Happy Sunrise

Highland Reign drive? Mmmm.

Super last start Katie Cox can train a horse. No doubts in my mind. Ava Adore killed me yesterday winning from that draw as I was hoping it wouldn't get anywhere as it was going to win one at short notice.

Are you Brodie? ?

I thought BOAY posters would be coming from the clouds to back Doctor Tim after Show Day! To agree with Newmarket, BK Dawn at 5FF for the place is what I will throw forward. I like Baker Creek as a horse and will win one soon but a heavy track at the Mot may not be her go. Hope to be proved wrong.

Yes, always runs well. Going good races in stronger fields. I thought she was a shoe in another time she raced at Geraldine but disappointed me so a touch wary but will probably include her somehow today.

Geraldine is on the river bed so shouldn't cut up too much but will be dead at best. Motukarara could be off. Doesn't seem to cope with lots of rain. Not sure how much it got during the week but wouldn't need another batch of persistent rain.

Well, the TAB aren't coming to the party with the longshots as the odds are a bit tight. However, I like Young Stranger as he is in form and getting back to the grass. A bit tight at FF6.20 but his 3rd at Methven awhile back was good. He was skittled at Addington last start but showed he is still firing with a win at the Methven trials last week. The old boy might just run them off their feet and get another win as he loves the course. I also like Beau Vista if he can get handy from his draw. Back to the grass (9-1-2) will be good and has won on a wet track before too. A bit short at FF5.50 so might be better on the tote. Zoe's Gift has 2 placings on the grass, one in the wet, she ran on very well late in the piece to Sundon's Flyer and was still enjoying her work after the finishing post so at 7FF she might be worth a bet. If it rains here could be a few bolters.... Overam at FF11.50 has very good grass track form (4-2-1) with a placing on a wet track. Seems a better horse on the green stuff as he beat Shadow Minister in April at Methven then a second to Prestopans at the same track recently. McLovin at 11FF is back to the grass (9-2-2) and in the wet (3-1-2) after a long while so if he leads out and gets handy as he can do then he might be there at the finish.

Unless you are an amateur driver or a hobby trainer in which case you will be watched a bit more closely.

There is no best way. You can have a conservative or aggressive way but that depends on your punting personality and risk tolerance. For me, attacking things all depends on what your study throws up...could be each way, could be a place multi or when the fields are too even it might be a quaddie or such like. The secret is study. You can eliminate most horses that way and sometimes you find diamonds. Only downside is finding the time to do study! Mabye some real punters can throw light on it.

No point in entering in 2019 fellas. The Brodster will enter next year as he will be able to get any FF bet on. I strongly suggest you run your TAB accounts dry or withraw all funds by the final next year as the TAB will cease to exist after Brodie is on the money and has taken them to the cleaners. ?

Aren't I a dick. This changed recently or am I still a dick? I bet. Hard enough doing it for one race let alone a meeting. That is why I ask my original question about how the TAB Form was produced so quickly for Geraldine. It didn't make sense to me. And the TAB stopped it? Upped turnover and they shut it down....at least they are consistent lol So you were genuine in what you did. Good man. The TAB decided for a new gimmick? Is the Shark one or several people in the Canterbury region like the TAB Form? Or is the Shark the Whale's representative in the South Island? ?

Oh really, I thought he would have had sole charge of this area. Seems like it is written by the same person as the phrases and terminology are pretty consistent.

Clint Ford on Marcoola a strong candidate. After the sleepy effort of the drivers in Cup and the only slightly better effort of the drivers in the Dominion. Clint deserved to steal it from them. It is rare to see a driver take the initiative so obviously (only Dexter does that) so well done him. Hope it wakes a few of them up as a result.

Noticed that very soon after the fields were put out the TAB Form (Trotech) for Saturday's meeting was already up which suprised me no end. I am sure Mr Fitzgerald ( I believe I am right in saying that) is very knowledgeable but do I take the fact that it was up so quickly as a sign of deep expertise or a sign or it is just a somewhat superficial tipster sheet put together quickly with little real thought? Especially, given there are no real outsiders picked or any consideration for the amount of rain that has fallen on the track. I know it will be put to me that the answer is in the results on Saturday but I am asking pre-meeting what value punters find in the TAB Form?

