You KNOW how much I love that horse. That said, nothing would make me happier than if Pinzaara won it. :)

Hey ed... the Telegraph?

Not to sound completely stupid here but is that race named after someone (watch it's a great and historic horse that I have never heard of) cause I was gonna say they should honor Mufhasa somehow and just kinda wondered...

Thanks!

I honestly don't know! I don't think it's named after a horse. It's had the same name since it was first run in 1891, but I have no idea what the reason for it is. But that's a really good idea! :) Mufhasa's not the first horse to win that race twice, but he's one of the greatest and most popular horses to ever win it. That would be an awesome way to celebrate his amazing career.

Also, the TAB website has introduced live streaming! I haven't tried it out yet, but here's the link: https://www.tab.co.nz/racing/video

I will check that out and thanks and oh for the record... didn't mean to nonchalantly suggest they change the name of such an historic race but it seems like it could be a fitting possibility (?).

Definitely! Really nice idea.

So good to see Military Move win a G3 today. :)

Just watched the replay... that was awesome!!!!!

Will we get the field for the Newmarket tomorrow? Hope so!!!

Field is out now! Wide gate for Pinzaara. :( And tough field - not only Mr Hombre, but the scarily good Albany Reunion too. Gulp! Fingers crossed.

Pinzaara's trainer, Stephen McKee, sent us these photos of his kids playing with her.

Also, amazing fields for the other stakes races on Boxing Day!

The fabulous 1000 Guineas winner, Costa Viva, returns in the Eight Carat Classic - against two other last-start stakes winners, and the undefeated Procurement.

Chambord v Lucia Valentina and a few other seriously good 3yos in the Guineas.

Shuka, Historian, Lady Kipling, Survived, Viadana, Zurella...

Can't wait!

Whoa I just took a peek at the fields and ed... what is that even like having her in the same race as so many big names????!!! SO exciting! Man I hope she wins!

Huffer and The Hombre and Alvesta and The Filly... wow impressive field!

Lovely pictures and very cool seeing the kids of a trainer I read about all the time. Pinzaara looks great! Very glad you posted these.Merry Christmas and the very best of luck. :)

Go, Pinzaara!!!!!!!! :tro:

Well, the official result will say Pinzaara finished only 9th, but she ran so great! Less than 2.5 lengths from the winner of such a great race. Very, very proud of her.

Great to see Historian win another big one! And Hera and Puccini (half-brother to Sir Slick) both really surprised me with their impressive wins. Brilliant day. The forecast rain stayed away, we had the biggest Boxing Day crowd I've seen at Ellerslie for a few years, and it was just awesome.

The only bad moment was Lucia Valentina's fall in the Guineas, but I can say she is completely fine and Leith just has a sprained wrist.

Haven't yet watched any replays but you must be very proud of her! :)

WOW! I just watched all the replays and whoa ed she was really good! Monster field... I am thrilled for you and for her. Showed she belongs with that crowd!

Beautiful wins by Historian et al (didn't know that about Puccini!) and not quite on the same level, I know, but ummmmm that was really nice seeing Lucky Feather get a win today. :)

Yeah, nice win by Lucky Feather! And Altius looked good too - maybe Tony Cole will make it back to the Derby 10 years on from the disappointment of Philamor failing as favourite.

And, whoa, how about The Bounty Hunter? Monstrous win!

A fantastic win for The Bounty Hunter!

Can't wait to see him next time out and hope he does it again!

Happy new year! And Ellerslie today was an amazing way to celebrate - so many stakes races, and so many incredible performances. I don't know where to start! But Bounding was probably my favourite - a well-deserved first G1 win after going down fighting in that unlucky 1000 Guineas.

But Rising Romance was so good too! And Mosquito. And Vinnie Eagle. And Chintz. And Show The World. Just a great day.

Oh she won? Yea that is great!!! Will look at the replay in a little bit.

So happy!

Happy New Year, ed. :)

She did! First 3yo to win it since 1981. And it was just a fabulous performance. She's definitely the best 3yo in NZ right now.

Beautiful win by Bounding (and nice to see Durham Town take home a check).

That was Fleur de Lune on the outside with the yellow silks? Nice run.

So happy for Bounding and for her people. :)

Very surprised by Chintz (sp)!

Was that it for Lady Kipling? Thought I had read it might be her last race.

