Gammalite

Have to agree Brodster. sadly. ....and even with The Galah and Newmarket to a degree. Many cases treated differently at Auckland, than other places, and with Bernie Hackett and Telfer with many runners per race at times , the racing is very 'questionable' to say the least. Herlihy with Krug got off lightly, a few Telfer races, (but congrats to them pulling off multiple good results), Newmarket pointed out Emma Frost in the trot last night. (the grey trotter) she goes 'awkwardly' for the first lap each time, but sit back until last quarter and rush home late for 4th??? Why not mid -race movement like you say, get her rolling, (horse in the death won the race so weren't going too fast) seems silly trying to leave it so late to get into it. and how about the great trotter TEMPORALE, (3rd in the Rowe Cup recently), and beat good horse BOLT for Brilliance in a Group 3 just lately in early March, BUT also in March , a DISGRACEFUL drive letting stablemate Invictus win in a '5 horse field' no less????? in a 2.04 mile rate. Didn't even look him (leader Invictus) in the eye at any stage.???? Young Tony Cameron the driver , absolute shameful effort. should of got time for not trying.

only have to watch the last NZ cup and the last Auckland Cup at Christmas and 'several' horses, or the 3 year old filly that Williams drives or ..... ................. do you want me to list more? if you want to see true STAMINA. speaking of 'dreaming' ,TRUE FANTASY doing good job with stamina too. and what's wrong with dreaming?

Yes , that was another mighty run for a learning 2 yearold . beaten a 1/2neck by the horse trailing the leader, then sprint laning. True Fantasy would of won by panels if she drew behind the leader., BUT IT DREW THE OUTSIDE GATE (an incredibly hard handicap) and still nearly won !! A Marvelous Effort indeed. !! 'Pissed in' from last in running 2 starts ago winning 50k and then won 60k last time coming from last after drawing 13 !!! Absolutely astonishing. I gave it little chance. I backed Mark in that(who ran 2nd) as thought that 13 draw a bridge too far (like drawn 7 tonight) but she still won !!! was even bigger than sitting 3 wide.?? I think the ALLstars are actually getting Better !!! NZ CUP trifecta only 6 months ago (not 2 years ) Good on em" !

Think JJFlash is just saying the Rules that are in 'place currently' (whips) are what need to be followed. Changes are being made and sure, maybe Not working as you would like for CJ and one or two. I think Punters that I know (about 10 at local TAB) don't bet on Harness because: they get blocked in more and gallop more. TWO things Punters absolutely hate. so they bet on gallops. whip use not even mentioned. Racing Administrators are like the government, and just do WHAT THEY THINK IS BEST , at any moment in time. I quite liked the government response to Covid personally. We have HUGE crowds at the footy and races again. Then you can look at other countries, and see what happened (like Sweden that ignored it) some answers aren't easy. To Vaccinate or not? to lock down city or not? .to race in that harness standing start (or bet on it) or not ? use the whip on horse, or not? Decisions that don't come easy in a pressure situation. (and obviously not agreed to by many lol)

Think my dad had a picture of Mr 'Noodlum" on the wall growing up in NZ. A grand National leader. The prime minister even used to go to the trots !!! maybe Jacinda could have a 'night-out' at Alexandra Part too. and give the game a kindness boost. !!

Yeah there used to be some actual hits on the horse at one stage . Just About ZERO these days at harness, in comparison to past years , so what is everyone grizzling about is a mystery? lol. jocks are still giving a few whacks here and there though. slightly tougher job , they are doing up on the back.

Just chuck in something funny too Chief as a bit of a yarn. Tony 'dick' Turpin was quite a strong whip driver late last century in Brisbane, (His daughter is currently 2nd on Trainers premiership with 50 wins from 250 starters this year which is a very Tidy effort !!!) and his son is Captain at the Brisbane Bronco's NRL team I think. anyway Tony said to me "whats wrong with your face?" one night, and I replyed that he should be Banned from having a whip in the races! lol, after a lovely smack across the chops from him with his whip, the previous meeting. Came with his driving style when drawn wide in a race. and I added , now that he has drawn inside me , for this next race "Am I gunna get a welt on the other side of face and lip tonight? hahahah, had to per-fect the' backhander' whip action, to get him back if got a chance , lol... wrist action seems tame these days lol.

