Chief Stipe

JOHN Mounce is holding Clifden Clowers and Waimate club president Alex Colvill an historic trophy he won when going past 100k in stakes late last month. When a horse is 10-year- old and has raced over 150 times, it is supposed to be getting a bit tired and slowing down. Particularly when said horse used to live in Blenheim and most of those races have involved long road trips. But the opposite has proved the case with Clifden Clowers, who has been in career best form in recent months, winning three races and $24,000 while hardly being out of the money in 15 races this year. When Clifden Clowers recorded his latest win, at the Waimate meeting late last month, it was his 12th win from 157 starts and took his earnings past $100,000. He is in his ninth season of racing after one start as a juvenile and along the way he has also recorded 11 seconds, 20 thirds, 13 fourths and 17 fifths, for an awful lot of ‘cheques in the mail’. Clifden Clowers has been in particularly good form since winning at Waikouaiti in late February. He has raced seven times in the last six weeks for two wins and four placings with his only unplaced run at Addington on a premier night behind Kings Landing and several open class trotters. Two days later he won at Waimate and there’ll be no surprises if Clifden Clowers comes off the backmark and wins again at Forbury Park tonight (Thursday). Clearly something has been going on here and it has been a combination of factors, according to John and Sandra Mounce. The latter trains Clifden Clowers for John and his twin brother in fireman Les and older brother Tony, a well-known mortgage broker in Christchurch. For a start, Clifden Clowers was once good enough to be Group 1-placed, although people can be forgiven for forgetting about his third in the 2012 NZ Trotting Derby behind Escapee, given it was seven years ago now. “Dexter Dunn drove him that night and he would have been second, but for trotting a bit roughly in the run home,” said John. “Then he got quite sick and his condition dropped right away and his four-year-old season was a write-off. “He’s always had this condition called stringhalt, which causes a sudden and exaggerated flexing of the hind legs and it’s very unusual for a racehorse to last very long with it. “It’s quite stressful for a horse and it caused a chronic ulcer problem for Clifden, which is why he used to often drop right away in his races and was out of form for long periods.” The Mounces moved from Blenheim to Geraldine a year ago and another aspect of Clifden Clowers’ improvement has been paddock training him and trips to work around the outside of the Orari track. He has also been racing without shoes or any shin or knee boots for the last three months. “He’s basically been racing completely naked and takes about one minute and 45 seconds to gear up. “He’s a beautifully-gaited horse and that’s why he loves the tight, turning tracks like ‘the mighty Manawatu’ and Reefton. “Stringhalt can be managed and Sandra has done a great job getting on top of that – he has to warm himself out of it. “You may have also noticed that his best form has usually come in the summer months, or he’s a warmer weather horse.” Horses are very much a family affair for the Mounces with John’s father Trevor having the distinction of taking on an old and broken down Mighty Chief and winning with him at Addington at the National meeting in August, 1971. Mighty Chief, who won the Dominion in 1965, was an 11-year-old that night and the rank outsider for the Winter Handicap, paying $85 when coming off 24 yards to down Tony Bear and Merrin. Two starts later Mighty Chief won a Free For All in Greymouth and he was still racing well at the age of 13. Another older brother of John’s in Peter was a prominent horseman in the 70s when he worked for Charlie Hunter in his Young Quinn days. The Clifden Clowers story really begins with Tony Mounce, who raced the third dam Culpepper, a daughter of Game Pride. She won her debut at Motukarara in April, 1994, for trainer Bruce Hutton and driver Jim Curtin. Culpepper’s first foal was the Gee Whiz filly Miss Theegee, who would credit Sandra with her first training success