Interesting to see Pus$y O'Reilly's name again! I had forgotten about her.

GOOD LUCK!!!

You should be very proud of your girl, ed. Tried her heart out. :)

Next time.

Tough field!

Watched the replay (wow I didn't think Pus$y was gonna do it)... is Barbaric okay? Just not her day?

Nice win by Ruud Awakening (and Touche looked really good flying there at the end)!

Yeah I loved that Ruud Awakening-Touche race. Definitely two horses to watch in the Karaka Million on the 27th!

Pinzaara was a naughty girl today - she got herself a bit sweaty before the race, then wasn't paying attention in the gates, so was slow away. But I really liked the way she finished it off down the stretch. Yeah, next time. :)

I was a bit worried when I saw Barbaric finish way back. Seems to be OK - apparently lost a shoe during the race, and that foot got a bit sore afterwards. But nothing serious.

Thanks for the update. Your girl did finish well. :)

Hey if there were a contest for who spent the most time looking for news on the Trentham Stakes I think I'd win. :D :confused:

I know it's next weekend, only wish I knew who were going!

I see Titch is entered on Wednesday at Hokitika and am wondering why I've never heard of it (!).

Good luck, old boy. :)

edit - Did he win the Auckland Cup twice?

He did win an Auckland Cup, yeah! And he's also won several steeplechases. The trainer likes to do strange things with his good horses - it was the same with C'est La Guerre, who he took to two really minor country race meetings on the way to his Derby win in 2008.

Hokitika's another really small country meeting. Strange place for a G1 winner to be running!

I had no idea. That is awesome!

Looking at the entries for Telegraph day... Wow, I wish I could be in Wellington on Saturday. Amazing.

Wow that is some field for the Telegraph!

Who is the favorite? Has Guiseppina won since she won it last year?

Honestly I would never be able to play this race... mind-numbing looking at the entries. :)

Odds:

Final Touch $17
Durham Town $9
Jetset Lad $18
Demophon $26
King Montrose $31
Antonio Lombardo $16
Undisclosed $31
Guiseppina $8
Xanadu $6
Burgundy $4.80f
Nashville $10
Sir Lovesalot $21
Galaxy Star $14
Shandream $17
Civics Rock $60
Rough Odds $40
Open 'N' Shut $16
Kit Ann Miss $60
Kaptain Kirkup $60
Taurus $31
Huffer $31
Vincent Mangano $50
Special Draw $60
Trapiche $60

Other really interesting races include the G2 Wakefield, which has an undeated 2yo filly called Recite who looked VERY good in her only start so far, and also the G3 Wellington Stakes - Abraham Lincoln takes on stakes class for the first time. He's one of the Derby contenders I really like, so I'm interested in how he goes here.

I haven't watched the replay yet but surprised that Titch didn't hit the board. Maybe he needed one back (?).

Do you know much about the fillies in that race with Abraham Lincoln? Blanket Bay and Lucky Country?

Is Zennista a lock in her race or do I not know enough of those horses?

(God I love the name Sir Lovesalot). :D

Who do you like in the Trentham, ed? Sentimental pick?

Pretty big step up for Open 'n' Shut!

I'm still just so thrilled by that field. There is no way to make a pick!

http://www.thoroughbrednews.com.au/i....aspx?id=64382 :cool:

I don't know a lot about Blanket Bay, although she did well behind Little Wonder at Ellerslie on NYD. Lucky Country looked good in the spring and was 7th, only beaten 3.1 lengths, in Rollout The Carpet's 1000 Guineas. So she's pretty good. But I do think it's Abraham Lincoln's race. I'm also kind of interested in Survived - the same trainer/jockey combo as Jimmy Choux, and he was unlucky in his first start and nicely won his second. So he could be one to watch.

Zennista's a good chance in her race, but she has a big weight on her back too. I like Glad - she's a real up and comer, looked very good in her win at Ellerslie last time and gets in with a low weight.

On The Level for me in the Trentham - good enough to be third to Jimmy in his Derby in 2011, then a long injury layoff, and then he FLEW to finish second in his resuming run. I think he's back, and I think he wins this.

