the galah

I thought the commentators all did a great job tonight. Must be a while since kevin payne called,but he did a great job. Forbury has had quality harness callers over the years and going by tonight they seem to have retained all their commentating skills.It was nice to hear them again.

i would pick hazer,for chris gerken. Although i wouldn't be too confident in what looks an even field. henry skinner was a long time ago,but i do remember him being a leading driver when in southland. I remember being at forbury one night.It was about the time the shirley stable had a lot of runners.At one point the shirleys seemed to have a run of interfering with each other,and one night at forbury i followed them back to see what their dad said.It was rather funny,he shook his head and said,"well whose fault was it this time".. Its funny the things you remember.

With the final meeting to be run in a couple of days,i thought some may enjoy sharing memories of past experiences they have had there. I remember as a kid mum and dad would take us on regular holidays in dunedin,always timed to take in a race meeting. As a kid,there always seemed a lot of people there to watch,and i remember they always seemed to have a fire engine parked out the back of the main grandstand beside the main tote and hot dog and chip stand. My uncle had a friend called mr bailey,a friendly short older man,from christchurch who often was there,and the word was he knew his form,so my brother and i used to follow him around a bit for some reason,but he was a very fast walker. His son was actually a high profile nz doctor/specialist who tragically drowned while swimming in the sea in bali. Once i started training a couple of horses,i would make what always seemed like long trips to forbury ,and actually trained my first winner there,and a short time later drove my first winner there as well.Whenever my wife and i would go,my parents and brother would come,and my wife's aunty who was a local would normally turn up for support. The results often seemed rather mixed,but did provide some good memories. Forbury could be a frustrating track results wise.I had a horse i thought was ready to win fresh up,and i took it all the way down there,only to be badly checked on the first bend,with the culprit driver given a suspension. The following week i made the decision to go back,but the 12 hour round trip was a disappointing one as believe it or not we were knocked down again on the first bend. Then you had the stipes down there. I remember asking one of them one day if he watched the programme "lost in space" from the late 60's as a kid,he said he did.So i told him he reminded me of the robot on it, that every week would go round waving its arms uncontrollably,yelling warning,warning,warning.I also learnt that stipes will only show camera angles that suited the picture they were trying to paint.I remember them one time showing me the film from the back end of a 12 horse field,and giving my horse a warning when he supposedly paced a little roughly when outside the leader. I told them show me the front on as i couldn't even see my horse,they said there was no front on available,so i said show me the angle they had on trackside,they told me to go before they charged me.Drivers should always insist they are allowed to view each angle before they admit to anything if they think they are being railroaded.I also remember i occasionally took a horse to have a pee on the grassed end of the float car park.For some reason unknown to me i noted the racecourse inspector sometimes hid behind floats,while he observed what i was doing. I thought what a dick and that rather strange. Then of course there were the long drives there and back. Whenever you went over those big hills close to forbury on the way down it always looked like it was going to rain,and then it could be a long drive home on the cold and frosty nights.It really depended how you went as to how you felt. I remember the clerk of the course always seemed very friendly and helpful. There was always a level of anticipation when you arrived on course,and like most racecourses everyone seemed friendly. You also got to watch how the top drivers and trainers operated.Your respect for them as people grew when you got to see how they acted and treated others. A strange experience i had with a driver was when we had a very short priced favorite who had won the week before. When i went round to give him the colours he had just come off the track after driving a hot favorite who had taken no part in a mobile event. Before i had a chance to give him the colours the owner of the horse who had just run,came round and went in the box to discuss what had happened with his horse. All you could hear was laughter whenever he spoke to the driver and trainer,and the owner came out and commented what a waste of time that was. He would later go on to own a multiple nz cup winner.Anyway i gave the driver my colours,while he seemed very jovial. Come the race,despite being hot favorite,he was intent on racing parked with the driver of the leader later telling me he had told our driver twice he could have the lead,and couldn't understand our drivers tactics. . Anyway we got beaten a length and only ran 5th in a close finish.While he was a nice bloke,I didn't use that driver again,and he no longer drives.That was before they pre raced tested drivers for things like cannabis.It was also back in the day when they had some big pick 6 pools which syndicates used to target,and i had made the mistake of telling our driver the day before that i believed our horse may have been a bit flat from his win the week before. But at the end of the day the main memories really are that our shared experiences with the wife and family. And i personally think its a real shame forbury is closing.