Exactly Chief ! it is under constant amendment. We drivers were being fined and suspended in the 1990's even for excessive whip use . a long ongoing issue. Stewards were looking at horses rumps 30 years ago and used to inspect the whips religiously every time you weighed in. No whip rules are good rules. no win situation (literally lol...) I Don't disagree another regulation may be needed if you're not happy with the current one. Horses are getting a easy time compared to Dittman (gallops) and Vinny Knight though , which is nice I guess. wrist thing is funny. Having said that , Oppie Bosson Ride on that filly to win a G1 by a nose was sensational, and I agree with you , he knew what to do , to win , and copped the penalty. But seriously , was the horse in any more 'Harm' than any other in that race? with a few more whip strikes than permissable. I thought not anyway. Horse didn't know or care. Just have to take it case by case, like is being done now. harness and jockey. What else can you do ? so whip rules not working there either, more tinkering needed?

Why ? because a senior driver has erred from the rules? Lots of races are run without incident (Whip overuse) and occasionally a driver might 'slip-up' and go back to the old ways. i.e reins in one hand, raise arm, etc. I've seen Mangos and McKendry (old drivers like CJ DeF) doing it recent months as well. some habits hard to break!! not sure if they were penalised but possibly were. if you're been doing it for 30-50 years like those boys. I feel for them. none of them would be (or probably ever have) flogged any horse, to cause it harm. Mostly the rules seems to work though. New generation can slip up to. A teenager just did a month suspension here in Brisbane (Chloe Butler 30 wins this year) but had 3 strikes (3 indescretions in a time frame) you're out! warning. They know the rules , so have to abide by them. teenager or CJ or Mangoose, rules are rules.

What a great Queenslander !! lol....Funnily enough with his daring solo runs ahead of the field 2 of his AUSTRALIA CUP run's standout. (Australia Cup quite prestigious) The huge upset by 125-1 outsider of the field DANDY ANDY running him down in 1988, BUT the Rogue is not to be denied lol.... The 1990 AUSTRALIA CUP , (VO ROGUE) held on to win against Two champions of the time in BETTER LOOSEN UP (a Japan Cup winner in his day) and SUPER IMPOSE 3rd. What a great mob of horses in that era.!!

G'Day Centaur , a frightening prospect that the virus carried by the flying foxes , could/ would mutate to transfer straight to humans , rather than go through horses first, after they shit in their feedbins. In 1994 , I was at UQ vet and a heap of dead horse turned up for autopsy and we were locked up for 3 days , just like the current Covid crisis does in Brisbane every now and then ( just in case) we didn't know what was killing them originally, but WOW , killa horse? imagine a weak human in comparison? Just In Case a huge epidemic from those filthy flying foxes (a million fly over Brissy every night) spread a killer disease to humans . 7 people died including Vic Rail. It took them many years to develop the horse vaccine. Too bad about the humans lol.... that was so close to being a covid like apocalypse though. very scary indeed.

NSW the greys were gunna be banned 2016 (ethical reasons) ,but got reinstated after 3 months out, by the State government as public outcry from the thousands employed in the industry was too great. Far Out-weighed the activists arguement of cruelty. 124 recommendations from an inquiry were recommended (to clean up the industry) of which 122 were implemented , and now they are thriving and they run a Million dollar race each year now !!! amazing turn-around. Hoping NZ can get that NSW model of recommendation and prosper too. fingers crossed.

