Happy Sunrise

I am only going to make one observation about the other site and then forget it forever. When I was in my self-imposed exile I still had a look now and again but I knew that site was finished with the 'Dunn' thread I believe it was. When pound4pound came on throwing accusations around, swearing and seriously threatening people about comments made about the Dunn inquiry, and was allowed to, even to the point of the moderator moderating his posts for him (deleting swearing at people) I knew the site would never be the same, if not finished. He even made the ridiculous claim that Brodie was one who was making claims against the Dunns. If one had read the thread it was obvious Brodie was actually on the Dunn's side. It was bizarre. Even more bizarre was the moderator's support of it all. Even (I keep using that word) FTM, KH and their mates ran for cover for days such was the fear. That site is about WHO you are and not WHAT you write. Not sure if they know each other but I am happy to be here airing my humble opinions about something I really enjoy. Thanks to all those involved on BOAY for giving me the opportunity.

Very True.

I was a troublemaker. And damn proud of it.

See he has been sold to the States. I suppose we now get our chance to see how good our superstars really are as he is in his prime. Albeit only 4 races. Ain't no Christen Me about this boy. One would hope he goes well in his 4 races or it could burst his bubble a bit in the northern hemisphere. New Zealand's greatest racehorse Lazarus has been sold to a North American syndicate in a record deal and will not race here again. The $3.8million earner will leave for the US on May 24 where he will be aimed at a possible four-race mini career in an attempt to secure a major win there to help his dual hemisphere stallion credentials. While the exact price is confidential the Herald estimates it must be close to $4million when the other public offer for the five-year-old stallion is taken into account. Lazarus has been purchase by US thoroughbred breeding giant Taylor Made Stallions, a Kentucky-based operation run by the Taylor brothers, who started their racing lives in harness racing but have concentrated on thoroughbred breeding and yearling preparation for the last three decades. It is believed they have recently reignited their interest in standardbred breeding by purchasing at least part of champion US trotter What The Hill but the Lazarus deal, put together by South Auckland agent John Curtin, breaks new ground. While North America's best horses shuttling here to stand at stud in their off-season is common, trying to turn an Australasian standardbred into a dual hemisphere stallion is extremely rare. Christian Cullen stood one season at stud in the US but without having raced there was never going to be hugely commercial. Lazarus will be given his chance with two races at the famous Red Mile track in October targeted as well as the Breeders Crown at Pocono, a series his new connections would need to pay a supplementary payment to make him eligible for. But he will head to the US without his champion trainer Mark Purdon, with two of North America's leading trainers apparently in the frame to take over his training. If, and it is a big if, Lazarus could win a serious race in the US and pace a super fast mile he has the attributes to become that rare dual hemisphere stallion. In his 45 start career he has proven to be one of the greatest stayer bred in this part of the world, with some remarkable wins in two New Zealand Cups, an Inter Dominion, Hunter and Victoria Cups. But just as importantly from a stallion appeal point of view he was a sensational two and three-year-old, suggesting his stock will have the natural speed to run early. And he is bred on Australasia's golden cross, being by breed-defining stallion Bettors Delight out of a Christian Cullen mare. The one down side to that he is obviously can't serve Bettors Delight mares, who could be the dominant broodmare bunch in Australasia over the next decade. Details on where he will stand and for which studs in either hemisphere are yet to be decided. His departure will sadden many local harness racing fans as it means Lazarus will not get the chance to attempt a third New Zealand Cup win at Addington in November. And with several other high profile retirements or exports in the last year - Smolda, Heaven Rocks, Vincent being the biggest - next season's open class pacing ranks looks the most open in a decade. LAZARUS Breeding: 5h Bettors Delight-Bethany Trainers: Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen. Record: 45 starts, 35 wins, nine placings. Earnings: $3,821,066. Highlights: New Zealand Cup (twice), Inter Dominion, Hunter Cup, Victoria Cup, Chariots Of Fire, Messenger, Taylor Mile, New Zealand, Northern and Victoria Derbys, Harness Jewels 2-yo, Sires' Stakes Final 3-y-o.

Globe, tell us your next tip or Flag and I will see you on course somewhere and we will rub your head for some good luck...

Only grass to do with money changing hands at the moment is slightly shadier than punting with the TAB

Would love to throw some names into the hat but haven't got anything.

Gosh...Kakama...I couldn't catch u after the run I got.... Cast A Shadow was tough as. As for Machitelli, not flash, but taking a trail and having a sleepy run would have been nice.

I am in the mood for multis ? Cheers Fellas.

How about The Go To Man in Race 10? Alway roundabouts and has run some good races against better horses. Handy odds too from my favourite draw tomorrow.

Just working my way back into the punting so take anything I say with caution. But, I thought Machitelli in Race 5 might be worth a look tomorrow from the draw. 15 FF and 3.50 FF, seems very backable odds. Especially the place. Hasn't had the best of runs recently but hasn't been far away and should appreciate the number 1 draw tomorrow. Could it trail Just Dance from the get go? She won her first start like a good horse from draw 1 and hasn't had a real good draw since. She heads into her 7th start with saddlecloth 1 so maybe the time is ripe for her to get some form back. Thoughts? Anyone got anything else?

