Gammalite

Race 4 about to go with the 5 sprinters dashing a lap. A maori name in this one! horse named TUAKANA ( maori word for Older Brother) Narissa Mcmullen is driving Tuakana, so looks like we should back her older brother, in that case. Pete. Pete McMullen is driving SHEZ GOT BLING !! whammo ! the full moon is out and the stars align.

3 out of 3 race wins for Nathan Dawson so far! , the Aussie Postman who is Delivering in spades !!!! Think a bit of a rip off claiming the Blair Orange moniker though ??? All these drivers are just FANTASTIC !! the best there is going around tonight . Nathan Dawson up to 1000 career wins early in month , and is only 25 years old . my goodness. And the race video tonight has some drivers ''miked up' chatting to commentator and Helmet Vision on some too!!!! does it get any better than this ?? You guys can see what we see in the race.!! amazing pictures . love it.

Owners Stop Paying ?? now that is the LAST thing a trainer needs or wants. just being reliant on stakemoney is not a great business plan at all. I can see how it says he's often out of pocket now. Still have to pay staff , etc,etc.....

They have Ranga . Get your sleep in and get up at Midnight for the super rare event.!! Don't worry about the early races. Will be at 9 pm our time ( midnight NZ ) when Race 10 is on , and AQUA SANCTA is charging to the finish line in the middle of and the actual peak time of a Blood Red SuperMoon eclipse !!!! how can it lose. young Angus Garrard stargazing as they turn for home ??? could happen lol....... Borrow money off Brodster if you have to !!!! but this is the Moment you dreamed of !!!! ($1.75 the win) lol..... The heavens are lining up in the first total lunar eclipse to be seen across Australia since July 2018. And this lunar eclipse also just happens to occur shortly after the Moon is closest to Earth (perigee), so that makes it a blood red "supermoon"

A great day of racing coming at Sunny Redcliffe near Brisbane is where. Tonight we have 10 races over a 947m race distance with 5 horses per race ! Some think 'the short mile' racing is boring. Try this Out then . Being marketed as TrotRods as opposed to HotRods. doing a fast dash. There are 3 'reject' Allstars able to get a run . VIRGIL (3 wins from 14 starts including a Group2 for Allstars) is up against HAVING THE FAITH ( 1 win from 3 at Allstars) 'Virgil' and 'Having the Faith' haven't done that well in QLD winning only a couple each over the past year, from 30 odd starts , and not having won since last Oct. tonight with just 3 rivals to beat One of the 2 should once again be claiming Victory !!!!! like those good old Allstars days. AND, In the FAST CLASS race tonight AQUA SANCTA looks an absolute special drawn the pole , and having won 3 of his 6 Australian starts , is ready to 'Burn' in for another one. 'Aqua's" 4 rivals tonight include three ex-kiwis that David Butcher drove a couple of years ago all through 2019 around the North Island Back-blocks , named NOTORIOUS , DOUBLE or NOTHING and KATAMACH. is it a step up from Manawatu or a step backwards to a 947m dash for cash??. Who knows . But 'Aqua Sancta' will be too slick anyway. Maybe they'll get a '1/2 mile' mile-rate credit to their name lol...........

yes , that is going to be a Devastating Blow to NZ tradition.!!! already reeling from losing Dexter Dunn to USA ( along with the Peter Wolfenden and Tony Herlihy son's lost to the states many moons ago) a real tragedy for NZ harness , and gone is that solid opposition to the Purdon Gangs. And in recent times, sadly Anthony Butt and Tim Butt lost to Australia (luckily still some of the brilliant Butt family are racing in NZ) , now Nathan Purdon gone to Oz too. If Michael comes over with that fine young trotter , well .........................perish the thought of No Purdons training in NZ. Wonder if Barry and Katrina Purdon had kids?