13 Group 1 wins and record stakemoney at the time of retirement, but second fiddle was his fate mostly. Was just reading a NZ Herald article about him , so thought would share it with BOAY . (thank you NZ Herald) A tribute to all the people who try hard in life, and love harness racing too. p.s Holmes D G did beat Christian Cullen into 3rd in the Great Northern Derby too in his year. A great feat !! Because he is the horse who anybody who has lost more battles than they have won can love. And that is most of us.Holmes D G is one of us, an equine version of the majority of people who go to work, do their job and occasionally have their moment in the spotlight.But more often than not Holmes D G - like most of us - lost.Actually he was pretty good at it. He lost on tracks from Ashburton to Perth and plenty of places in between.Yet when his owners close his bank account after the City Of Auckland Free-For-All this Friday he will have won more stakemoney - $1.94 million - than any other pacer in New Zealand history.He will also have won 13 group one races, another record, among his 32 victories.He will also have been beaten 65 times.He has taken on the best almost since the start of his career and will finish by taking on the best on Friday night. That is when he will lose for the 65th time.But that is Holmes D G. He is a real racehorse. He goes to work, he races, often wins but even more often loses.And then he does it all again next time there is a decent dogfight on.When great horses retire they are often referred to as "People's Champions".But usually they are not.Christian Cullen, Courage Under Fire, Lohnro, Sunline, Lyell Creek are champions. But they aren't really the people's horses because they have nothing in common with most of us.They are superior. Supreme athletes gifted by the racing gods. They are the equine equivalent of olympic sprinters or All Black greats.They are not like us.Okay, Holmes D G is also a great horse, but to him winning rarely comes easy.He is a beautiful pacer with great speed, a master trainer and plenty of natural gifts.He can also be a standing start rogue, a bad traveller, he was never as good when he had to work and sit parked and often cocked his head to the side when sprinting at full pace. He won only once in plenty of starts over 3200m.Like normal people, he had problems. But he overcame them.He wasn't beautiful to look at like Christian Cullen or endearing like Courage Under Fire.He didn't have a fancy name or a fan club.He was kind of plain and had his knockers.He wasn't the best two-year-old of his year, and even though he was the best 3-year-old everybody still talked about Christian Cullen.At four he lived in Cullen's shadow again and later in his career he has had to fight for the headlines with Yulestar, Homin Hosed, Shakamaker, Young Rufus and now Elsu.But somehow through a mixture of heart, genetics, superb training and good luck he has come out on top.Mostly it was heart.As a three-year-old Holmes D G tore a huge hole in his leg a week before the Great Northern Derby and vets said he would not make the race.Of course he won it, beating Christian Cullen and never took a lame step from the time the leg was stitched close.In human terms, he got off his arse, didn't sulk and went to work.Then as a six-year-old he had a dreadful New Zealand Cup carnival and an interrupted trip home that left him so exhausted he lay down and slept as soon as he touched the grass of trainer Barry Purdon's paddocks.Hours later he was on a plane to Sydney where he was given little chance of winning the Miracle Mile.Three days later he won by a nose. He refused to be tired until his work was done.Probably sounds like somebody you know. Maybe you.There are plenty of ways of keeping score in racing but only one really matters: Who wins the most money.And Homer has won the most.It is perhaps a shame his old legs are too weary to carry him to one last moment of glory on Friday night, where the winning stake would make him our first $2 million pacer.But in a way it is fitting. Because like most people Holmes D G will finish his career maybe short of his ultimate dream.He will not have climbed all the way to the top of the mountain but far enough to be proud of what he has achieved. And that is why he is a true People's Champion.

Why? is it the stake money that hasn't gone up as Brodie worked out, so costs too high for participants? or too many horsepeople leaving the game? or no betting as people get disgruntled with TAB, fixed races or both? seems good crowds at all those weekend day meetings. they thought harness might collapse early 80's when LOTTO started up, and then we lost all the 'Old Ladies' to the Pokies with their pension money, $'s never to go on a horse again. (only Melbourne Cup Day here lol..........) can they get Pokies on the racecourses? lol... entertainment for all !!!!! (would be 7 years at least since I last played a pokie , but if you go to RSL and footy clubs still a lot of folk spending their dollars in them) chance of the 'quick' win , whereas horses, are just TOO SLOW for most lol....... Like to lose their money quicker !!!lol