Off to Australia for mile racing. Wow. That will be interesting to see if those legs of his can still sprint. Brilliantly talented horse whose win in the NZ Derby should be remembered for a long time. Shame he never had a true crack at the NZ Cup because there were fewer tougher. NZ can't seem to keep any type of horse now but Locharburn doesn't have a future in NZ with his age and rating. I hope he goes super over there. Locharburn headed to Tritton 19 November 2018 By Adam Hamilton CLASSY Kiwi pacer Locharburn is heading to NSW to continue his career. The son of Christian Cullen will be flown to Sydney to join Shane and Lauren Tritton’s stable and be aimed at the Miracle Mile. Owner-trainer Kevin Chapman said it would be an emotional time when Locharburn left the barn for Sydney on Friday. “He’s part of the family, but it’s the right thing to do for him. So much work has gone into getting him back from a tendon and a suspensory. He’s really well now, but he can only run in the best races here,” he said. “He’s also not suited to how the races are run here, just sit-up and sprint home. He can run back-to-back 57sec halves, but not a 59sec and a 54sec. “He also hates Auckland. I know he’s run some good races there as a younger horse, but he just doesn’t go anywhere near as well the opposite way.” Chapman said he chose Tritton because of his record rejuvenating older horses the “drop-back” handicapping system at Menangle. “Shane says they can earn $60,000 a year at Menangle without having to beat the best ones,” Chapman said. “It would be great to see the horse drop back in class and find winning form again. Tritton can’t wait for Locharburn to join the barn. “He’s a really serious horse at his top and I reckon he’ll love the Menangle mile racing,” he said. “It’s a real buzz for us that Kevin’s decided to send him across and give us a go with him. “He’s a bit like Franco Nelson when he came to us. He’s had his issues, but our system here seems to get the best out of these older horses. “We’re really looking forward to getting him across and into our system.” Locharburn’s 39 starts have netted 14 wins, eight seconds a third. He was a superstar at three, winning the NZ Derby and finishing second to Tiger Tara in the Northern Derby and second to Isaiah in the NZ Sales Series’ final. As an older horse, Locharburn’s best win came in the 2016 Eastern Cup at Group 1 level, beating Smolda.

Looking at that photograph again I am forced to wonder why there is a Kebab and Coffee shop directly in front of the stand? It breaks RULE 1 of harness racing; NEVER block the view of the track! No matter how much I love a Lamb Kebab!

He also had those GNP horses who showed plenty of talent. They were lost to Aussie as well.

and live off his winning divvies ?

I severely doubt it. If Raukapuka Ruler can be sold for 80 000 in the form he is in then it is highly unlikely potential topliners can be held onto. There is no way Raukapuka Ruler would ever win 80 grand from this day on by racing in NZ. He has no chance against the AllStars so would be competing for crumbs. Unfortunately the same for 3 year olds etc. It is a brick wall. I noticed during Cup Week that Tiger Tara has won $1.5 million while Locharburn has won only roughly $450 000 (admittedly he has been severely handicapped by injury) In my book, Locharburn was a better horse at 3 and would have been a better older horse too but I doubt he would have won as much as Tiger Tara if he had stayed in NZ and ended up racing against Lazarus and the Blue Army. So if you have a promising horse it is sell sell sell..and who can blame them.

It struck me during Cup Week that Ken Barron does not have a top liner going round. Hard to believe considering some of the very good intermediate horses he has had recently. Does he have a policy of selling these good pacers for very good money after a few wins? Anyone know? The open pacing ranks sure do miss the presence of his horses and training ability. He is a top liner in my book.

Looking at that field there were 5 Aussies in the final out of a field of 13. Now we might have one or two simply competing. Bit sad.

This was the saddest harness racing day of my life! Aussies 1, 2 and 3.........Nooooooooooooooo!