can't see why you would draw that conclusion from what i have said. I was pointing out they are recognized treatments given to assist the effectiveness of epo which of course is given to increase the red cell numbers,thus improve oxygen levels. If you were using epo to peak a horses performance at a certain time,the experts say you give the bulk of the treatment several weeks prior to when you want it to have its maximum effect.Thats why they say if authorities were serious about picking up epo,they would do regular out of competition testing,but should never let those they are testing know when it is to happen as indications of its use only stay in the horses system for 2 to 4 days. They also say even if its use is indicated in the tests,you would have difficulty proving it was directly because performance enhancers had been used,as the horse apparently can sometimes produce natural raised levels. Thats how you peak a horses performance from a bottle. You keep going on about on post race testing being effective,but from what i have read even the most up to date post race testing has a very low likelihood of picking up the use of epo. So the experts say you are wrong. A couple of years ago,a leading expert in equine research in kentucky described the use of epo as an epidemic. No doubt your answer is whats that got to do with nz,testing works,that i believe in conspiracy theories. Just as i can believe my theory is true,there is no way you can prove its not.

I'm not saying this has anything to do with lazarus. But it does relate to red cell builders that i was referring to earlier. I read an article on the paulick reportabout 5 years ago,which i have just re read,which reprinted parts of a letter that was sourced from a whistle blower. The letter was from from a well known veterinarian in the usa,and was sent to client on how epo was to be used. It noted that "when introducing the blood builder into the horses system iron,folic acid,b12 and an anabolic steroid are used in conjunction. The steroids put the horse into a building state and the b12,folic acid and iron are all needed in increased amounts to make the red cell numbers increase". If you read about this type of steroid use,it suggests fertility sometimes can return to normal after a few months. Whats obvious is you would need owners who would be happy to pay big vet bills.

I have just read the decision of the jca on their website. They found D ferguson not guilty of improper driving but guilty of careless driving. Apparently they found he had no intent to steer his horse wide prior to the passing lane ,and it was just coincidence that his stablemate got a run when he ran wide. I think thats a brief summary of the decision. My take on that is the stipes did do their job,but the jca simply can't tell team driving when it is right there in front of them .The moral of the story is a precedent has been set,so don't expect team driving to be punished given the jca aren't up to the job. Anyone who has doubts should just go watch the video again. It appears he hasn't as yet been given his penalty for the careless driving.

just clarifying I wasn't meaning as a racehorse,but as a sire.

as regards the grimson/trainor team success. I think i replied on that thread that from what i have read,Epo type products that boost red cells,are given over a period of time,and require very regular blood tests taken after horses are worked,so as to monitor their blood and not overload the horses body with the level of treatment and cause it harm. Horses are given other treatments in conjunction.They say red cells last 100 days don't they. So a drop off in form of the stable you have referred to wouldn't happen overnight.Maybe in 3 months times may give a better indication if they keep them in the retention barn for that long. Thats why i said 48 hour retention barns are ineffective against such practices.

reading this, i can't help but think you seem a very frustrated person. I'm not saying you don't have reason to be,just saying the jockeys comments seem to have triggered something there for reasons which are unclear.Makes for an entertaining read i suppose. I would suggest next time you start a thread you actually spell the persons concerned name right. I have no idea whether you have been referring to shaun phelan,or shaun fannin. To be honest i don't really care either,but i'm just pointing out its a bit confusing.

gammalite. Are you aware of what Turn it ups record was in nz when trained by the all stars. 15 starts for 11 wins and 4 seconds. Three group 1 wins,and three of the seconds were in group 1 races. (beaten by spankem in two of those group ones).Thats why we don't think his queensland form compares with his nz form. Of course they have trained some great horses.I haven't seen anyone suggest otherwise. As far as you saying decades of success. Its only in the last few years that i would say the red cell thing has become a bit obvious. As i have said previously,i don't think it has been as noticeable with cullen at the helm,and just prior to that as well. So i have seen no one caste aspersions on any historical purdon success. Thats my take on things.

Fair enough,but can you name just one that has improved after leaving the all stars. Also can you name one successful stallion that the all stars have trained. And if you think anyone has said spankem is racing like a cat or queensland trainers are useless,like you have suggested has been said,then your obviously not getting what people are saying.Paleface's reference to lacking red cells couldn't have made it any clearer what some think. Also,i think you will find most people think spankems form when trained by the all stars was better than copy that. Thats not denying copy that is a top horse. Spankem after all has won 1.59 million. Also you mentioned turn it up. I think anyone in nz would agree that the Turn it up that raced in nz,was a better version than the one you have over there. Like i said,its just what many people believe.

Can't recall anyone ever saying the all stars aren't the best.Whats being discussed re spankem is only one aspect of an outstanding stable.No one says otherwise.