very nice, but Miss Clevedon was more of an 'AGE ' group performer in that era like TIMES UP or YVETTE BROMAC . Not really an OPEN CLASS force , like Bonnie's Chance and Armalight winning NZ Cups by 7 lengths each. Idolmite was 2nd in the Auckland Cup to Delightful Lady, which was a fair effort. Bonnie's Chance ran 2nd to Gammalite in the Auckland Cup too year after. SPECIAL PRIDE was the dominant trotter then (early 80's mare) and left about 9-10 winners , including SPECIAL FORCE who won the 1999 Interdominion Trot. but good 'Game Pride' blood-lines for Special Pride so it was easier to breed a winner.

And HILARIOUS GUEST , (who won both Derbies early 80's) had 14 named foals , only 3 won a race. One of those 3, named 'Goodtime Guest' ,actually won 8 races. but you would still think 1 multiple winner from 14 foals not great.

Rain Girl leaving 9 winners, including open class horse ATITAGAIN (who finished 2nd in the 2001 QLD Interdominion Final to the NZer Yulestar and Tony Shaw) Far and Away the best producer as the others did almost zero from that era, from 5 mares, I can think of anyway. DELIGHTFUL LADY couldn't have foals due to infertility. BONNIE's CHANCE, IDOLMITE, MISS PERT (2nd in Interdominion at Addington) and ARMALIGHT barely a winner left by any of them from about 40 named Foals !!! (only about 4 single race winners between them only) staggering flops.!!! Hey Todd won 4 NZ Cups I see. very nice. must be good trainer. and being from the Waikato bound to be a Bob Mitchell descendent.

Superior in that Task as well !!! Don't worry , they did Plenty of the 'Hard' yards early on in life at the stables. I used to pop out to Marks dad 'Roy Purdons' place on occasion , as a teen with Mark in the 80's and was just BLOWN Away with the total professionalism even then. 4 horses hoppled to work togeather (whereas most stables had 2 fastwork togeather) so sitting one outside leader even then. NO WONDER we couldn't beat them then, and can't beat them now. Don't forget brother Barry has amazing training too. (Chokin , HolmesDG, etc AND Natalie Rassmussen, did all the Shows , gymkana's, backblocks, ponytrots, Rocklea 500m track, along with her 2 sisters and dad VIC (a carpenter) who 'battled 'for years with slow horses, in far flung places like Townsville (and Rocklea and Toowoomba His daughters are now THREE of the best Horsepeople in the world !!!!! congrats to Mum Cheryl , who kept them going through all the 'stablehand' early days. VICKI is near best trainer in Brisbane, and KYLIE is a world class driver here too , with a NAT-like Strike rate !! A true pleasure of life (in harness) to of seen all these people in action. decades of winners now , just amazing. lap it up. fantastic.

Wrong. Just over a week ago they ran the Quinella in the Group 1 x 2 yearold race at Auckland. Missed trifecta by 'not much' with 4th horse a Cullen one, as well. The week before Cullen stable also won the Group 1 x 2 yearold race. Seems like TOP QUALITY youngsters to me !! only thing lacking is opposition able to beat the stable lol.... yes, Krug and Copy That are doing a great job in their Age divisions. but Cullen still won races with some 3 and 4 year olds too. Good luck to him (and the opposition) .

Yes , Chris Waller is just winning everything nearly, Am sure he would like a Melbourne Cup though. Veery Elleegant went very well in the last one. maybe this year. Wonder how he did training in NZ. ? from Foxton is all I know and came to Aus with Castletown possibly? These days he has about 2 and 1/2 thousand 'Race' starters per year . about 4-5 per day on average. Wow..... The bit I find hard to comprehend, is that he has that many owners that probably, he hasn't ever even met great chunks of them to chat with once ? some of those thoroughbreds have like 20 owners. In harness more likely 1-4 persons per horse and as a trainer, you always knew All your owners very well, even in a larger 30-50 horse barn.

