Dougie

Can't say the Robertson impresses me from afar, has he got too much on his plate?.... was or is it in the too hard basket to have Kaikoura go ahead for vaccinated participants only ?

Huh, what's going on here... I swear I read an article this morning that said Hawkes Bay game this Saturday said thousands allowed in at L2? ...... surely this can't be allowed as it's a seated event but at the Trots people stand up.

Really impressed with Springbank Mason, more importantly his 2nd start in a row without galloping and I think will be better too driven off the speed. Not sure when the 2 year old trotters start racing, maybe Ashburton but really like the look of Matty's horse Winnie McGoogan, impressive at the trials tuesday.

I like the look of Devon van Til, Alana Cameron looks good in the sulky and seems to make good decisions in races I've watched her in.... Shame Charlotte Purvis stopped driving when she had the kids, I thought she drove really well and the trotters would run for her.

Yeah Stylish Monarch plus Domination won a few as well, not many trainers there now with more than a handful of horses, White would have had the most before he moved to Ashvegas, unlike the old days with Shand and Caskey.

No sign of Nathan's good trotters at the trials yet either, hopefully they'll be ready for Cup time and a repeat of the good times the Southlanders had last year... Both of Black's horses ran super today. Springbank Mason looked big and going by the way they drove him needs a few runs to get to peak fitness. Good day for Timaru trainers today too with wins and placing's at good odds.

Not going to bash the young fella but 90 odd drives without a win mainly in the NI, hopefully will get on a better class of horse and he needs to find a way of getting up on the speed when possible. I liked Get Lucky today but not off level marks with Majestic Lavros, I know very little about ratings but Majestic Lavros ran 2nd last start to our best trotter 'Sundees Sun' but his rating didn't go up.... confused.

Just watched the replay, didn't trot far before he galloped so didn't have much speed up but KB didn't look to restrain him much just let him gallop for yes at least 200 metres .... Maybe at level 2 restrictions the suits don't get fed enough so the alertness levels early in the day were lacking!!!

Great draw for Vintage Cheddar, just doesn't want a slow run race and sprint home but being first up can't see Brad taking on CB for the lead. Dwindle Star interestingly withdrawn to run in yesterdays trial, and coincidently her 2 year old half brother qualified yesterday in Harry Stamper..... Springbank Mason last in a slow trial , I have no idea who writes the TAB comments dribble on HRNZ, it's been updated at 12:30 today but he or she didn't know of yesterday trials at Oamaru and wrote this comment. Tidy performance before being freshened. No trials but deserves respect.

Looks that way too from afar ... Brad said last week that nice winner Laurie's Legacy was with Phil but Phil just gave it to Brad to train. I saw Dwindle Star qualify, is small but nice gait, well bred and Bev owns too.

Very Interested in Springbank Mason, got a huge motor but loves a break... interestingly he didn't trial last week at home so maybe he's ready to rock. Phil lacking numbers this last year and other than Majestic Man his other trotters seem to break a lot for some reason, a few years back it didn't matter if it was a 1st start maiden or multiple winner his horses would never break... quality of stock I guess.

Any plan B for Methven this week? Snow and rain not a good combo ..........

Couple of things, so under L4 no fast work was allowed, would any trainers with private tracks have worked their horses? From a punting point of view can we back certain trainers tomorrow or Friday with more confidence? Do the Williamsons train on the track at Oamaru or at home?? I'm not 100% up to date with the restrictions but have read a few things.... but for me it seems odd that both Williamson lads can travel to Invercargill to drive which is twice the distance to Ashburton where they can't drive on Sunday nor Addington Friday. Dennis O'Connell, no chance he's allowed to train on the beach or on the track at his location... his horses are used to racing once if not twice a week..... are they no chance after two weeks of no fast work or racing?

I hope not too, you always hear and read how great cup day is and having a huge crowd and basically NZMET/HRNZ pat themselves on the back yet they can't get 100 people to turn out for other meetings..... how about on cup day give out a few thousand free tickets to show day or food/drink vouchers or free entry to other November meeting or even some summer grass meeting and get the once a year young race goers to come back......

