Happy Sunrise

The Whale V Brodie. A blockbuster showdown.

Best plunge I have seen for a long time.

Not often you see such a movement from that starting point to 3.90. Can't remember seeing it. Seems to be a lot of movers today. The Xmas dinner tables must have been full of winners.

Not sure how people survived in the 'old' days pre cell phones.

Is this right?

The little people are the 99% majority these days Legends, not battlers...? The life blood of harness racing and the thing that will keep the pulse ticking of the sport way into the future. Wait till we see race 1 on Trackside today at the Mot and the amount of people there. Everybody will be up close and personal on the outer rail. Great betting races, First 4s will jackpot most likely so a chance for people to hear about the opportunity of getting a big collect. Quaddies will be good too. Some of us may feel seasick watching the horses as they go over the crossing and there will be a false start thrown in courtesy of the starter but what a great day. And best of all, the cell phone coverage is shit house so people will actually have to talk to each other and watch the races!

When you have domination of the lead up to the NZ Cup in Spankem and The Fixer but then have another horse from the stable win the race, then domination in the Inter Doms by another horse in Ultimate Sniper, and then, produce a hot favourite in another totally different horse in Self Assured who did not start in either the Cup or Inters for the Auckland Cup one just raises their hands in defeat. And they have another horse in Another Masterpiece who produces a miracle run to win the the consolation in a very fast time who is not even in calculations for the Auckland Cup. No wonder South Island trainers are going to Omakau for 30k. It is a nice trip away. The horses have a chance of winning. Owners can feel like they like they can win and at least someone will experience the joy of winning. I am over the domination. Yes, it is exceptional, I have acknowledged it all before and I think Mark and Natalie are first class trainers, the best ever in NZ by far but it is boring as bat shit watching the open class pacing ranks. Good luck to the other stables in the race, you will need it. Hope you fluke a win. The big winner out of this is Omakau TC. Great for them to have such a good field for their big day. Hopefully TV1 can get there and do a follow up to their story about Ginger and Lionel. Maybe even Gabby's Star could win! Now that is something that may attract people to the races.

Does Motukarara today get a bigger crowd than Ellerslie on Boxing day? I think I read only 9000 turned up for there big day in our largest city. At least there will be no protesters at the triangle today which is a bonus. I backed Homebush Lad at 41s yesterday and I am really keen to see how he goes if can get away. I see Isla's Joy has come in from 81s to 14s in the same race which must be some sort of record. I also think Carita can win if he is clean gaited. Has moved in from 11s to 8s.

To be fair, at least Forbury, Timaru, Ashburton, Oamaru, Ranigora etc have grandstands as I am not sure Addington's qualifies anymore with its glass panes at higher levels.

The 30K at Oamakau is more inviting. At least someone can win that race.

At least the bird shit is cleaned up...mostly.

That is an omission. What is the future of the jewels? Maybe if it was gone we would bemoan it's disappearance.

Unfortunately not.

Read the above oldwhiteman. You can read the whole on their website.

