Rickster59

You are correct Teelak......although the roof top pool has excellent views of Pattaya Bay......there is no shade available and it is something they need to address. On a hot day with no cloud cover I just had a quick 'recovery dip' and went back to my room.

Yuth Bar is located on Second Road near Soi 2 Almost next door is Toy Bar which also has some great rock bands. On Walking Street......I like Blue Sky III Bar....Hot Tuna...and Rolling Stone Bar is ok....but not as good as the rest. As for Yuth its a shame he doesn't play as much as he did in the past.....he is brilliant!

All Too Hard has been retired......so no trip to Royal Ascot.

ROYAL Ascot wanted Black Caviar - but they will happily take All Too Hard instead. Black Caviar's retirement from racing means she won't be thrilling English race fans again but there is every likelihood her younger brother All Too Hard will be given an opportunity to conquer the world after his All Aged Stakes win at Royal Randwick last Saturday. Hall of Famer John Hawkes, who trains All Too Hard in partnership with his sons Wayne and Michael, has revealed a decision on whether the super colt races in England will be made this week. "We will sort out in the next few days if All Too Hard is kept in training for Royal Ascot or is retired," Hawkes said. "We will do what is in the best interests of the horse. "If it has to finish after Saturday, then it has been a great ride and the perfect way for the horse to go out. "If the decision is made to go to England, that will be fantastic, too." All Too Hard scored his fourth Group 1 win of the season - and his third against older horses - when he mowed down a gallant Rain Affair to win the All Aged Stakes. Horse of the Year honours now rest between Black Caviar and All Too Hard - and if the colt does race on and win in England it might be enough to secure Australian racing's ultimate honour as he has already won more majors this season than his famous older sibling. Hawkes said the race being considered for All Too Hard is the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Ascot on June 18. Black Caviar won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot last year. Hawkes said he hoped All Too Hard would race on for another 12 months as the colt was just realising his full potential but commercial reality dictated the young champ would soon be retired to stud. "It is a little disappointing for racing in general that Pierro and All Too Hard didn't race on next season,' Hawkes said. "I know All Too Hard would have gone up another notch again, particularly when he gets to 16000m and 2000m. "But people pay a lot of money to buy stallion prospects like Pierro and All Too Hard and naturally they are trying to recoup their outlay."

He's not a bad horse.......stronger than BLACK CAVIAR....better suited from 1600m up to 2000m. Back him and maybe you can keep having a dozen big bottles of beer and a chocolate bar

At this stage it is still unknown........but I doubt current trainer John Hawkes will part with him. I'll keep you informed.

Black Caviar's younger half brother is making a name for himself............and he is coming to England. The new order in Australian racing took shape at Randwick on Saturday. And in the way of royalty, the throne has been claimed by its rightful heir. All Too Hard, the younger brother of the departing queen Black Caviar, produced the run of his career to win the All Aged Stakes and move to the top of the tree. The colt who had beaten the best three-year-olds in the spring in the Caulfield Guineas and then ran a brave second in the Cox Plate, sealed his bid for the No.1 ranking in Australian racing with his defeat of the older horses in racing's ultimate test - Group One at weight-for-age. "That's got to be the performance of the carnival," said the horse's senior part-owner Peter Orton of Vinery Stud. "He was dominant, totally dominant." Until Saturday the New Zealand colt It's A Dundeel had seemed likely to assume the crown. But his defeat at long odds-on in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes made the difference. All Too Hard, the son of Casino Prince and Black Caviar's dam Helsinge, had won his first two races this autumn, the CF Orr Stakes and the Futurity Stakes, both at Group One and both in Melbourne. Like Black Caviar, he needed to do it in Sydney where he had disappointed last spring. And 300 metres from the finish of the finish on Saturday, he looked to be struggling. But in the style of a good horse he lifted and beat the front-running Rain Affair by a half length. The only detraction from the performance is that All Too Hard will reign as a monarch in virtual exile. If all goes to plan, he will leave for England within a couple of weeks, never to race in Australia again.

