CLAN UPDATE!

Good morning all and I hope you are safe and well during these difficult times?
We have numerous topics running on the site and thanks again for your valued contributions.
Just to touch on a few thoughts from my side .

COVID:

I guess everything has been exhausted as far as the stats, vaccine, loss of lives and financial damage.
I must say I find the discipline between the UK and SA being a massive disparity.
The Brits have taken it to the extreme and SA has basically linked it to whether the bottle stores are open or closed.
I have no idea what the right or wrong approach should be but at the end of the day, life has to carry on.
How many of us have actually had the virus? How many have actually had the test?
If the vaccine does become available, how many will take the jab?
We wear masks in shopping centers and try and social distance but as soon as you sit down in a coffee bar or restaurant in that very same shopping mall, the mask is off and the distance is reduced.
We have been trying to rather go to outdoor facilities as our years have us in the danger zone.
The bottom line is, we are not in a position to stay at home for a year and waste what precious time we have left on the planet.
Depression and suicide have become a new topic and the ANC have certainly done their bit to promote.
We all have our ways and means to avoid and yesterday’s meeting at Turffontein certainly helped most punters to pend “one flew over the cuckoos nest” for another week, however beware of the KZN card today.

RACING

As mentioned, yesterday was a superb race day but a pity for the connections of the last two races runners.
It’s great for the game to have two potential triple crown/tiara winners going into the Derby and Oaks.
War looks the obvious choice for the Oaks but Malmoos may have a difficult task.

I am sure we were all looking forward to MOD coming on board and racing people heading in the same direction, however it’s becoming like the horse protocol fiasco where no bottom line appears imminent.
Plenty wheeling and dealing and power struggles and non transparency the order of the day.


CHELTENHAM

Is just around the corner and we do have a dedicated thread, but just a reminder.
The Arkle should go to SHISHKIN.
Champion Hurdle should be one of the best races of the “festival “ ( sounds wrong with no crowds) HONEYSUCKLE has Epatante and Goshen to beat.
MONKFISH is one of the weeks bankers.
The Chase looks at the mercy of CHACUM POUR SOI.
The Bumper fav could be Kilcruit but the Rangers fans could make SIR GERHARD top the boards.
Cross Country where a cloud remains over Tiger Roll due to the antics of his silly trainer and EASY LAND hard to beat.
ENVOI ALLEN should still be a banker under new trainer arrangement.
Stayers where we hopefully see one of these breathtaking finishes from PAISLEY PARK.
I will stick with the CHAMP to lift the cup.

UK thread

Apart from our top class local contributors, our friend Steck (STECKENFORD) has been giving us some big priced winners over the last couple of weeks and is worth following.


ZOOM AND PODCASTS

This appears the way to go and we can discuss the best way forward if we can do anything at ABC , the market does appear saturated and I have a face for radio and Bob will need sub titles.....
Many new faces and tipsters but would think that Tellytrack should consider using the locals for the presenters rolls, to eliminate travel, both cost and covid?
However it’s not my position to run other people’s companies and have no idea of the politics?
Plus for eg the last time I saw a pic of Bonski, it was on a poster at Randjies training center. Could not read the detail properly but sure it says “no entry” or it could have been “dead or alive” ?

Good Punting.

Yes Dave, very trying and sad times, most of us having been negatively affected in some way by COVID, having lost loved ones or businesses (incomes) with very little or no help from our government. One tries to remain positive but we are proven correct just about every time by the actions of those in command. Thank goodness for good friends and family rallying around and really stretching the word "empathy" to the max. In this vain you cant help but draw parallels between the ANC and MOD, with the general public and racing fans, being those good friends and family rallying around and stretching the word "empathy" to the max. Everything changes but everything stays the same! Do you get the jab, wear your mask, sanitize and social distance? Well most will and do as we are law abiding citizens and don't wont to bring harm unto others, yet there are those buggers that stuff it up for all of us. Those buggers are being allowed to do as they please with no reprieve. I single out our government/NHRA here for letting this happen to the detriment of all law abiding citizens and racing fans. You as an individual can only do so much and why should you do more when paying somebody to do their job?
Misinformation, no information yet we must accept all this garbage.
Racing, the open bet still prevails and has not been rectified to the detriment of who? Misinformation, no information to the detriment of who? Trainers and jocks not being questioned to the detriment of who? ETC!
Punting, I had a choice, to replace my dartboard or stop punting because there were too many pricks and they all started to look the same to me. I am sure I'm not the only one and to who's detriment?
"Everyone"(trainers and racing personalities) are talking about this "vibe" that came out of the Cape season and must be continued, what "vibe" am I missing something stuck in front of my TV? There is still money for good horses at the sales but we are competing for peanuts and it sounds like this is going to be the accepted norm, for how long and to who's detriment? The "quality" of horses in SA is probably the highest its ever been and yet we cant export directly, to the detriment of who?
My wish is that our jocks would make a concerted effort to make it look as though 80% of them are trying to win the race. Wouldn't that be a great start?
Everything changes and everything stays the same!!!
Come on lets be positive and keep the vibe going!