Not a great day for Brave Centaur. Oh well next time!

Oh and Nine Pin... that was quite a step up for him, wasn't it? I mean I feel like I've been watching him for a while now but never in such seriously good company.

Vinnie Eagle!!!!! Oh I am so a fan,.. that was a nice race.

Will keep catching up on the replays but yes Bounding... how anyone could watch her win and not smile... well that would be impossible. :)

I was catching up on a few things and just watched the evergreen El Chico win (South Canterbury RC @ Phar Lap Raceway r6 12/28) and need to mention something to you that I constantly forget to and is so frustrating.....

They need to let the replay go until the announces makes that final comment. You know?

He probably said something fun or funny, witty, endearing... something about the old man after he finished the order of runners but they cut it off (they leave it, thankfully, most of the time).

I wanna know what else he said! :D

Anyway cheers to the old man for showing the children how it's done.

(I do hope he's retired the second he shows any sign of having had enough).

Vinnie Eagle was amazing! I saw his debut win back in September, and that was good, but this was something else. He's so, so good. Definitely the best 2yo in the country so far.

Yep, I think Lady Kipling's retiring now. Sad to see her go, and especially retiring without a G1 win - came so close so many times!

Good point about the videos cutting off early! That's annoying.

A little late (12/27) but I finally just watched the replay of Simbaah winning . :)

Very nice and one to watch of course as were the two that came flying at the end (Funhouse and Thee Achiever).

(I miss Mufhasa).

Noticed that Pinzaara is in the noms for 2 races on Saturday... which will she go in?

Great to see Fix back and oh good luck to The Hombre!

Unlucky today but oh... she did look good. 5th but not much separated them... it was a really nice run.

Be proud!!! :tro:

Lovely horse who has a big win in her... it'll be her day (once again) soon enough. :)

Thanks! So proud of her, as always. Love how she runs her heart out every time. She is amazing.

Loved the whole day at Ellerslie. Awesome return by Spellbinder, and Glorious Lad was so impressive in his race. He's equal second favourite for the Derby now.

Fix was OK. I was hoping she might do better, but it was a pretty good effort for a first race in 10 months.

I still haven't watched most replays BUT I did just catch Yin Yang Master grabbing his 4th win... two in a row! What the...

Thank you, Johnathon Parkes, and please always have the mount on him!!! :D

Had to laugh... very happy he won.

Okay now onto the other race that I think I have now watched like 4 times.

The Hombre.

Okay he wasn't going to win that one but ed... after he gets kinda swallowed up does it look to you like he takes a - not a bad step, I don't want to be overly dramatic but a kind of off step?

On the replay right around 1:19 (incase you have a few minutes to take a look)... or is it me?

The stewards report isn't up yet or I'd be interested to see what it says.

Will watch Fix and all the rest tomorrow. :)

"... and he never, ever gives up... this horse..."

Well that was a very nice win by Guns at Five and you go Trudy... lovely ride on him. :tro:

The replay thankfully goes post race a bit but I could have listened all day. :)

Recite back to her brilliant best in the G1 Levin Classic! Fabulous performance. Nice Derby preps by the horses in behind her - Franzac, Aspen (top of my list at the moment), Puccini and big longshot El Doute.

Steel Rose was so brave in her Wakefield win earlier in the day.

Telegraph less than an hour away - Final Touch? Trepidation? Nashville? Albany Reunion? I can't figure it out. Hope it's a great race.

On the negative side - Trentham messed up in letting the track get to Fast1. That is way too hard, and there are reports of horses coming back in discomfort. :( John Bary said he was going to put ice on the knees of his Levin Classic 1-2 heroes Recite and Franzac.

Just got back into town and thought Final Touch would have won easily... guess I was wrong.

Too bad about the track... that is messed up. :confused:

Took a quick look at the fields for this weekend and can't wait!

Will you be at Ellerslie on Sunday?

Yep, sure will! Can't wait.

I'm not sure what's wrong with Final Touch - that's three bad races in a row from her. Clearly not her usual self.

More great racing at Trentham tomorrow. I'll be at Eden Park watching the NZ cricket team destroy India again, but I'll catch up with results when I can.

Oh Jesus all I knew about the Thorndon MIle was that Ruby won so watched the replay and was totally surprised by Chritz! Whoa!