when she won a race at Forbury Park in 2002. Miss Theegee’s first foal was the Sundon filly Gina, who began racing with a second at Nelson in the New Year and who would line up in the Hambletonian and Trotting Oaks under trainer Ken Barron. “Gina had a lot of speed but she was one of those Sundon fillies that lost it mentally. “She got hit in the head by a bell boot in a race and from that point she would over race. “I can recall Peter telling me that once a Sundon filly loses it, they ain’t coming back.” Clifden Clowers is the first foal from Gina, who has since proved very difficult to get in foal and the now rising 16-year-old has produced only four foals over the years. Alan Clark borrowed her to breed a winner in Cocktail Waiter and now John has a three-year-old filly by Majestic Son in Time In A Bottle with trainer Michael Ward that they have high hopes for. “She has a lot of speed but needed a soft palate wind operation after she began racing in January. “That appears to have been successful and she’s now back in full work. “Michael has been very patient with her as like her mother, her temperament could become an issue.” Gina has since produced a yearling filly by Superfast Stuart which is going to be called Bernell Clowers, while she is now in foal to Creatine, a horse who reportedly has a very good temperament. The name Clifden Clowers comes from a well-known country and western song called Wolverton Mountain, which was about a fellow called Clifton Clowers who was rather over-protective about his daughter, Bernell. The Mounces bred a number of foals from Miss Theegee including several by Sundon although the only other one that worked out alright was The Great Pretender. She won her debut as a two-year-old at Washdyke for trainer Warren Cochrane which put her into the Jewels at Ashburton a few weeks later, but she went for an early gallop. The Great Pretender would produce a couple of winning fillies in Fira and The Great Redeemer before being lost to cancer a few years ago. Fira, also by Thanksgiving, won a race for Stephen McNally a couple of years ago and another one for Arna Donnelly at Cambridge last month. McNally produced The Great Redeemer to win a race at Ashburton in February last year, where she downed Majestic Hurricane, Winterfell and Kings Landing, but she was unplaced in the Southland and NZ Trotting Oaks before being sold to Danny Zavitsanos, the owner of Cruz Bromac and Enhance Your Calm. The Great Redeemer was third in the Breeders Crown won last year by Show Gait and she has since won three races, the latest at Melton last month by 21m for the Gaths. Kate and Andy. Before Clifden Clowers and Paul’s Verdict, who won his eighth race for John Mounce at Forbury Park last week. Sandra had trained one other winner in Lightning Play. He’d won five races for Jim Dalgety before she took him on as a veteran claimer and he won a race at Addington, again as a rank outsider and paying $86 in what was one of the last winning drives for Jo Herbert in 2009. John and Sandra Mounce have run motels for many years starting with the Bluegum Motel at Weedons, hence the name of another horse they raced in Bluegum Motel Shines, who won three races under Cochrane. That motel has now made way for the new motorway and the Mounces then ran the Two Tree Lodge in Blenheim before moving to Geraldine and the Four Pegs Motel. Cochrane would wind up in Australia although Clifden Clowers was always going to be a project for Sandra given his issues and between him and Paul’s Verdict, she has won 19 races with them after winning two in the decade prior. “I leased Paul’s Verdict after he’d begun racing for Grant Payne and exercised the right of purchase a couple of months ago. “He’s been a handy horse because he’s got good gate speed, although he’s benefitted greatly from the ratings handicapping system and he’s nothing like Clifden Clowers. “We were thinking this was going to be his last season of racing, but with the way he’s been racing lately, you’d have to at least think about bringing him back for another summer.” Don’t be surprised to see still him going well aged 13, ala Mighty Chief some 50 years ago. View the full article