I can't pick one in the Telegraph either. Maybe Xanadu.

I've narrowed it down to ten. :D

I think Guiseppina might repeat but I change my mind every three minutes, so...

(I would be really happy to see Durham Town win. Isn't this the race that he fell during last year?).

I've only watched one replay so far but oh what a beautiful win... such a nice girl.

Great to see Final Touch win another one. :)

Yeah, exactly. And he did pretty well here.

But Final Touch was AMAZING. She had to carry a big weight, and she's more of a miler than sprinter - I thought one or both of those things would stop her from winning this, but I was wrong! Really happy to be wrong.

Whoa, Weismuller had a big breakout performance in the Wellington. Second favourite for the Derby now after that, and deservedly so.

Recite looks really, really good.

Just to be clear that is the 27th of THIS month, right? (Can't get on the NZRacing site!).

I know the Karaka Mile is the same day... any idea who will be there?

Not rushing you but cannot wait for your pre-Derby posts! :tro:

Yep, this Sunday! I'm not sure who'll be in the Mile yet, but we'll get to see the entries tomorrow. Ruud Awakening will definitely be the Million favourite, although I think Gobi Ranger is a good chance too.

Looking forward to doing them! Habibi and Weismuller will definitely be featuring.

In fact, early entries for the Mile are there now. It's maybe a little bit disappointing, although G1 winner Choice Bro adds interest.

Current long-range Derby odds (too many for me to type out!):
https://www.tab.co.nz/racing/#994

I know about a seven of those names. :o

(Awww Wattle Bay? Cute name. I loved his dad. Maybe he'll win one in time. :) ).

Have not yet looked at entries for Saturday..... will save that for latah!

Well that's a shame...

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/ra...asp?NID=269524

Picks for the Wellington Cup or the Thorndon Mile?

I wondered what had hapened to Guillotine (SO pretty :D) so nice to see one of his kids out there (Grey Hero).

No pick for the Million or the Mile but it will be nice to see Ruud Awakening and Touche face off again!

Picks, ed?

Good luck to Ripping, Huffer and Annie (and every horse in the Thorndon Mile) @Trentham.

You are SO lucky to be going to Ellersile this weekend!!!

I like the horses a bit lower down in the weights in both of those races. Annie and Chaparrone look nicely placed in the Cup, and I think Full Of Spirit, Miss Pelear and maybe Joey Massino in the Thorndon.

Excited about Ellerslie Saturday! The two big races have great fields, and I'm interested in sneaky Derby contender Solar Eclipse in the first race too.

Mufhasa changes stables :eek:

AIDAN RODLEY
Last updated 15:44 25/01/2013

Reigning horse of the year Mufhasa has had a shock change of stables.

A winner of 10 Gr I races under the guidance of Auckland trainer Stephen McKee, Mufhasa was this week transferred to fellow Auckland trainer Bruce Wallace at the request of part-owner David Archer.

In a statement issued today at McKee's request because of immense media interest in the move, Archer said he and his fellow owners still held McKee in the "highest regard both as a person and as a master trainer" but the decision was made in order to have Mufhasa in the care of his strapper Amy Doran, who parted ways with the McKee stable earlier this month.

“Our decision to change training stables centred around our belief that the continued care of Mufhasa by his lifelong caregiver and companion, strapper Amy Doran, was vital to Mufhasa’s wellbeing, particularly at this late stage in his career, after seven uninterrupted years of the pair being together, something Stephen was not prepared to allow to continue," Archer said.

“We know that most will disagree with our decision, and we are extremely sad to lose our connection with one of New Zealand racing’s finest in Stephen McKee, but in the twilight of his career, we have chosen to place Mufhasa’s wellbeing above all else."

Wallace has also accepted fellow Archer-owned gallopers Eight Schillings and Rafhiki into his stable.

"David's a client of ours. We've always trained horses for him and he approached us about this last week," Wallace said today.

"He said there was a situation at McKees that he would possibly lead to his horses being moved. The horses have arrived in incredibly good order, tremendous order. They are a real credit to Stephen."

