Harewood

W Well it wont be Tornado Valley.

I beleive it was sometime in the 80s but someone will be more accurate than that Im sure. Some of the better horses I remember being bracketed were, Waitaki Gamble,Waipounamu and Screws Loose, Black Frost and Allakasam, Johnny Gee andTony Bear, Manaroa-Manawaru-Royal Ascot. All top horses at the time.

Driver you are referring to is Bart Cockburn. He was fined $5000 in court but has alife time ban off any form of racecourse. Funily re this post he used to work for G Dixon for 2 years where he became an outstanding young driver and then out on his own a very promissing trainer who won several G1s and seemed to have the game at his feet. Your right it is quite often is the ones who are most successfull that try and cheat and fix races. Just look at whos charged in NZ currently. Tthe ones who dont need the money the most fall to greed. Possibly because they are on the better horses it is easier to manipulate a race than a lesser light on a horse that carnt keep up. I was not a fan of brackets when they were common in NZ. If you were waiting for an unlucky horse to start it invariably was bracketed with a fav. Your horse would win, should have paid 20s but paid 3s because of the other fav who ran down the track.

Have watched this race several times and I think that you are reading too much into it. Makoa had drawn the inside of the second line and therefore had no chance to try for the lead. As for Dixon looking across at his other stablemate, Outlaw Fella, I beleive he was just checking for options of enable himself to get off the rail early whichhe did. Its a bit of a long bow to suggest that he was watching his stablemate as he was in no position to assist it by letting it go to the lead. Outlaw Fella worked to the lead after 600 meters and Makoa ended up in the one one and then one two. He made a run three wide from the 500 approx and into the straight was just not good enough despite Dixons urgings to run on and infact got passed by the horse behind him. Outlaw Fella had won nearly twice as much as Makoa and had been racing consistenly in the C4 or better fields which Makoa was comming through the grades and mostly been racing recently in C2 and better fields. Outlaw Fella had won the same distance, same grade two starts back by leading all the way while Makoa wins had been over the shorter 1600 meters. IMO Makoa was a very false favourite and Outlaw had far better stats and and won at a fair price in which he was probably the best credentialed horse in the field. This is not to say that I dont beleive that their is manipulation in ALL harness especially with stablemates and ESPECIALLY NSW country meetings where several trainers/drivers have been given lifetime bans.

He will definately improve with racng over there. For many it takes several starts to get used to the hard pace of Aussie racing and the constant racing never mind their way of training. Throw in the heatwave they are having and the incessant flies, i would say he has done very well to gain 2 seconds in his two runs. Sicario an ex All stars horse has been sold to WA. Watch it be a stat over there and grow another leg.

I would love to be your partner for the day. Do i need to buy a new dress, what color dont want to clash with your outfit. lol

As a side Rees did you see that one of your favs Prestopans had his first start in Aus yesterday at Goulbourn. Fav and ran 2nd. Also Alderbeck won yesterday also, at Hamilton. If you hadnt caught up.

Previous form? Helps.

Last race at Nelson yesterday?

I have watched this race several times so can someone please explain the team driving that went on to enable Turn it Up win or did I blink and miss some subtle driving event that went on undetected to the naked eye.

No they are all Unique in their own way.

Is that another way of saying Zero or "Not today thanks"

Bit of nastiness going on here. Who will break first lol

Middle of nowhere. Actuelly stopped there when we crossed. BRIEFLY!!

Tell Brodie quick

Well done $68,000 That will make you Double Happy. If only!

Was that before he deceided to place it 4 back on the rails and give it no show.

More likely Without intent of trying to which he Did succeed.

Thornley will say the horse was going rough and he didnt want to put it out and fire it up to which the stipes will say 'fair enough but we will expect it to behave better next start and will observe it"

How long will he be put out for not giving his horse every oportunity to win? ZERO !! When your on a 2.10 fav in a small field on a turning track and your remain 4 back in single file and stay there at the 1200 as the outside line then blocks you in surely there has to be questions asked. On a 2.10 fav you are expected to be put in the race even if this means being parked the last lap. To drive for luck on such a fav is no excuse. This would not be tolerated in Aus and especially in WA which I know a bit about he would be out for a while. Looking forward to the Stipes report. And they wonder why new people arnt being attracted to harness racing.

Yes was thinking the same. Was very happy to see someone win and be genuinely excited. Owns trained and driven. Well done, hope he backed it as well. In the close up he was giving it a few so bet the stipes were counting and as you say something is bound to be said. He wont worry if he doesnt drive again hes had his fun.

You are too kind Brodie. Disgusting post about someone making their first contribution about something they know nothing about. Hope he buggars off and never to be seen again!

Agree a day for favs especially in the big races. Heres my "lesser lights" that I like. R3 Miss Blissful Place R5 Abettor Act R7 On The Cards R8 Heisenberg Place

If we believe Brodie its not Joe who puts the money on and makes it a $4 first starter, most would not have any idea of breeding, so there must be a few larger punters who dont follow their money.

Many punters follow a horse alot longer than 2 starts. Sure you have done the same Happy. My point is the breeding is outstanding not that it always shows through but in this case I am sure it will