Ultimate Sniper and Jesse Duke will clash in the New Zealand Derby at Addington on Friday night. Photo: Race Images. The news is all bad for Ultimate Sniper’s opposition in tomorrow night’s Group 1 New Zealand Derby. The star three-year-old’s last trip to Addington saw him gallop wildly out of contention in the Flying Stakes a month ago. The sight of Ultimate Sniper drifting back through the field was a shock for punters and gave connections of his opponents some hope the incomparable three-year-old could be vulnerable in the $200,000 Derby. A report from his co-trainer Mark Purdon should be enough to dash those hopes. Purdon, who trains the colt with Natalie Rasmussen, said he would be the one that would be shocked if the same mishap occurred again tomorrow night. “I would be shocked if he did that same thing again.” Exactly why Ultimate Sniper went off stride has been a mystery to the All Stars camp. Purdon said the horse is fit and well, which meant they have put the incident behind them. “I think we will just put a line through it. It is something he has never done in the past and it is uncharacteristic for him. “It is nothing we can really put our finger on so we are just going to turn the page.” Tomorrow night’s race will be the second time Ultimate Sniper goes in to a classic race after going roughly in his lead up. In a different kind of incident, the horse paced roughly on the final bend in the Northern Derby Prelude before his brave win in the Northern Derby a week later. Ultimate Sniper has another Derby-winning factor on his side ahead of tomorrow night’s race – the Nat factor. The three-year-old will reunite with Natalie Rasmussen, who has never tasted defeat when driving the star pacer. Purdon said Rasmussen had been pleased with what she had seen in Ultimate Sniper’s work since his Flying Stakes mishap. “We have been happy with his work and Nat has driven him the last couple of times and he has trained really nice.” Jesse Duke appears to have closed the gap between himself and his stablemate as this season has progressed. He was left in Ultimate Sniper’s wake in the Sires Stakes Final earlier this season but in the Northern Derby the pacer got to within a head of his arch-rival. However, any thought that Jesse Duke has closed the gap on his stablemate was quickly dismissed by Purdon. “No, not really, he is not in Sniper’s class. He is not far away, but he is not in his class.” What Purdon was happy to confirm was he agreed with most assessments of the race – Jesse Duke appeared to be the second-best horse in the race. An even line up of contenders outside the Purdon-Rasmussen duo will seek Derby glory tomorrow night. A key part of assessing which one of those pacers could be best placed to challenge them could be determined by gate speed. Ultimate Sniper’s lack of high gate speed could see drivers on the front line rush across to secure the lead with the hope of handing up to Ultimate Sniper when he comes around. Supreme Dominator has the first option on leading from barrier 1, but has not shown large amounts of gate speed in his recent racing. Double Rocket, Global Domination and Robyns Playboy have all shown high gate speed and could potentially rush out of the mobile. Memphis Tennessee and Zinny Mach also possess good gate speed, though the former has drawn barrier 8 and has been restrained from wide draws in his recent starts while the latter likely won’t get a start as the race’s second emergency. A stack of talent has drawn on the second row and like Ultimate Sniper, could be looking to work in to the race in the middle stages. Jesse Duke starts from the back row in barrier 13, with his fellow Sires Stakes Final, Heisenberg, drawn inside him. View the full article

