

(Good luck to Cheese Maker in the 7th. Would be awesome to see a little string of wins from him again).

I think Lisa Latta has just been patient with North And South. The horse seems to like rain-affected ground so is probably at her best at this time of year.

Unfortunately my preview probably won't be available, sorry! :( It's subscription-only. It's a shame how that works, but I guess that's how we get paid!

Meanwhile, exciting times with Snapshot: http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...t-back-in-work

And some more exciting news: http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...ted-youngsters

The time of year when things start to get a bit more interesting. :)

Haha thanks for both of those and yes, a shame for people like me but oh well! :D

Was looking at Avondale and I see Saved By the Bell entered... wonder if it's nearing time to retire the old boy. Would be fabulous to see him win one.

Come home safe!

Racing called off at both tracks today! I can't remember that happening before.

Catching up on stuff... so they're not going to reschedule the Opunake Cup?

Fantastic news about Jetset Lad winning!

Unfortunately not - I guess because it's starting to get too close to the Winter Cup on August 1, where most of those horses will be going. But it's a shame.