Depends how much wealth you're looking for Brodster?. afterall you seek much more riches from the Tab than the usual patron lol.... No you are right , just normal run of the mill in-come for most trainers I know. They have to pay taxes, staff (with super these days too i imagine) and usually a family partner working alongside them as well , to keep you sane. stable expenses , like feed and transport , guess you can bill shoeing and vet separate to daily rate. No real wealth as you say. can see how Mr House could even be losing money as you suggest. Personally , I took racing shares in all mine , and most had at one time in work, was 12 so two of us (and volunteer enthusiast help) could manage quite easily. (and still enjoy it , seven day week) Prize money helps you boost the interest a bit. Many of Barry Purdon's race with his wife Katrina in a share for example. so they actually do ok.

since racing began , the horses get more than that diet , to achieve the goal of LookGood,FeelGood,GoGood. You're not trying to cheat, or push envelopes/boundaries, Just Win the race by achieving the goal. Yes ! there are cheats who DELIBERATELY overdo it , like Alford and McGrath, using out-dated techniques. don't worry, they'll dump the trainers out here too. Big ones as well with big stables. Webberley, Hunter, Donahue all been done a few times each. McCarthy just once so far. everyone accusing one stable of foul play is just ludicrous really. They all get something. If not, well , they just get left behind, at the speed of the racing being obtained now.

Now 'Paying the Penalty' for trying to keep up with the actual best ones ?

Not many of the horses Mr House races , would be sold to WA I wouldn't think . 'Team Bond' and 'Team Hall' do buy a heap of NZ stock though , and scoop up one race winners quite often from the Deep South of kiwiland. Half their stables are kiwi horses. I flew out of NZ once, with a plane load of Aus purchases. Lightning Blue was one on that plane (bought for 40k after one start one win NZ) went back to haunt them with Christchurch Interdominion and NZ Cup victories later on. VILLAGE KID set the tradition in motion the year before , purchased for 40k by Bill Horn in WA, after a couple of Hutt park wins in Wellington. The Kid went on to win $2 million !! not a bad buy at all.

There's bugger all. The established and most 'winningest' trainers are All generational hand me downs. So have lovely farms and have raced lovely horses , and are the Premiership Trainers and drivers. The Very best here in Brisbane ALL had/have the dad's to thank. (all were brilliant horseman) Set them on that road to glory and success. i.e McMullen's, Dixon's, Rasmussen's, Graham's all the best we have. NZ the same mostly!!. The Very best have the dad's and granddad's some of the NZ greats. Roy Purdon getting Mark and Barry going, Derek Jones with son Peter , and NZ/AUS superstar grandson Anthony Butt, the Williamson's , the Dunn's. so No room for anyone new to make a killing over the decades. Must be why fine horsemen Blair O and Tim Williams don't train ?

Ranga , didn't the Michael House business model (a very unique one) involve gathering 2 truck loads of horses and charging off to Manawatu or Invercargill , maybe other places to win as many possible on say a 2-day program meeting? That must involve heaps of New owners you would think? for a while anyway. you might have success like he did for a few seasons or road-trips, but once the winning rate declines , so will the business. Brodster on the money maybe , with the likely 'burn-out', and lack of profit would be draining. Loss of owners would be terminal for the business model.

hahaha yeah! they have some hot patches here at times. Had a share of big melts for sure!. lol....NZ always very nice. I realise that you see a lot of things there (not just harness racing) like covid effect, TAB betting, government that annoy you greatly , the way they are run. I guess things fade out like an old typewriter, and new stuff takes over. (like Sportsbetting and pokies have done to harness) 'Harness in the past 'was brilliant and I do live in the past with it . But still for the moment ,might as well go for /support the product as it is churned out. Jewels Day is better then No Jewels Day anyway. Some FINE horses on display !!!!!! very nice. I need to get AKUTA off JJFlash somehow, in the sweep to make the day more profitable. lol.......

