' The Raiders '
 

Does anyone know the success rate for the 'International Raiders ' and should Kiwi horses be included in this group?

No. I know they've won 3 Melbourne Cups in 16 years, but I don't know how many runners they've had in those 16 years. Just at a guess, I'd say about 50-60???

And no. New Zealand horses don't count.

And I have to say that international "raiders" is the most overused and annoying term in racing.

Ditto to that comment Sportz. Oversees donkeys more likely, or perhaps it's the silly decision to [mostly] bring oversees 'gun' jockeys to ride them here? Both horse and jocky are all at sea with our different ball-game.

Are NZ horses subject to any kind of quarantine process like other o/s horses? I'm guessing not?

It certainly is Sportz. About the only thing they've raided is there own piggy banks for the trip home.

Their sucess rate is abysmal generally.

As many have pointed out the challenges of adapting to a different style of racing with different tempo and different going coming off the back of a 48 trip and not racing for 6 or more weeks - is usually too much of an ask.

Certainly the publicity has been great for the Melbourne Spring carnival as an event - generating a lot of marketing value. Well done to the VRC and RVL.

As far as punters go though - a bookies benefit.

The Japanese horses probably were the biggest 'threat' to the locals - I imagine their strike rate was pretty good - but changes to the quarantine laws have sidelined them.

I wouldnt count the NZ horses as raiders.

As a punter I like the presence of the international horses cause they inflate the prices available about the real local chances - providing better value.