A 'great' piece of photograph from AJ Berry. Brings back memories of John Dunn being flung through the air on the Coast 2 or so years ago ,and showing my age, Maria Perriton doing the same at Addington donkeys years ago. Boy, did she fly. I have so much respect for those drivers and jockeys who go out there and race among all that horseflesh. Bravery personified.

Pretty disappointing that only one or two kiwis might end up at supposedly the biggest thing in southern hemisphere harness. God, will it even be worth watching the pacers go round. Probably, but won't be quite the same without a kiwi in each heat. At least the trotters will be represented. Here is the article from the informant. More informative journalism from them. New Zealand’s participation in the upcoming Inter Dominion Pacing Championship is in tatters with only one horse, and maybe two, likely to take part.Ten horses are currently in the rankings for the series, which starts at Melton Saturday week (December 1) and carries a A$500,000 Final on December 15.But in the fall out of New Zealand Cup week at Addington, only New Zealand Free For All winner Cruz Bromac remains standing, the rest, except Pat’s Delight and Spankem, all confirmed as not competing.Co-trainer Mark Purdon confirmed to The Informant on Monday morning that Eamon Maguire, Spankem, Dream About Me, Turn It Up and All U Need Is Faith would be withdrawn from the series.By afternoon he upgraded Spankem to a ‘maybe’, opting to give further consideration to the Kaikoura Cup winner in the next 48 hours.Eamon Maguire has gone to co-owner Trevor Casey’s property for a brief let-up while Dream About Me will be set for feature mares’ races in Auckland next month, including the Group 1 Queen of Hearts on December 14.Star Galleria will not be going either, according to trainer Steven Reid, nor will fellow open class pacer A G’s White Socks, who will instead target the Green Mile at Methven on December 2.Mitchell Kerr has also decided not to take his stable star, Forgotten Highway.Pat Kubala, owner of Pat’s Delight, said he and trainer Cran Dalgety were going to discuss the series and make a decision today (Monday).“Cran’s going to ring me today and we’ll look at the various options and plans.”The series will, at this stage, be headlined by the local Victorian pacers San Carlo and Shadow Sax, who share favouritism with the Tim Butt-trained Let It Ride.Tiger Tara, off the back of a mixed New Zealand trip, where he placed in the Cup behind Thefixer but failed in the Free For All on Show Day, will also be there for trainer Kevin Pizzuto.Things are a little different for the Inter Dominion Trotting Championship, which will be held concurrently for the first time since 2012 and have a A$150,000 Final.Eight New Zealand-trained trotters are currently in the rankings and, at this stage, four are still likely to face the starter at Melton on December 1.The biggest withdrawal is Auckland trotter Temporale, who is ranked third for the series, trainer Tony Herlihy confirming plans for the trip have been abandoned.Others to come out are Canterbury square-gaiters Harrysul and Hey Yo.Robert Dunn, trainer of up and coming trotter Woodstone, could not be reached for confirmation though it is understood he is unlikely to go either.Flying the flag will be the series’ top-ranked trotter, Speeding Spur, co-trainer Josh Dickie saying they are keen to go despite a travel hiccup.A rule in the series conditions says any horse wanting to compete has to be in Victoria on the day the fields are declared for the first round of heats – next Monday.“We were supposed to be flying over next Wednesday but have had to pull that forward to this Sunday.“It’s a little bit annoying but we can’t do much about it.“He arrived home yesterday (Sunday) and we’ll run some bloods and make sure everything is all good and get him through this week.“We are pretty keen to get there as it’s a prestigious serious and I’m confident we will.”Rounding out the New Zealand team will be the Phil Williamson-trained pair Monty Python and Alderbeck and Paul Nairn’s somewhat out-of-sorts mare, Wilma’s Mate.Williamson said the green light had been given to both trotters on Monday afternoon.

150 races....The Coast to Coast of punting championships! May I suggest you be drunk the whole 3 days because trying to find the winners of that many races will be hard work.