Just like some of the people present ?

Nice work, basil. Very interesting.

I was racking my brain to remember the unruly but very good trotter he had. Thanks, Richie!

I don't think Majestic Man falls into the category Brodie is talking. In fact, a long way out of it. Think he means the fringe horses.

Umm no. You couldn't get two more different punters on the planet. It was just a joke because they don't like the mile start at Addington. A rare meeting of two minds.

The reality of the decision 30 April 2018 By Michael Guerin The emotion of Ashburton losing the Harness Jewels next season is vastly different from the reality of the decision. HRNZ voted that the hosting rights for the code’s second biggest day will go to Addington next year after Ashburton has held the South Island-based rights to the meeting since 2007. Cambridge will hold this season’s meeting, which rotates between the North and South Islands, on June 2 and no decision has been made on the northern host for 2020. But if Cambridge have a successful meeting this season, and the early indications are very positive, then they will almost certainly retain their hosting rights. Ashburton losing the Jewels will be an emotional decision for many who believe the $1.275milion meeting sits better at a provincial track rather than at the major city tracks like Addington. And that emotion is understandable. Jewels days at Ashburton have produced some magical moments on the best mile racing track in the country. But off the track the day had started to feel stale, with few new innovations in recent seasons to suggest the day was moving forward. However it has emerged that is not the reason the Jewels will move to Addington next season, rather it is a glaring hole in the Ashburton club. The area is a strong hold of New Zealand harness racing but the actual club has no full-time administrator at present. The club’s long-time boss Fiona Stuart stood down last season because of ill health while her assistant Gareth Murfitt has taken a job at Riccarton. So there is nobody actually working in the office at Ashburton and while next season’s Jewels are 13 months away it would have been foolish, bordering on a dereliction of duty, if HRNZ has voted to retain the Jewels at a club with effectively no employees apart from a track manager. Ashburton’s proposal indicated they would employ a project manager to oversee the Jewels for four or five months but most major race clubs in New Zealand start their planning and build-up to their major carnival the day after the last one finished. To put nearly $1.3million of the industry’s money and its second biggest day after New Zealand Cup day in the hands of a club without a paid employee to start planning immediately would be unprofessional. HRNZ boss Edward Rennell realises the move will be unpopular is some quarters of the industry although that is nothing new as barely any decision in harness racing these days meets with universal approval. But he says the door is far from closed on Ashburton hosting Jewels day again. “The Ashburton club have been through some changes and will obviously go through some more but they have a lot to be proud of over the last decade of holding the Jewels and I hope they come back with a bid for the series in 2021,” said Rennell. “But we are also lucky as an industry we have Addington coming on board because we know they can run a big event, they don’t come any bigger than New Zealand Cup day.” The move to Addington will see the first Jewels races run not over the mile distance, with the nine group one races to be staged over 1950m next season as Addington’s mile start point is ridiculous. (MG... AKA Brodie..haha) Plenty to talk about in Mick Guerin's article. Hope they keep Cambridge. Can't see Ashburton holding it again once Addington gets it claws into it. Tough blaming Ashburton Trotting Club for things being stale off the track when it is the same old thing on it. The sparkle has gone off the day anyway. Why couldn't Cambridge share their innovations if they are being successful for the betterment of the industry? Seems very localised and each to their own devices if Ashburton are not doing well. Where is the central leadership in all this?

It will be for far better and bigger reasons than avoiding the All-Stars.

Globe, I simply doubt they wanted to.

Maybe it just allows the people involved eg trainers and owners to place their horse better ( ie: transfer between meetings / get away from fields that are too strong for their horse...Purdon effect? ) and then it makes it more likely to have consistent field numbers when fields are made and fewer races are consequently decimated by scratchings. Just speculating, as I don't really know why they do it. My answer may be starting at the mile mark at Addington off a bad draw...

Ashburton won't be getting it back anytime soon. They could have easily got staff from other racecourses eg Addington to take on the job of running the Jewels at Ashburton. Heavens, the Addington ones organise Cup Week so a one-day event at Ashburton is not going to be too difficult. Doesn't seem like much effort was put into saving it at Ashburton.

Yet, Waimate spends $400 000 on new facilities to keep racing. The logic is non-existent when Oamaru is down the road. Long Live Forbury!!!!

That stand could tell a few stories..... Hard to imagine it used to be full of people drinking, walking out to watch a race then migrate back in. And if you decided to sit down in the stand you would need to scan the crowd to find an empty aisle. It is a shame it is gone. The public stand created an atmosphere all by itself. The soul of Addington has never been replaced. It never resided in a stand that was past the winning post!

1950, please. The mile rates will still be pretty meaningful and fast I imagine.

Seems like a flash version of the same old thing. The odds changes is new and apart from that nothing else, unless someone else tells me. I suppose a real punter lives on HRNZ anyway....