Sam....I thought the Kiwi's were great in the first half. They should have scored more points...but just had a bit of bad luck. If they had Mannering, Marshall & SBW it would be a very close contest imho.

The board whisperers?.....name calling? You are consistent if nothing else. Negative. This was a positive discussion about Black Caviar. I didn't disagree with you......I just couldn't understand your negative comment.

Well thank you Samfreelanderknowitall Its nice to have your expert input.

I couldn't have said it any better Nus01.......well done!

More negativity from you Samfreelander? You didn't answer my last post?....did you not see it? I'm happy that she retains her unblemished record of 25 from 25....the trainer knows best! When asked why did you decide to retire her Peter Moody simply said she has done enough and 25 is a nice number. Have another lemon mate

WOW! BREAKING NEWS!............its over! Trainer and owners have just announced that BLACK CAVIAR has done enough and has been retired. 25 from 25. Australia's best ever sprinter.

Samfeeland....the amusement came from your negativity. You stated 'As long as they don't push her to hard and she breaks down' What were you implying?,,,,,or what was your point? The way I read it was that you were warning the trainer not to 'push her too hard'? We all know that horses get checked by vets and chiropractors....and Trainer Peter Moody has the horses best interests at heart.....so why make the comment 'as long as they don't push her too hard and she breaks down'?

I got a good laugh out of that.....she is a rising 7 year old and has only had 25 starts......most of her wins have been so easy she rarely gets struck with the whip. All horses that race run the risk of breaking down......but you can hardly say she has been raced into the ground.

Tom while you didn't knock her you did state that she has not been at her best 'for a while'. I can't agree with that....prior to Ascot her wins were so easy they could have been described as trackwork. She was never extended at any stage. At her first run back in the Lightning Stakes (now named in her honour) she broke the course record which had stood for 25 years proving she is faster or as fast as ever. On Saturday at Randwick she was up against Australia best sprinters including 5 Group 1 winners. She (imho) was extended to win .....but she did win easily in the end.

That's correct Wacmedia. Trainer Peter Moody says she wont be going to Royal Ascot. However the owners are very keen to take her to Royal Ascot for her swansong. Moody said he made an error by running her in the Diamond Jubilee (1200m) last time......and if she does go to England she will be set for the Kings Stand (1000m). His reason being the upward slope of the track. In the meantime Moody will wait two more days and see how she is......and if all is ok she will have her next start on May 11 at either South Australia (Goodwood) or Queensland (BTC Cup)..........both races are Group 1 events. I think they will opt for the Brisbane event. She will then be spelled.

Black Caviar had her 25th start yesterday at Royal Randwick. She came, she saw....and she conquered Sydney for the second time in her career. But this victory was sweeter than ever as Black Caviar put a top-quality field of opponents to the sword, winning the $1 million TJ Smith Stakes comfortably from the Darley three-year-old Epaulette, with the Victorian-trained galloper Bel Sprinter, who had spreadeagled the field in the group 1 Galaxy last start, running third. Black Caviar displayed all of her magic as she cruised down the straight, taking the lead from long-time leader Rain Affair and sprinting away. Her odds of $1.14 made her unbackable, but that doesn't matter. With a phenomenon like Black Caviar it is the experience and the emotion that count, not the punt. This was her 25th straight victory, her 15th group 1 success but only her second in Sydney. The Sydney trainers had claimed the daughter of Bel Esprit had been getting things easy in Melbourne, with races run to suit and riders showing an exaggerated sense of respect for the Peter Moody-trained superstar. <iframe id="dcAd-1-4" src="http://ad-apac.doubleclick.net/adi/onl.bt.sport/sport/horseracing;cat1=horseracing;cat=sport;ctype=article;pos=3;sz=300x250;tile=4;ord=2.2447541E7?" width='300' height='250' scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0"> </iframe> Moody suggested her NSW rivals would get windburn chasing her tail at Randwick, and the big Queenslander was proved right. ''I'm just really pleased she's put on a hell of a show for such a big crowd that's come out here. Sydney haven't had the pleasure of her as much as Victoria, and I am just really proud,'' he said. Jubilant jockey Luke Nolen declared: ''They were going to make her earn it today but she still kicked their arse. If there are any knockers today they can come and see me and I will sort them out.'' Where to next? Stay tuned!