I like the idea of a Clan Zoom call, the night before a big meeting

Just racing fans, punters and experts discussing the races..

Would rather it was an open Zoom meeting (possible?), no ass licking! just racing and banter..

I was away today but just to highlight the UK thread
Steck tipped us 4 horses today

3rd at 4/1
2nd at 9/1
1st at 11/2
1st at 10/1

Thank you again Steck 👍

"My wish is that our jocks would make a concerted effort to make it look as though 80% of them are trying to win the race. Wouldn't that be a great start?

Trainers and jocks not being questioned to the detriment of who? "

Two valid points.... which impact the wallets of punters day in and day out.

Magi wrote: "My wish is that our jocks would make a concerted effort to make it look as though 80% of them are trying to win the race. Wouldn't that be a great start?

Trainers and jocks not being questioned to the detriment of who? "

Two valid points.... which impact the wallets of punters day in and day out.

I personally just want the jockeys to use their head.
What is the use of sitting 4 wide?Extremely hard to win like that so either go back and find position or make a move for the front even if the trainer doesn't wan't it,have a plan B.
But in saying that I'm sure some trainers want the horse ridden in a way that it can't find a place so their MR goes down and they can be more competitive in upcoming races.
Can you blame the trainers for that?
They running for peanut stakes and ends won't meet at the end of the month if they can't at least have a decent punt or two at good odds.
I read someone on this forum stating that they are happy if a horse consistently runs in the places instead of winning.So are they really trying to win or are just happy to get some place money?
Punters and owners are leaving this game in numbers and at the end of the day the very ones we rely on to do their jobs as best they can are the ones who will suffer come the end of the day.
What are most trainers and jockeys going to do if horse racing in SA stops?
KZN racing for me has gone to the dogs,anything can win and anything can lose,yet we still have some questioning why the punter thinks KZN horses are inconsistent.
MOD,well I really don't know what they doing to try and revive horse racing yet.
Confidence in everything about our racing has dropped to an all time low and I'm not sure we will be able to get out of this mess.
And we need to carry on questioning things we think are wrong and not keep our mouths shut like most did in the Jooste days,just because he had money and power,look where that got us,into liquidation,just because too many where kissing his arse.

durbs wrote:

Magi wrote: "My wish is that our jocks would make a concerted effort to make it look as though 80% of them are trying to win the race. Wouldn't that be a great start?

Trainers and jocks not being questioned to the detriment of who? "

Two valid points.... which impact the wallets of punters day in and day out.

I personally just want the jockeys to use their head.
What is the use of sitting 4 wide?Extremely hard to win like that so either go back and find position or make a move for the front even if the trainer doesn't wan't it,have a plan B.
But in saying that I'm sure some trainers want the horse ridden in a way that it can't find a place so their MR goes down and they can be more competitive in upcoming races.
Can you blame the trainers for that?
They running for peanut stakes and ends won't meet at the end of the month if they can't at least have a decent punt or two at good odds.
I read someone on this forum stating that they are happy if a horse consistently runs in the places instead of winning.So are they really trying to win or are just happy to get some place money?
Punters and owners are leaving this game in numbers and at the end of the day the very ones we rely on to do their jobs as best they can are the ones who will suffer come the end of the day.
What are most trainers and jockeys going to do if horse racing in SA stops?
KZN racing for me has gone to the dogs,anything can win and anything can lose,yet we still have some questioning why the punter thinks KZN horses are inconsistent.
MOD,well I really don't know what they doing to try and revive horse racing yet.
Confidence in everything about our racing has dropped to an all time low and I'm not sure we will be able to get out of this mess.
And we need to carry on questioning things we think are wrong and not keep our mouths shut like most did in the Jooste days,just because he had money and power,look where that got us,into liquidation,just because too many where kissing his arse.

Please check Mr Gonzales win the last race yesterday at Greyville. Travelled 3 to 4 wide the whole way and still won impressively after a layoff. Definitely the one to follow.

In Australia, UK, USA, etc there is hardly ever a false rail. Horses travel 4 to 5 wide and even wider before they turn for home. In South Africa we obsessed with false rails. Moving of rails can make the distance longer or shorter.

Ok Naresh that's one.
It's a fact that if you running wide you are covering more distance that the rest so why would you want to do that?Your horse is obviously at a disadvantage.
No need for Marcus then,we can put an appie on and run 4 wide and the result will be the same.

Watch Greyville race 3 Ellis Island and race 4 Epic Soliloquy and tell me that the wide trip didn't hinder the horses chances.

ABC TV on you tube. Go on give it a go and see where it takes you

durbs wrote: Watch Greyville race 3 Ellis Island and race 4 Epic Soliloquy and tell me that the wide trip didn't hinder the horses chances.

Thats horseracing. Every race will not run according to what the trainers instruction was. That what separates the average jockey from a good jockey on the decisions you make during the race. Although you may have lost your money on the above horses or noticed that during the race, you know the next time that they run you can follow them.

Every connection wants their horse to be in the box seat, but, there is only one box seat.

The above post talks about 4-wide on the bend. Gee wizz, the Australians and Americans do 8+wide and still win. Nobody moans there.


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