Cheers to Craig Grylls!!!!! What a terrific day for him and congrats to Graphic and her people (and to Ruby as well, of course).

Lovely run from Guns at Five and hey... I think one of the only replays I have yet to watch is the one the old man won so here's to El Chico!

Hope The Grinner is okay (scratched?) and good luck to Spellbinder, Hera and Touche in their race today. :)

Have fun!

(Ruby is in foal to Jimmy? Ooooh Ruby Slippers?! :D ).

Ruby was so amazing! Didn't expect that. And Graphic just keeps getting better and better.

Man, that was a dramatic storm that hit Ellerslie on Sunday! Never seen anything like it. People in summer outfits were sprinting for shelter!

But the racing was still good. Spellbinder was stunning, and Vespa was outstanding. Horrible spill in the Million. Kerrin McEvoy is fine. Massale's injuries are quite serious, but fortunately not life-threatening. But it's not clear if or when he'll race again.

I think The Grinner was just scratched cos there was no room for him in the field.

Finally watched the Spellbinder replay and wow... thrilled for her and for Hera even if you couldn't actually see the horses during a lot of the race! Crazy weather! Loved the call, by the way.

One I have not watched is the Karaka Million and even though I really want to see Vespa am just kinda waiting for more of an update on poor Massale.

On El Chico...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-tim...l-going-strong

Sorry to ask (cause I know I do every year and you have a life) but when do you usually do your annual Derby contenders posts? Will you be having the time to do it this year? Hope so!

How are Archie and Pinzaara?

Yeah, sorry I haven't been posting as much! My work relocated to a new office, and the internet security settings in the new building don't allow access to any forums. :( That always used to be my favourite time to come on here.

But I'll definitely find time to do the Derby posts! I'll just wait for the field to take shape a little bit more. The Waikato Guineas is this weekend - one of the main prep races every year. Really can't wait! The current Derby favourite is there, Glorious Lad, as well as other leading contenders like Chambord and Puccini and heaps of impressive lower-grade winners. Should be brilliant.

Pinzaara's running on Saturday too! :D Tough field (including Fix! :eek: ) But it's just great to have her competing in races like this.

His trainer tells me that Archie (racing name Brochaine) is doing well - "really grown and developed, more of a 3-year-old type, but will have another trial in the next few weeks for further assessment".

Sucks about not being able to post! I've missed you!

Hooray for the big Derby special edition issue that you put out! :D Can't wait.

Yes I just saw the fields for Saturday and that is a nice field... it would be stunning if she could beat Fix and win!

Re the Gunieas field (which is always just so exciting)... okay this is really stupid and I am all for one of the top guys you mentioned BUT I am very happy to see Blizzard running. Excuse me while I revert to pretty horsie mode... he is so pretty haha! :D

Noticed Starcheeka entered and hadn't noticed the name (his name, right? I always thought he was a she for some reason) but I see he's run lately...

Was he injured at one point?I mean weren't we expecting big things from him way back when or am I mixing up his name with someone else (and yes I do expect you to read my mind). :p

Exciting time of year. Can't wait for Saturday.

GOOD LUCK, PINZAARA!!!!!

Nothing wrong with liking Blizzard! He ran a great race in the Championship Stakes. He's definitely good enough to do something in this.

Starcheeka's had a few injuries throughout his career, yeah, and he's just not been an easy horse to work with - inconsistent and very strong-willed! But he's been amazingly good when he's been in the mood. His G3 win as a 3yo was amazing.

Pinzaara's been scratched from this weekend's race. It was hard enough to beat Fix, but Stephen McKee decided it was just too much to ask from that wide gate. So we're saving her for Ellerslie on Feb 12.

Thanks for the update! :)

Oh my God poor Time Keeper. :(

Re the fields for today,in the race your girl woulda been in, interesting to see Packing Tycoon there. Not sure how I missed his name before and had to do a double take.

He was the AOB-trained Alexander Pope who, when he went to hk, couldn't win one. He hardly placed. I don't think he was very happy there!

Be interesting to see how he does now although my initial reaction is he's in waaaay over his head.

Man that just sucked finding out about Time Keeper last night. Once in a while you feel like your heart has been ripped out... you know?

He should have had a nice long, lazy retirement. :(

I know. So sad. :( He was a lovely horse.

Thanks for the Packing Tycoon info! It'll be interesting to see how he goes.