Re: [racebase] British Ensign

[Gilbert Dymock]

Going by the wobblers, the rain lasted about 1½ to 2 hours. If that's all Auckland got today, then it won't do too much harm at all . . . although no rain would have been better. And Kaiwaka weather would have been perfect.   Interestingly, the presenters at Alex Park passed on a message from ARC officials saying that the track would be "somewhere between 2.9 and 3.9". They may as well have not bothered . . . 2.9 is good; 3.9 is bad. Maybe they should have asked me . . . on this channel last week I predicted a Boxing Day track that "should come up quite well — around the 2.6-3.0 mark". Not too dusty a prediction . . . the track was 2.8. About all I did get right, though, as any success I had depended on a bet made two months ago.   Trevor mentioned the recovery powers of the Ellerslie track. >From the late '80s until about four years ago, Ellerslie was the best drying track in the country. It didn't matter what happened in the week leading up to a meeting . . . if there was no rain on raceday (or excessive watering), the going was firm. That lasted through the 1990s but over the last 4 or 5 years that type of recovery just hasn't been there, although remedial work is apparently under way. Tomorrow will be a big test.   I'm solidly in Waitoki Dream's corner for the Cup. This bloke fits my Cup horse profile virtually perfectly . . . just behind the placegetters in last year's Derby and super-consistent in his lead-up racing this time in. After his Hastings win, he's been unplaced just twice, both fourths . . . once when he dropped back to 1600m and once when he was asked to chase St Reims from barrier rise. I rate him a place special.   Then, can Gee I Jane win from barrier 19? I think the barrier doesn't matter for her. If she's ridden the way she was in the Concorde and the two starts before that, she's a huge chance to overpower the speedsters . . . who should all be getting the stitch with 150m or so to run.   Anyway, all the best for tomorrow and the rest of 2005.   Gil     ----- Original Message ----- From: Neil Franklyn To: racebase@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, December 31, 2004 7:30 PM Subject: Re: [racebase] British Ensign   Trevor wrote: Hi Neil - Thanks for your weather updates - I don't understand how the Ellerslie track can recover so quickly - I don't recall it being that good at it in the past!!!!  At least by the 3rd the track will be in top order. Did you see the effort of British Ensign on the 2nd day over 1400.  I didn't but the time was sure slick - you'd need to keep an eye on him. I'll check out the latest info on New Years Day. Have a great night. Regards TRevor   Hi Trevor,   Hold your horses . . . the rain is back! Steady rain for the past two hours, with showers forecast for tomorrow too. Looks real murky towards Ellerslie township this evening.   The track was 3.2 [soft side of easy] this morning. The sun today would've improved that to something like 3.0. However, the latest rain would see it around the 3.2 mark again. TANTALIC is now the $6 Cup fav, but surely that'll change if the track's not too bad.   If you're not out getting boozed, check out the Auckland Trotting Cup tonight for a first-hand weather update. The Park is only a short distance from Ellerslie.   BRITISH ENSIGN? I was impressed, but I don't touch horses older than five. A customer to be reckoned with, though.   Happy New Year to all RaceBasers and good punting tomorrow. The only investment for me is likely to be pregnant THE MIGHTY LIONS, depending on track conditions.   Regards   Neil Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/racebase/   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]   Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.