I'm not sure what your question is. However to provide independent interesting and on the edge editorial and opinion costs money. In New Zealand the NZRB pay mega bucks for bland banal cookie cut articles from their marketing budget. An independent publication like The Informant relies on subscriptions and advertising to pay those who write decent articles. Compare our scenario to what happens in OZ. What I like about the OZ model is the say it as it is, the irreverence, the finger in the air. Doesn't it make sport interesting?

I guess that fantastic theme song "Conquest of Paradise" will be gone too. Even though it has nothing to do with the Crusades. But I guess the native South Americans will object.

No for not fronting up. I gave you ample opportunity to show us how good you were with the "Blueprint" but we haven't seen anything. Mardi provided his market and you provided nothing.

McLovin’s Auckland raid is on This will be the final start before heading home. Talented trotter McLovin is heading back to New Zealand after competing this weekend in the Gr.3 $24,000 Sundons Gift FFA at Melton on Saturday night. Purchased back in January from the Canterbury stables of Jason and Amber Lethaby, the Monarchy gelding is yet another Kiwi trotting product that has thrived under the watchful eye of astute Victorian mentor Andy Gath. The deeds of Tornado Valley are obvious, his Inter Dominion Grand Final triumph back in December illustrate his transformation since being switched to Gath. Tornado Valley has won 19 of his 24 starts and amassed more than $400,000. So, can lightning strike twice? McLovin has won three of four starts for Kate and Andy Gath. McLovin has made quite the impression winning five of his six Australian starts including the Gr.2 $30,000 South Australian Trotters Cup, Terang Trotters Cup, Gr.3 $25,000 Charlton Trotters Cup and the Gr.3 $24,000 Scotch Notch Memorial. The only glitch on his scorecard came in the Gr.1 $100,000 Grand Prix when a lacklustre 11th behind Big Jack Hammer back on March 9. But his two winning starts since have indicated that he’s back to his best. Gath has circled the final two legs of the 2018/19 Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Masters, the Gr.1 $100,000 Anzac Cup on April 26 followed by the Gr.1 $150,000 Rowe Cup a week later. Both events will be staged at Alexandra Park. “This will be his final start before heading to Auckland,” said Gath. “I’m really happy with the way he has responded following his failure and he’s proven he deserves his opportunity in these big events. “It won’t be easy but he’s ready for the challenge and while the depth isn’t as strong as previous years, there’s still plenty of class around.” Gath said. With all of his racing being staged left-handed, Gath is unperturbed about racing his rising star the right-handed way. The Alexandra Park track has caught many out previously. But Gath is acutely aware of what’s required to master the unique track after preparing La Coocaracha to win the 2002 Rowe Cup. “It can catch a horse out but I’m confident he won’t have any issues in adapting; he works quite often right-handed and trots very comfortably so it won’t be an excuse. “These races come at the right time; he’s fit and in form and it will give us a good guide going forward. “He’s not in the same class as Tornado Valley just yet but they have worked together previously. “We’ll be staying with the Dickies and that’s all organised so we’re looking forward to getting over there.” Meanwhile, talented pacer Aha Reaction has joined the Gath stables. The Auckland Reactor four-year-old was previously prepared by Robert Dunn and built up a neat record of three wins and four minor placings from 11 starts to date. Aha Reaction was unplaced against Mach Shard at Alexandra Park at his most recent start on March 15. Another Australia-based trotter heading back to Auckland in the coming weeks is last start Gr.3 $25,000 Horsham Trotters Cup winner Monty Python. The quality veteran performer has been under the care of Victorian based trainer Brent Lilley, during his 15 start campaign he has won twice and banked close to $50,000. “He’s heading back home and will tackle the Anzac and Rowe Cups.” Said Lilley. “He’s going to have another start here and then head over and rejoin the Williamson stable.” Last year, Monty Python finished 5th in the Anzac Cup won by Lemond before being the runner-up in Speeding Spur’s Rowe Cup. Two former Kiwis chasing Jewels berths Just who is in the mix for an Aussie invite for the Jewels? Following the action from Bathurst last weekend, connections of both Lochinvar Art and Jilliby Nitro won’t pursue a trip across the ditch for the $1.2 million race day at Addington on June 1. Lochinvar Art finally landed his maiden big race victory when claiming the Gr.1 $100,000 Gold Chalice in a time of 1:54.5 for the 2260m event. Prepared by Laura Crossland and David Moran, the Modern Art colt will be set for the $150,000 New South Wales Breeders Challenge at Menangle on June 30 followed by a possible tilt at the Gr.1 $100,000 Queensland Derby at Albion Park on July 20. “I’m pretty sure we will bypass New Zealand and give him a freshen up before getting ready for the Breeders Challenge and then the Queensland Derby all going well,” Crossland said. “Now that we’ve cracked a Group 1 victory, we’ve got to start planning ahead,” she added. Exciting freshman Jilliby Nitro justified the huge boom with a race record victory in the Gr.1 $100,000 Gold Crown Final when leading throughout in a time of 1:53.8 for the 1730m feature. Unbeaten in three starts, the Bettors Delight colt is prepared by Marg Lee. And with a raft of features coming up, the exciting rookie will stay on home soil. “We’ve got the Australian Pacing Gold series in Brisbane within the next month while the New South Wales Breeders Challenge and then the Breeders Crown are at the end of the term,” Lee explained. “He’s a lovely colt with great speed; he’s very good in front but we think he’s just as good off cover.” But the connections of a pair of Australian-based pacers are keen to have a crack at the Jewels – Duke Of Wellington and Lulu Le Mans. Both are New Zealand bred. Leading owner Marv Butterworth is keen to head back to New Zealand this month with his star pacer for a shot at the four-year-old features (Taylor Mile & Messenger) at Alexandra Park before heading south for the Jewels. Duke Of Wellington is a last start winner of the Gr.2 $50,000 Melton Plate on March 23. And co-trainers Aaron Goadsby and Mark Jones are hoping to stamp their ticket to the Jewels with the regally bred filly Lulu Le Mans. “We’re keen as mustard to give it a go,” said Goadsby. “We’re looking at starting her over here this weekend and then fly to Auckland next week in preparation for the Sires Stakes and then back down to Christchurch for the Jewels. “It would look silly if she gets an invite after racing in Auckland.” In four starts to date, Lulu Le Mans scored a first-up victory at Newcastle before being unplaced after making an error while being placed in both the Gr.2 $50,000 Sapling Stakes and Pink Bonnet at Menangle in her next two starts. “We think quite a bit of her and the efforts in the features at Menangle were very good, the times back that up. I think she would measure very well anywhere we took her. “We took her to the trials last weekend and I was very pleased with the effort, she keeps improving all the time which is a good sign. “As I said, she’ll be competitive in anything she contests.” View the full article