Wallace said Mufhasa was likely to follow a campaign that McKee mapped out, with a likely starting point in the Gr I $200,000 Waikato Draught Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 9 or the Gr I A$400,000 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield the same day before a tilt at the Gr I A$500,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 23.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times...hanges-stables

Really big surprise, and sad news. :(

Good luck to Bruce! Best horse he's ever had anything to do with, that's for sure.

HISTORIAN! So thrilled for him.

Awesome 3yo, second to Jimmy Choux in the 2011 Derby. Then he went to Hong Kong, but he suffered a serious, career-threatening injury, so never raced there. He came back to NZ, was given to a new trainer to nurse him back to health, then today he wins a G1 - the trainer's first one ever. :)

Really nice to see him win and huge congrats to the connections.

Well done, Mr.Alton. :tro:

I didn't realize he'd been injured... looks like he's feeling pretty damned good now!

(Cheers to the lovely Lady Kipling for very nice run too). :)

edit - Oh ed very bummed about Shez Sinsational....

I added her to retirements. :(

:(
That is a shame. I'll miss her!

Great weather in Auckland all week, and the forecast is for more of the same tomorrow. Should be a great day.

Have a fantastic time!!!!!

Hey check it out... how nice to see Historian get some press here. :)

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...-mile-surprise

That is cool! Nice article.

RUUD AWAKENING! Sensational win.

She was amazing!!!!

That was incredible...

... and a very nice 2,3 (Fantastic Honour? Whoa! and of course the very brave Touche who is quickly becoming a favorite). :)

Fantastic!

Need to ask you though... while I do very much respect Craig Williams and think he's one of the best out there ummm what happened with Jason Waddle??? Did I miss something?

Hope he's not injured or anything...

Oh, I really feel sorry for Jason. He failed to get down to the correct weight for two of Ruud Awakening's stablemates at Trentham last weekend, and the connections were a bit upset about that and wanted a replacement for RA in the Million.

http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...Karaka-Million

I guess I can kind of understand, since the weight Jason couldn't get down to was the same weight as Ruud Awakening had to carry in this race. But I still feel really sorry for him.

Choice Bro was terrific in the Mile as well and is now heading for the Derby. :)

Yeah I feel bad for him too and yes... Choice Bro!!!

Weissmuller... pointed to the Derby?

(That is not a hint for your annual preview but I admit I cannot wait!!!!).

Come on March 2nd! :)

Yep, he sure is!

Early entries for the Waikato Guineas - one of the big Derby preps (last two Derby winners, Jimmy Choux and Silent Achiever, won it!) - this Saturday:

HABIBI
ADDICTIVE HABIT
WEISMULLER
ZINKO
SACRED STAR
BREAKING DAWN
IMPEL
SAM MESI
AXL ROSE
CANTERINO
CASTLZEBERG
CELTIC CHIEF
MATO GROSSO
HAMACHO
TYPHOON

Habibi skipping the Waikato Guineas...
http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...aikato-Guineas

So Weismuller looks like a dominant favourite for that now.

So three of the top four from the Wellington but what of Lucky Country?

(... and where is Abraham Lincoln?).

(I had forgotten both Jimmy and SA had won it!).

Awesome.

Check out the headline! :tro:

http://www.3news.co.nz/Weissmuller-a...2/Default.aspx

Haha, whoa. Interesting about the trainer's history - I didn't know a lot about him.

Lucky Country ran again 7 days after that Wellington Stakes - finishing second again the G3 Desert Gold for the fillies. I think she's staying in the fillies ranks now and possibly targeting the Oaks.

You will of course post a link to any pics of her on the beach, right (I've looked!)?

Hey good luck to you and to Pinzaara on Saturday!!!!!!!

What a great race by Pinzaara!!!!!

Wow she is a fighter. Didn't seem to be any problem breaking today!

Congrats on the really beautiful 2nd. Nice run by Alvesta. Felt like I was watching a match race for most of it (!).

CONGRATS!!!!!!!! :tro:

Well I wasn't expecting that result at ALL!

Congrats to the connections, a very nice win, and nice to see Castledale have a nice boy (even if thie other son has a better name). :D

Castlzeberg!

(Zinko looked pretty good too)!