Hi Wacmedia.....She won and paid $1.10. It was easy and she was not extended yet she broke the course record. The first horse to ever win 3 Lightning Stakes. She is faster than ever. A Champion sprinter.

Yes.....there is a lot of money to be made.....thats why people buy racehorses....in the hope of winning money! The undefeated champion mare will be shooting for 23 straight wins tomorrow in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington.....which is named in her honor and she is aiming for her third straight win in this time honoured race. BLACK Caviar's trainer Peter Moody last night said Saturday could be his champion mare's swansong. Moody's statement came as bookmakers tipped big punters to back the superstar despite the tiny odds on offer in her comeback. TAB opened unbeaten Caviar at $1.05 for the Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington -- a return of five cents on the dollar if she wins. Moody ruled out a return to Royal Ascot in June, but held some hope of the mare racing in Sydney and Brisbane before her retirement. In any case, with race No.23 looming, he suggested the six-year-old would not get any further than 26 or 27 starts. "It would be a wonderful tribute to her and her fans to have her grand final on the eastern seaboard," Moody said. "I've been saying for her last four or five starts that it could be her last run, and even Saturday could be her last one."

I shoud add that while there was no noise whilst I was staying there......that is going to change. There is a site on the Walking Street side of the Hotel that is being developed.

I stayed at the 'Sea Me Spring Too Hotel' back in July this year (2012) and this is my review. Construction was only completed this year (2012) and I was lucky enough to get an 'opening special' price which was AUD $55 per night.....or 1750 baht per night with agoda. It is classed as a *** star Hotel. I had the basic 'me' room.....while my mate took a 'sea deluxe' room for obviously more money. The rooms were much the same.....however his did have sea glimpses from the balcony. But with the construction of a new Hotel next door.....his view will soon be gone. I very rarely use balconies.....I guess its good for smokers....and I do sometimes put my beach towel out there to dry. Personally I didnt think the extra baht for the 'sea deluxe' was worth it. As the room was new...it was very nice and modern....with the glass see through into the bathroom set up......not so good when you wish to use the toilet in private....but there was venetions that you can shut to make it private....so all good there. The bed.....well while ok it is the same as all I have stayed at in Pattaya Hotels and Guest Houses....too bloody hard! Is there a Hotel in Pattaya that has softer mattresses? I guess they do take a pounding....but I do find them far to firm.....and makes for an uncomfortable nights sleep. The rooftop pool has sensational views of Pattaya bay.....I always went up to the pool for at least an hour every day when I woke for a recovery session. Great service.....with reasonably priced drinks and food available. Towels were also supplied. One complaint though. There is hardly any shade whatsoever.....and on a hot day it can become unbearable outside of the pool....I hope they rectify this in the near future, as it really is an obvious problem. As for joiner fees....no problems. Below are some pics;

Can any members who have recently stayed at TIM BOUTIQUE HOTEL or PAGE 10 HOTEL please give their opinions on either Hotel please. Just been looking on AGODA and they quote the following prices for January; TIM BOUTIQUE HOTEL .....AUD$65....or 2,071baht per night. PAGE 10 HOTEL.................AUD$79....or 2,517baht per night......Includes breakfast (which is not an issue for me) Are there any joiner fees for more than one girl? Cheers Ricki

I thought he was clean. Its so disappointing. Most of us want to believe there is a champion athlete.....who can do amazing things and create new records. But sadly Lance Armstrong was/is a drug cheat. His teamates have come clean and made admissions. The sad part is that Lance is still claiming to be innocent.