Richie

Actually just checked premiership and Mark has had 3rd most starters of any trainer in country and is 8th on premiership and 25th in UDR. I just surprised as seems to travel down south a bit with his horses and always seems to be winning but obviously not as much as I thought

Not really. Before today had lowest strike rate of top 25 trainers of .2119 Havent checked now but probably still does

Cran has still had 43 winners this season from a couple hundred starts,still a good year I would say.Especially as sold quite a few very promising types.What has surprised me is the emergence of Steve Telfer as probably the leading North Island trainer and also the poor strike rate of Mark Jones this year.

And whay about the clear tests for the ones swabbed on jewels day

I suggest you get a better grapevine mate. Most in the industry know the story and who the young lady involved is so i am surprised you dont

Are you saying there was no staff travelling with the horses and the float driver,whom i wont name didnt catch them smoking

Thought Argus Filch was a top run. Angela has it at top of form

Was based in Ashburton,worked in stable for 18 years,4 fulltime and rest part time.Loved it,even in middle winter with frosts. Just not enough money in it for 90% of workers as no minimum wage back then.Was only earning a third of what my mates were earning working in factorys and I was married with a kid as well.Once 2nd kid came I had to get another job working nightshift and stables during day for 4 hours. Loved it but as kids kept coming and got older gave up stables altogether to concentrate on getting better paid job and coach kids sport etc

Yes I always thought that jogging a waste of time when I worked in Harness stable once horses race fit.Our most successful year was when we tried interval training every 2nd day and fast work every other day.Horses seemed to be so much fitter than other horses and after few months of season we were leading premiership but then the boss just decided that we were working too hard and went back to more traditional training and horses nowhere near as fit.I got no idea why he done that but that his prerogative.mind you he was over 60 then and more work involved in interval training as opposed to chucking 8 on jog machine at a time.

Compared to previous ones or just your opinion

Yes wouldn't matter if Mark was a lawyer,a punter,an accountant,or god forbid a politician,he would always be successful because not being so is not in his mindset.Work ethic 2nd to none

Yes Brodie,they don't jog them as much as other trainers,in fact fastwork them more than other trainers and also interval training so horses get used to sprinting 2 or 3 times in a race which also means they can do more work in a race.They spend the money to legally give their horses recovery drugs so they can work them harder days on end.Plus having the best bred horses,which some were actually picked up quite cheaply at sales,helps immensely and having so many horses availeable to them means they only get one chance to impress,so they only keep the best.Unlike a lot of trainers who keep a horse even though they know it wont pay its way,ok for trainer if owner still happy to pay. Other trainers could do all this but choose not too,

Ken and the team hardly have the breeding lines that All Stars have to deal with. Also like all successful big stables,for every All Star horse that races there probably another 3 that don't make it and are moved on,some to Aussie going by results every week over there. I have heard that Mark is still talking to owners,looking through upcoming race programmes and checking breeding files until 10 Oclock at night and back up at 4oc every morning.Committment that will get results long term,especially as Mark is well known for the finer points being spot on. Brodie if you have the right type of horse then you can get into All Stars stable but why would they take average bred maidens when they got 30 group winners in there stable.Try getting a horse into Gai Waterhouse stable.

Why is it hard to believe If 70%of young people try drugs i would imagine that their be a few stablehands would have tried it at times. Not us in our day though ah Hunterthepunter,we only earnt enough to drink and gamble and never thought of doing drugs

From what i have heard All Stars staff have all been drug tested and positive has been confirmed. I think we will find that horses will be ok but better to be sure now than sorry after.

R4-Delishka can sprint quite nicely.(opened at $14 now into $7.50/$2.35) R9-Alta Maestro is quick out the gate,will probably try lead ($16/$4) R2-Looking forward to seeing how good Tickle me Pink is ($12/$2.35) R6-Petes big Jim great draw and has the money going on (opened$10.50 into $7/$1.90)

Well got a great draw and nice run last week.But great field,probably the best field of the day. GOOD LUCK MATE.

Wow 1800/2000 tests in harness racing and only 350/500 in thoroughbred. Does that seem weird figures to anybody else

I see your point but think other horse going so good she had no choice. Jewels might come down to draw

I am sure she would have if it was a better horse.

Allstars one runner in at Oamaru today and wins.unbelievably pays$6.I am sure Brodie would have been on at them odds. KACHING

I agree I going up for our annual syndicate night out,and The Director is my roughie for the night.Has gate speed and should get good run

I keep forgetting to do it and by the time I remember it too late

You know me mate. Actually didnt need pay for beer as had tickets upstairs for free beer and feed

I think Mighty American won last year at same meeting. Won first race paid $22,i had eachway and got trifecta. Had been in Spectators bar and looked up and race about to start. Rushed over and only just got bets on.Turned around and race had started.Was my biggest collect of last season