Happy Sunrise

So when does it start racing?

A shame for the club but at least they can feel like a North Island Galloping or Trotting club for a week. Maybe Gore needs a synthetic track??

The heart of harness is in Canterbury region but that is dependent on having a consistent tier down from Addington racing on both grit and grass. Attendance only happens at grass track meetings because it is a (cheap / fun / family) day out but it creates everything that is good about harness racing. Have a look at Motukarara. Southland do well with a predominantly all weather racing surface but know when head off to the right regions at the right time eg Cromwell at New Year. The North Island have no idea and are shooting themselves in the foot with their programming. The irony is the upper North has a big population who go on holiday to all the places they could race at but what do they do? The opposite of what happens in the other regions. 180 nominations shows the death spiral harness could be on up north. Hey, but who gives a dam.

She's A Rebel won at Forbury first up paying $1.80 and they talked her up, albeit, against a moderate field but now she can't even finish a race proper. Woman in Gold was going for a spell two weeks ago but comes out yesterday and wins for Regan Todd.

Ego denting to the sycophants.

Oscar B was disappointing and if they have plans for a venture to North America they might have to have a rethink since his bubble has burst to a degree. Majestic Man couldn't win with a drive like that. Sitting in the running line and get pushed back to last with a lap to go. Chase Auckland had every chance, Triple 8 sitting parked had no chance and AG's was sound. So, we go from destroying the meek Aussies at Auckland to not being able to beat them in their own backyard. The Fixer seems to be in a funk but at least Belle of Montana is showing how good she is.

What a f**king hoot. Good to see the rubbish that was presented as investigative journalism was pulled up for the crock of shite it was. It was said by a few on here at the time that it was biased but those lovers of the spinning would have none of it.

I might add Sagano opening at 1.85ff drawn one on the second line over 1850m in the last would have to be one of the most bizarre quotes the TAB has offered up for a long time.

I thought Kayla Maguire would go ok in the last at 13ff. Tequila Sunset at 14ff and a real bolter in Uno Mia at 41s. The best bet should be Vacation Hill at 3ff. Should be a good day of grass track racing with decent sized fields.

Nice work.

I have been betting more on tote than I have ever before.

They look after their own backyard.

They bring them out at any old time these days but it is usually 4pm. If you have something you like you have to be super vigilant. Especially on a Saturday when it can be as early as 2pm.

It just leaves races open to undue influence and at worst manipulation. Not that I have any proof as it is just my perception. I won't bet in races with 3 or 4 purdon runners just as I wouldn't bet on a race with 3 or 4 Dunn, McGrath, House or Knight horses. 8 stablemates in a race is ludicrous. It really is.

He doesn't really train them does he? More like a transport option and caregiver of the horses. He takes them up and then they return to the original trainer? I could look more closely but can't be bothered lol. All I know is that I don't bet at Manawatu anymore .

Sure do. That was a shocker.

The Sapling Stakes is on at Ashburton on February 22nd which isn't far away so maybe some horses would like a run before it? There is only one other 2 year old race in the South Island (other than this one with 5 acceptors at Addington) which is in Southland. So it seems the Sapling Stakes will be a glorified trial for $30 000 for the All Stars barn. There will be about 7 horses in the race with next to no exposed form, 4 or 5 which will be from AS so it is a done deal. Pretty bloody lame to me. I always thought the Sapling Stakes was a worthy race back in the day but not anymore. It is actually a meaningless race that carries a Group 3 tag which is a farce. You can keep playing the wind brodie up game and turn the thread into a back and forth jibe fest or decide to actually comment on the questions he posed.

Alan Clark might have all of them? Well, the trotters anyway. I see 3 of the 5 are fillies too. There have been a few at the trials but obviously haven't been sent to race day yet.

Well, you could ask a few questions... Such as how many trotters do you think you would make it to Kapiti? Is a $12000 Wellington Cup trot valued much more than a $10 000 dollar non winner trot by trainers? How does the Wellington Cup have a R40 front and at the same time you run a R40 handicap trot? Is it worth even having a Wellington Cup when you can't get an appropriate class of horse? Is 3000m beyond low class horses? I might be missing some key points but seems odd.

Did you choke on your weetbix's when you read about Mr O and Chloe ? ? He is such a good driver I can't remember the last time this happened! He would probably have asked for directions to the stipes room. However, it confirms my belief that a horse can't be disqualified no matter what a driver does down the straight.

Some probably having a rest after Blenheim and then the opportunity of 3 weeks of grass in a row.

I was thinking more in terms of the numbers and the finishes. Grass tracks need big fields but with only 9 or so in a few races it really contributed to lacklustre racing. Having them coming in at intervals is not exhilarating. The calibre of horse at Mot yesterday was hardly flash either.

The grass track racing at Rotorua was poor and was light years removed from the quality of Banks Pen or Methven. North Island trotting is basically without a product. They might as well shut down everywhere except Alex Park and Cambridge and become made for TV.

A bit different watching horses run past the All Stars. From the few I saw they Aussies served it up big time, I think a few in NZ could learn from them instead of constantly bowing to them and trying to run third. What happened to Oscar B? I didn't see the race but an 8th, 9 lengths away, seems hard to believe.

I dare you! If Self Assured can get beaten by a few lengths tonight then Tonique DF can win tomorrow.