Maybe your lack of understanding derives from not having all the facts. There is still a strong market for a hard copy form guide. However it will never be profitable as long as one inefficient player in the market has a monopoly on inputs and uses its very large source of revenue to exert unfair competition. You would find if the playing field was fair and even then a hard copy AND an online version with opinion pieces and editorial would survive. But no one can compete fairly with the NZRB behemoth who for the last 20 years have wasted 100's of millions of dollars.

Personally if the name changes and I've been a Canterbury supporter for 50 years and all through the Crusaders lifetime then my support will be seriously challenged. The PC BS has to stop. You can't rewrite history nor should you apologise for it. How about calling them the Canterbury Confederates?

How about something for this Friday or even "Premier Day Saturday"? As I said front up!

Yes Hedley you have shown foresight however I for one have not left you on your own. The Informant's demise might just be the rallying cry that the industry needs.

You didn't mention that at one stage the first three were all competing with each other. Secondly the Turf Digest and Best Bets were in one stable Fairfax. Fairfax wanted out and at the same time starting asking for exorbitant amounts for Newspaper liftouts. Along came the NZRB and paid way over the top to Fairfax. Way over. I knew one of the editors at Fairfax and to say they were laughing all the way to the bank would be an understatement. The Informant steps up. Not only did they provide a hard copy form guide and editorial but they took on many unemployed New Zealand racing journalists. So the NZRB trying to make things profitable arguably used anti-competitive behaviour to make it difficult for any other entrants. Access to form feeds was denied. The Racing Desk became a propaganda machine for their bosses and we were left to digest banal cookie cut articles each week about racing. If you combined the circulation of the current non-profitable Best Bets with The Informant then you would have at the very least a break even model combined with a stable full of enthusiastic independent journalists. Your statement about online is where it is at is indicative of the NZRB's lack of understanding of the New Zealand market. Hence the lack of take up of the new flash TAB website and app. You would find that many who subscribe to Best Bets and The Informant don't even have email addresses let alone know how to drive around a website. I assure you that I'm as technically savvy as anyone and I still like getting my hard copy form guide each week which is supplemented by any online research that I may have done. NZRB have got it completely wrong - the young technically savvy market may be where the future is at but the future for NZ Racing looks a long way off. You don't butcher your bread and butter market to move into a high risk albeit lower cost market. Free to view, closing provincial racecourses, no newspaper inserts, closing TAB outlets, no hard copy form guides, difficult to use TAB websites and so on and so on. Any one would think the NZRB is on a death march!

