New Zealand Racing, 2010-11

[my miss storm cat]

4th race - "a lot of action prior to the race" re the 2 scratchings... what did i miss?

The Railway - wow!

Was that Atapi 2nd? (wreiting as I'm watching so sorry it's disjointed).

* * *

OH man Red Ruler. Break my heart. Did you see how hard he tried?

Beautiful races, all of them.

I love Bruce Almighty - so fun to watch him! - and if that was Atapi in the prior one (the #6?) I just love (don't laugh) well... I do like that one although I couldn't tell if he was 2nd or 3rd.

Thank for the replays and lucky for me I don't / can't play NZ cause I would suck but I'm sure you did well and wow... what a fantastic day of races!

[_ed_]

The third horse in the Eclipse was Savabill. Yeah, it was a great run.

Those scratchings happened because one of the horses started lashing out in her gate. She was kicking and rearing. She caused slight injuries to both herself and the horse in the neighbouring gate. Just a little bit of skin off their legs, so nothing serious, but bad enough to take them out of the race. It's scary when that happens - horses freaking out when they're standing in such an enclosed space, right in front of a big crowd. It's lucky it wasn't worse.

It was Atapi who came 2nd in the Railway! Haha, he's 9, but he can still break 1:10. What a fast old man.

It was another great performance by Red Ruler. He was a bit unlucky in both of his races this week - could have won them both if there had been more speed in the race. He hates these slowly run tactical races.

[my miss storm cat]

Thanks for all the info and he's 9, really? Where has he been all my life?

I just watched the Hidden Asset race again.

Has he won before?

I'd love to know a little more about him.

[_ed_]

He was 3rd in his debut (would have won that if he'd run straight), then he easily won a maiden race in early December. The Championship Stakes was his 3rd start, 2nd win.

He's by High Chaparral, like about half of the good horses in NZ and Australia are at the moment!

His part-owner has been racing horses for 25 years, and this was his first stakes win.

Hidden Asset is now 3rd favourite in the Derby at 7-1. He's Remarkable and Lion Tamer are still ahead of him.

He's Remarkable ran really well in his race as well. It was way too short for him. He was more than 10 lengths behind the leaders at the turn, and he finished 5th, 4.1 lengths behind the winner.

So even though he didn't win, he was very impressive. In fact, his Derby odds went down from 4-1 to 3-1 after the race.

[my miss storm cat]

Thanks for that and his first stakes win? Really???

That's awesome.

I like Lion Tamer a LOT but I didn't think he was still up there as one of the favorites. I have no idea why though! I mean I didn't think he was up to that level but hooray!

Who else is looking really good right now?

Sometimes there are so many of them that I start blanking out on names.

[_ed_]

Actually, now he isn't: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horserac...102-19d1i.html


At least it's only a minor injury, and he'll be back later in the season.

King's Rose is still considered a big Derby chance, but her trainer said she's more likely to go for the Oaks. I don't think any filly in NZ can beat her in that, so that's a safe target.

Jimmy Choux is back in the picture after his awesome win last week. I'm still not convinced he'll get the Derby distance, but he's obviously got the ability.

And there are a few impressive maiden winners around who haven't stepped up to stakes class yet.

It's an exciting year!

[my miss storm cat]

Oh man I wasn't expecting that.

At least he'll be back though.

See that's why I wasn't sure about Jimmy cause even after that last win with the scare I didn't know if he was still pointed to it or what.

A very exciting year!

Not that you don't have anything better to do but some day can you fill me in? Atapi... what was his best win and when?

Why did I not know his name?!

I watched that replay again and sure he may not have been the best horse in the race but he sure is a fighter.