I see HRNZ had this has a Xmas story but it is quite lame if I may say. Somewhat Box Seatish in its avoidance of anything controversial so I had a think about what has happened in 2019 and wrote about some of them. Mark McNamara left and I was shocked to see him calling country no names in Australia. A bit of a loss to say the least but Matt Cross has done well even though he gets the names of horses wrong occasionally ? but he is a rising talent. Both HRNZ and the TAB introduced new websites. Both seem to be built for mobile users so it took some getting used to and the TAB site took a lot of flak early on. HRNZ continues to be an excellent site full of information and lots of revelvant stories. Matty Williamson represented NZ at the World Drivers and performed creditably. The Aussie brigade at the NZ Cup and Inter doms were rubbish. Not just outperformed but smashed by the All Stars. They would be competitive against the rest of NZ lol. The RIU seem to be all over place. No consistency. Rulings are confusing. Starts are confusing, even the mobile ones at times. But hey, if they think they are doing a good job then it is fine ? INCA continues at a snail's pace. Some claim it is going nowhere and it is a sham but extra charges being laid recently must put those claims to the test. 2020 will be another holding year? Goodness knows who is charge or who is doing what and who is on what side. I wonder how Simon Lawson feels after getting 18 months for betting on another horse other than his own drive. That is efficiency if I have ever seen it. The money continues to pour into the coffers (of who I don't know) for those in charge of the whip rule. Polarising. Dream About Me retired after 11 groups 1s. I shouldn't say this but it barely causes a ripple as the All Stars machine just keeps pouring group one winners out. Dream About Me also joined a list of injured horses this year in Sweet On Me, Turn It Up, U May Cullect, Spankem and even Ultimate Sniper who missed the first part of the year due to a knee complaint. The attrition rate can be high. Both Inter dominion winners turned around their performances from before the series to defy the odds. Ultimate Sniper couldn't perform to a level to allow himself to get into the NZ Cup and Winterfell was a headcase. Remarkable . Speaking of headcases, Sundee's Sun in and out performances were remarkable. Another trotter not finding his groove was Monbet and surely he must be retired now. Shartin became the fastest mare of all time and amazingly Balraj went 1.49.1 after being just another horse in NZ. Methven got moved to Ashburton due to the track conditions and the world seemed to stop spinning for a short time. Never put farmers in charge of growing grass...? Mitchell Kerr made his name as a trainer with some standout horses like Smokin By and Matt Damon. Alta Maestro and Pat's Delight passed unexpectedly and the great mare Kym's Girl left us at the age of 24. Drivers need a pat on the back as their were very crashes or injured horses during the year. They all seem pretty competent (unless you are a hobby trainer, junior or amateur as then you may get treated like Jesus Christ on Good Friday by the stipes) The stories in the Star about fridge gas being used on horses to improve performance could become the big story of 2020 if found to be proven. INCA and this would be a horrendous PR mix so it needs to be sorted quickly. The Maurice Holmes Vase nearly didn't happen due to a shortage of entries until it was saved with a few late ones. Next year will be very interesting with the inter dominions after the Cup. It could kill the lead up races. But, the best story of the year was the Overzealous one. After the awful accident, it was great to the trainers and horses recovering somewhere back to their best. Not worth mentioning are the Box Seat - just rerun last year's shows and no one would notice and the excellence of the All Stars, as 2019, 2018, 2017 etc etc just merge into each other. I am a bit tired after trying to remember this stuff and write it so I might head to the fridge to replenish?

I am not that good at punting.

White flag hoisted by southern trainers in the pacing ranks for the Auckland. The 3 year old fillies race could be interesting with both the Dunn horses drawn together tight on the front line and Amazing Dream one on the second line. The big trot should be a good go if Majextic Man gets to the lead and stays there. The 200 000 PGG 3 year old looks interesting too. Maybe NZ Bloodstock need to sponsor a race like this in the future.

Just givemewhatIneed and I will be happy.

Johnny Cox gone for 5 days too. A few bizarre drives yesterday, none more than Ross Cameron on Saginaw! The TAB are not changing anytime soon, Brodie. Merry Xmas ? Westport tomorrow, and God only knows I will be looking for a winner.

Oscar will be gone overseas soon enough. The door will be open to the pretenders then.

81 and 16 on Thursday. You better get a couple EW on HTP.

It is a slippery slope ?

A bit scary for the starters assistant isn't it??

Cheddar Valley should win after what it showed at Mot. 1.80ff is short but looks talented.

John Dunn looked right and saw luminosity so then veered left into the line of Ken's Dream. To get 4 days for not showing a 'level of care' is harsh. I go back one week to when Spanna was poorly driven and was basically driven into a race ending check by Budvar Eyre. The stipes didn't think that was a lack of a 'level of care' or a matter of professionalism. The starter yesterday allows a race to begin with an attendant standing in the front line holding a horse. Well, that is not a 'level of care' if I have ever seen it. The screenshot below is just after the starter has said 'right' and the tapes are already gone. Consistency? No way. One rule for some and another for the rest.