Wanganui Race Scratchings R1: R2: R3: R4: R5: R6: R7: R8: TAB Meeting # 4 with the first of 8 races starting at 1:02pm Doubles: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 Trebles: 2-3-4, 6-7-8 Quaddies: 1-2-3-4, 5-6-7-8 Track conditions: Slow 7 Weather: Fine Rail: Out 3.5 1000m – 400m, remainder out 2m Track: Left hand 1650m Length of straight: 325m BIG […] Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

To correct you. How much is the Best Bets subsidised by the NZRB? Their "alternative" publication to The Informant. Do you know that The Informant has to source it's fields information from Australia because the NZRB won't play ball? As I said in the.blog post one or two wasted salaries at the NZRB would make The Informant profitable. Competition is fine when the playing field isn't stacked.

I can 100 per cent understand the frustrations around superstar pacing filly Princess Tiffany. Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

No. Closing everything. My sources tell me that they have been done over for some time by the NZRB. Time for all good industry stakeholders who like independent thought to rally to the cause. Probably one less salary at the NZRB would keep the publication going.

Today we have seen the only remaining truly independent racing industry publication "hang the bridle on the wall." The Informant has ceased to publish. Why? In my opinion the blame lies firmly at the feet of the NZRB. Over the next few days BOAY will be asking some very pertinent questions to those in charge. For example: How much is the NZRB funded Best Bets costing the industry? Does it make a profit? What is its circulation? 800? Or more? Does the Best Bets pay for its form feeds? Was The Informant given the same deal? How much does the industry fund the NZ Racing Desk for its banal follow the corporate line journalism? Why were the "manager's at the door" when Dennis Ryan was talking to Peter Early? Where are the NZ TAB turnover figures? The Informant may be gone for the moment but the industry must continue to ask the hard questions.

Gael Murray is well known as a preparer of yearlings for the Premier Sale but she has just been... Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Ever since the Gr. 1 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham three weeks ago, I have been kicking myself for not including... Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Fiery Ferret is one of three horses Roxburgh trainers Geoff and Jude Knight start at Forbury Park on Thursday night. Photo: Jonny Turner. Roxburgh trainers Geoff and Jude Knight have already delivered this week, now it is their stable’s turn. The couple line up three pacers from their smaller racing team at Forbury Park on Thursday night. The Knights have made changes to their training business after recently becoming rural mail contractors. Mixing their deliveries with training horses seems to be working, judging by their horses’ recent form. Candidasa will be out to cap his excellent recent efforts in race 10. The four-year-old went a big race in his last start at Forbury Park, when running second after sitting parked for the final lap. “He is probably in a harder race, but he went a really good race last week, when he was parked out,” Geoff Knight said. Candidasa has been able to lift his game during the autumn after being treated for a soreness issue. “He had soreness issues in his stifles and we had them treated.” “Now that he is not feeling anything, he is double the horse.” “He is still quite weak, so, we reckon next year he could be quite a nice horse, without being top class.” The Knight stable have a two-pronged attack on race 9, with Jacks N Jazz and Fiery Ferret. Jacks N Jazz also ran second at the track last week and looks a good chance of going one better in this week’s standing start event. “He has only got to go a similar sort of race to the one he went last week and he will be in the hunt.” “And he is good from a stand, too.” Jacks N Jazz came out and ran his bold second placing just three days after going an absolute shocker on a wet grass track at Wingatui. Knight said that once his pacer lost his confidence after slipping, he was a non-factor in Monday’s race. “He likes the grass, but he slipped that day at Wingatui.” “He wears such a long hopple that once he galloped there was no chance of him getting back down again.” Fiery Ferret ran eighth at last week’s Forbury Park meeting, but was only beaten three and a half lengths. “He raced really well last week even though he only ran eighth.” “It was a good run because he hadn’t had a run for a month, he will be a big improver.” “And the stand won’t worry him.” View the full article

You've NEVER tipped anything BEFORE a race. You have two days to front up or piss off.