I'm glad you have finally admitted that chief.

doesn't your spelling the topic " Shorn feelin" indicate an expression of some form of discriminatory feelings held by you towards sheep and the irish. Should the chief censor you for that?

He just typed 1690 instead of 1609. The point he made is accurate. Looks like youv'e highlighted a very intelligent group of posters there chief.

Well the reason we go on about spankem is because he is yet another example of a horse that has left the all stars, and then raced below the levels he did for them. And we ask why? Its also obvious from reading this forum that many believe they think they know why.Thats never going to change.So its not really about a particular horse.Its about a consistent pattern involving many horses which then reinforce the opinions already held. And spankem has followed the normal trend. Its something thats always going to be highlighted,so i guess you just have to accept it is a subject many feel strongly about,and will continue to comment about.

He may not have picked the right platform for his humour,but to get fined $800 seems ridiculous. How much would a maori jockey get fined for making the same joke?Personally i have heard that joke many times,and maori tell it as much as anyone else. Are the maori who told me that racist? What will he get fined if he cracks an irish joke? People often over react to stuff like this. Was billy t james a racist?

The Spankem that ran 2nd in the nz and auckland cups,and won nz ffa in the last 7 months isn't the same horse running over there. Apart from king of swing ,the rest hes racing over there aren't competitive in races like that are they?He doesn't have the run forever look anymore. Thats the reason many on here say hes lost a leg performance wise.

3000 wins is a fantastic achievement from May. One of the great things i have observed about Ricky May, is he takes as much pleasure out of every win,whether they be achieved at a major race meeting,or a run of the mill meeting.Makes no difference to him whether someone is a big timer,or someone is a small timer who he has just met. He treats everyone the same. He recognises the pleasure all winning connectiions receive from his skills,and is humble in victory when his contribution is recognised.He also seems a very empathetic fella to those he drives for and interacts with,whether he wins or loses ,as he is in other aspects of life.

You would think rasmussens sister would know what all the ingredients of the all stars success was,but currently spankem has lost a leg form wise.Turn it up should really have won last night,but for a dumb as drive,but even so he hasn't gone on to reach the same heights as he did here since leaving the all stars. I agree,if buying off the all stars you may be over paying for what you actually are getting. Thats been the case for a while hasn't it?

I'm not sure why bob butts not driving as well as he once used to. Maybe its a confidence thing and just a phase he's going through. Just seems to make tactical errors much more than he did a few years back.The couple he has lined up back here while he is away have won with john dunn driving them.

American dealer went a nice race.Looked like he lacks a bit of high speed, and probably needs inside draws in the future. Earlier in the season he looked to be about our 3rd best 3year old,but would have gone down the rankings on recent performances i think. dougie backing humble ladd at $6.50,seemed a great price,so well done there. His best form over here was at addington,and several times he never quite seemed 100% comfortable on smaller tracks,but his natural ability seemed to be a bit too much for last nights opposition.The final of that race will be interesting as pink galahs was impressive. Having the best name a big help. Do the drivers over there drive in their own colours? I noticed p mcmullen always seemed to have the same colours on,but in the big pacing race you had a couple of stablemates with the same colours. How does it work over there. That overanova has an amazing record.Horses over there seemed to have more race starts than they do here.Also seem to have earned more. What do you put that down to. Is it because they have a greater pool of horses. Is the handicapping system really good.Is it the warmer weather? Is it because they race over shorter distances. Do they not train them as hard? What do you think?

Yes a good win by copy that. I wonder about the strength of that field,and thought the win by copy that may have looked impressive due to that fact. As you've mentioned,and we have pointed out before,spankem just doesn't have the run forever look about him over there at the moment,and it was a surprise to see him favorite. What about the fella that drove turn it up(s graham),It was really a dumb as drive. Don't know too much about him,but when your going very easily in the 1/1 with 300m to go and someone moves up outside you, well you pull out and give your horse a chance.He was in the right position to win,and went to the line hard held.You would think he wasn't trying,except the race was worth $76,000. I also watched bob butt quite happy to sit in the trail behind the $122 rank outsider instead of taking the lead,a decision which cost him any win chance,but Pink galahs was quite dominant anyway. I didn't use to watch albion park,but did think tonights racing was entertaining,and overall they seem to have some good drivers over there.

Well those running the jumps racing do nothing to change things,so hard to have much sympathy for them. I think we discussed the same subject last year. I and another poster(Freda maybe) commented that most of the falls and injuries are at the fences in the final straight,So why don't they just make the final straight jump free.Doesn't that seem logical?

Watching todays jumps racing,and you would think its days must be numbered. Injured jockeys and horses ,several horses falling.Whats the point when you see racing like that?