Great to see the Belle of the NZ turf , having a crack in Queensland in Group 2 Hollindale Cup at the Gold Coast today. And we have turned on the rain!! early in week to give her a lovely Heavy track !!! So wishing her well for a victory against the Aussies as her career nears the end, and the great trainer Chris Waller sure to be a danger with his runners, as usual. Hoping the black Godolphin mud-lark Avilius gets too far back and not too involved. Melody Belle to get in the TRIFECTA on the heavy with some Waller beauties in Toffee Tongue and Mister Sea Wolf

yes , I sort of meant you were out of friends in parliament and the TAB lol. just in a general joke sense. but at least you say who you support and who you don't (a bit like Leo with the courts and Inca) Not sure why Chief and Leo Molloy hate Inca so much ? It's like they want them to catch someone as proof of their existance, and yet they don't want them to catch anyone , and fail . (probably a better option. Who cares about the cost.) Scaring everyone into towing the line better, (no race fixing etc (unleess you're desparate like Alford)) surely a Good thing. $500k spent on legal aid for the arsehole who killed Grace M over there is a bigger waste of public funding. AND just like Baden-Clay, the scum of the Earth wife killer in Brisbane, can't even say SORRY or own up to the Horrible crimes. M Kerr won't apologise either. what a horrid act. take 50 people's money and not even sorry. "Poor Me! I've got a gambling problem ! you should all feel sorry for me" what rubbish. what a loser. Matt Anderson should just jump in and say sorry, and Not sneak around , Peter Jones was working on a plan with HRNZ to get him involved again somehow, he can't just break the rules that are in place though. Even if Chief is right and they are double harsh. All the best and happy punt today from Gammalite. Go MELODY BELLE !!! racing just up the road today at Gold Coast !!

The Brodster has turned into a horse !!! A fine stallion? or a run-down gelding getting a good stomach tubing? never got to see AtitAgain that I remember. Can't for the life of me, work out why you guys are at each others throats lately. Hope is a In-House joke or something , bit like Labour v Nationals or something. All the kiwis seem such friendly folk over here, I guess NZ has Brodie and Leo Molloy there, that seem short of friends. Anyway heres a funny yarn for BOAY, Rain Girl the great Broodmare you mentioned, was a fine racehorse for Bob Mitchell too. She made the final of the Interdominion at Auckland in 1983 and I had a 'large sidebet' with her strapper, that southerner 'Dundas' would beat her home, so in true rotten fashion . 'Dundas' had run of the race following 'Gammalite' 3 back fence , but stopped like Shot, at the 500-600m out and caused chaos like 'Bonnies Chance' broke, Queenslander 'Wondai's Mate' tipped out driver, 'Rain Girl' staggered through to 7th , and 'Dundas' #"@#%$& 8th. lol.... At least the 6-1 tote paid for 'Gammalite' up front kept me in front for the race I guess, lol.......

Who is it Ranga?. It looks like Australia? very solid looking Pacer too. Probably a good one?

Yes it seems the penalty given MA by HRNZ outlasts the court one. I guess the Penalty is always contentious with crime. G Baden-Clay (the sickest bastard in Qld that makes you literally throw up) actually got murder reduced to man-slaughter, But then a HUGE Public Outcry/outrage at the 'good work' by his Lawyers, saw the murder charge reinstated. thank goodness. Phil Coulson (1000+ race winner) got 7 years DQ in NZ winning the Interdominion in Chch, then getting positive caffeine swab with Juniors Image. ended up out on a fishing boat for years. (and forever pleaded his innocence to his dying day, horse nobbled) Dunns stable had positive Caffeine x 3 horses (all disqualified 2017) and only got $14k fine.???? Now That Is a Sharp contrast in Penalty. ??? some things don't seem fair in the world of Penalties. What penalty for Alford then? milkshake tubing still attempted by the odd idiot once a month somewhere. Tree dwelling stewards are quick onto it these days , with any betting tip-off signs. (Alford blamed the betting for getting caught ) RIU doing well to intercept?