What have HRNZ done in the last 5 years to improve/save NI harness racing?? when the ATC was loaded they just sat back and did jack shit and now ... What have HRNZ done in especially in Auckland with a huge population to improve betting turn over and find new punters or industry participants ? When huge turnover meeting happen at say Cromwell/Mot where does the extra 40% of turnover come from, do HRNZ analyze this and target or just rub their hands together and pat themselves on the back and think it's them as a organization that's improved certain meetings? What has HRNZ done in the last 2 years minimum to slow down the hundreds of horses exported especially to Aussie.... have they ever tried a prize money minimum of say $300 for all horses finishing 6th - last ... what would that cost over a year compared to increased turnover it would push up as field sizes would increase.

Thoughts on the drive on Humble Ladd??? $50k race don't give up the lead American dealer was backed in from $6 to $3 in NSW, another great drive by Ants.

SHANE

Decided not to bet but had a very good look at 'Pro Surfer' in the juniors race, he's shown a bit of ability when with the Dunn's and now with the owner/trainer, been battling just in behind and I thought a fast juniors race would suit add to that the best driver, but I stuffed around after seeing $13 and just before the race was $7 so it was a watch job.... from the form I've looked at he's never led in his life so what happens, Morrison to the front and just gets nutted, no change of tactics advised nor questions asked ........ it's no biggie but if they're not going to bother asking the question when it comes to punters like me investing $$$$ and hesitant on how a race will be run all that does is lowers turnover and $$$ into the industry, I suggest you lift your game Steve Renault.

Handicapping and scheduling, not sure how much different it is now compared to 2/3 years ago but how often was a 1 win horse in Canterbury already up against a far superior Purdon horse with no chance of winning and then within weeks was sold on to Aussie... not Purdons fault his horses were far superior but what's an owner to do battle for a chance. of a small return when the horse races/go to southland for a start and better chance of winning/sell overseas. Trotters in NZ are slow to mature and most of our trot racing is done around the 2600m starts but how often to you see 1980 mobile at Addington for 1/2 win horses get a small field after most of them have battled out of 2600m maiden races and lack genuine zip but the club constantly program's this type of race. You look at Friday night race 4 at Addington, Sheeza Artist only 1 start for 1 win v Aveross Rustler 210 starts for 16 wins, I'm buggered if I know if that's good or bad but it is a handicap race 40-55 rating but only 1 horse is off 10 meters . QLD good example of mile and shorter races with a large horse population able to race twice a week if they so desire and in reality they run pretty average times so horses aren't flogged so to speak.

Great point re the juniors scheduling, I know the south has a winter break but no racing in the South Island south of CHCH for 4 weeks after Forbury last week, as others have mentioned what do owners do?? pay $2000 or so to keep their horse in work or give it a spell for an xmas return. Just look at the exported horses list for the last month or so and I see Phil W has just lost the best 3 trotters from his stable to Australia, a huge amount of horses leaving the country lately and absolutely zero chance of horse numbers getting any better when they're still racing for $7000-$9000 on a consistent basis.

What made it worse was the first two horses were always going to get him in to the straight and the sprint lane so either he's stupid or didn't do any form knowing the horses in front weren't going to stop in his face... Try backing Springbank Mason @17s and jumping up and down only for him to break just short of the post when in front... hate to say it but Phil W is going through a rough patch just like my punting.

You tell him Kimberly, on the upside he didn't call you a dickhead or moron like he has other drivers....... maybe he's mellowing as his namesake is closing down.

What did HRNZ get in $$$ return from betting turnover compared to the thoroughbreds??? You look at Ashvegas today most of those average/good fields are racing for more prize money than our trot races do on the 2nd Tuesday in November... how on earth is that possible for a Thursday winter meeting, is the club so rich or does NZ Racing prop it up.

So in 1985 he had his 1 placing at Cambridge and HRNZ stats say he was the trainer and driver, how old is this fella??

https://www.harness.org.au/apps/search:main?q=martin+herbert&search_what=all Left NZ when he was 17.