Clint Ford is well aware of the massive task ahead of Marcoola in Friday night’s New Zealand Trotting Championship. The 2600m feature will be his first start since a failed Great Southern Star bid in 2600m in January. And he will do it with the what must rank as one of the quietest ever ‘prep’ runs ahead of a Group 1 race in recent history. Marcoola comes in to the race after winning a Methven workout in an incredibly sedate 2.24.4 mile-rate last Sunday. Ford said he had little option but to contain his Dominion-winning speedster when two of the four horses he competed against were not in his league. “The last couple of weeks it has been hard to get a workout around the place. “We have been to Motukarara twice and they have cancelled them. So, we went to Methven. “Justin Smith’s horse [Look Ahead] had only won one race, so you just can’t blitz past them. “That does them as much good as it does you.” Marcoola held out race rival Destiny Jones by a length after clocking a 65.5sec last 800m. The slow hit-out did his rival no harm. The seven-year-old mare came out six days later and ran third behind Sundees Son and Speeding Spur in last week’s free-for-all trot at Addington. Ford said lining up in that race was not an option he felt he could take with Marcoola. Neither was the handicap event Marcoola accepted for at Addington earlier last month. “I would have like to put him in that mobile race last week, but he would have drawn wide. “I would have liked to him in that race the week before and given him a quiet run, but you get yourself in trouble with the stipes. “So, you might as well save it all up.” Ford said Marcoola’s ability to run well fresh offset his unusual build up for tomorrow night’s Group 1. He goes pretty good fresh; probably most of his races he has been pretty fresh going in to them. “He is not a heavy horse, he is pretty fit and he is pretty lean. “He is not a big, gross stallion; he is more of an athletic looking horse.” Clint Ford. Photo: Race Images Though Friday night’s race is a Group 1 event, it will also serve as a stepping stone towards Marcoola’s main end of season goal, the Rowe Cup. “That is the aim, they are all stepping stones until there. “But you have to prove you worth there this week and then look to that trip to Auckland.” Ford has a tricky tactical task ahead of him after Marcoola drew in the middle of the front line at barrier 6. He has two of his main rivals, Kings Landing and Speeding Spur, drawn inside him in barriers 3 and 4, respectively. Speeding Spur bounced back from his own failure in the Great Southern Star when powering home from last to run second to Sundees Sun in last week’s 1980m free-for-all. Kings Landing faces his toughest test to date in Friday night’s race though he thoroughly deserves his shot at Group 1 glory after his stunning run of form this season. The All Stars trotter comes in to the event after beating up on a moderate field at Addington two weeks ago. Winterfell and Sundees Sun have drawn outside Marcoola in barriers 7 and 8, respectively. Sundees Sun was stunning in his seven-length demolition of last week’s free-for-all field. Most importantly, the trotter looked nothing like the fragile version of himself that was seen in the Four and Five-Year-Old Trotting Championship the week prior. Winterfell ran third in that event and never looked a winning hope. The Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen-trained square-gaiter is almost certain to strip a fitter and more competitive prospect this week. View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(2)Following the running of Race 7 the “Pat McGirr Memorial Trot” an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward Mr R Quirk alleging a breach of Rule 869(2) by Open Driver Mr G Hunt. The information alleged, You used your whip on more occasions than permitted by Clause (b) of the Use Of Whip Regulations. ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)Mr Davidson alleged that Mr Callaway (FINBARR) in race 8, the ASCOT SPORTS BAR HANDICAP 1200 metres, permitted his mount to shift inwards passing the 75 metres when not clear resulting in FRIAR TUCK (K Chowdhoory) being checked. Mr McLaughlin, Stipendiary Steward, demonstrated on the films that prior ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 870(5) and the Breaking Horses RegulationsFollowing the running of race 7, the Pat McGirr Memorial Trot, an information instigating a protest was filed by Stipendiary Steward Mr R Quirk, against TEQUILA SUNSET (K Cameron), placed 3rd by the judge, on the grounds that it “broke prior to, and over the line and was lapped on by horses’ number 3 ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 642(1)Following the running of race 5, the LONE STAR CAFÉ & BAR HANDICAP 2130 metres, Ms Morris, the rider of the 2nd horse, BEAUFIGHTER, lodged a protest under r 642(1) against the 1st horse, MAC MURDOCH, alleging interference by the winner passing the 100 metres. The official placings were: 1st 5 MAC MURDOCH ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article