Yes I have often said I know plenty that won't bet on harness racing (but for different reasons than you have) I put dollars on NZ trotting as the feature races are very easy to pick out the chances. NZ races are way more entertaining than the local Australian product because you have variety (and still an entertainment value with the Sunday grass track trots for families /tourists to attend as well as the horse owners . a very good thing. Stakemoney is poor across the board compared to gallopers so makes it hard to race one these days because of the expense's and the prestige has evapourated as well. so just a select group of 'richer' owners or hobby breeders, race them Brisbane , or NZ in the main.

Brodie melts down most days . check out these latest 2 posts above. Could it be Global Warming getting to him ?

NZ Cup , the plum race of the country for the best going around, was only $300,000 for winner last time for SELF ASSURED . Down from the $400,000 for winners in recent past years . so the decrease there is 25% . quite a large amount in one year. so not just the jewels going Down in Value unfortunately.

Am sure where there are large numbers of stable staff you are going to have a LOT of different addicts of one kind or another. Chris Waller with his hundreds of horses in Sydney had a positive Meth in 2016 so copped a large 30k fine and the horse DQ. Then after testing 67 staff (imagine a percentage would refuse testing too), 6 were found to be positive for one thing or another. Even this year in February Qld Chris Waller stable staff were 'forced to retire' (another word for sacked) after a party got out of control after a feature race win. People are always taking stuff , alcohol ,etc so random tests will catch people out. (just like on the roads) How often can we go for these random tests? and what is the punishment? NSW chief steward says they do about 600 tests per year on average, on licensed persons including trainers , track-work riders and stable staff for about 20 **positive results. (**seems a lot of positives from not many tests to me, for an industry employing thousands) not sure on what penalty is dished out. Is a BIG worry if cross contamination to horses, is occuring though.

It's a tough one ,staying at the top for decades on end. JACKS LEGEND would of been the champion of NZ imo, if for not Allstars all the time. (2nd to Lazarus in a NZ Cup) Last Friday BARRY took to nice 2 yearolds to the South Island for you to 'see at Addington.' MONTANA DJ and MAJOR PERRY ran 3rd and 4th in the Feature Sires Stakes final !!! an incredible achievment.!! Completely un-noticed by nearly everyone, because of the dominant CULLEN quinella in that race , and behind the brilliant AKUTA. 3rd and 4th doesn't attract attention alas......................... (and Barry has had some 2 year old fillies winning this season too, beating the southerners that came to Auckland on occasion) MONTANA GLORY placed twice in Group 1's behind Cullen's True Fantasy very recently too, If he knocked off Cullen's in these races you wouldn't be bagging him. Is great results really!!! Well done Barry !! keep up the good work.

Lets have a look and see what is wrong then. compare to recent past seasons and your immeadiate opponents. firstly, Must say CULLEN is running at a success rate Exactly the same as ALLSTARS last year . He achieves 1 Win every 4 starters. NZ's other leading stable DUNN's is very consistant with very close to 100 wins from 600 starters every season. They achieve near 1 Win every 6 starters. In the North Island, BARRY PURDON past 2 completed seasons 2019, 2020 had exactly 1 win every 4 starters (same as brother-in law Tony HERLIHY, a main opponent, ) and a Very strong win rate same as Allstars. Their 'main 'opponents are RAY GREEN (1 Win every 6 ) and Steve TELFER ( consistantly has 1 win every 7 starters every season ) This 2021 season Barry is recording 1 Win every 8 starters. so yes I guess that is dramatic . Herlihy , only one Win each 7 starters now as well . dramatic too? SUMMARY, You are correct !! a dramatic drop off for BARRY P and TONY H. just this season though .still same as Telfer or Green strike-rate though roughly. WHY you ask ????? Ranga is right I suspect, They got OLDER, and after years of success at the VERY TOP , I say a sleep-in and a small drop -off . very well deserved !!!! Champions of the sport !. good on em'

Oh for goodness Sake Galah !! The 'sore loser' bit you're ranting about .It was just a fricken term of sorts.!!!! like using 'pitiful 'to describe the midweek fields last week , when you know I meant the "FORM of the horses' and NOT the horses themselves , but still wanted to pull me up on it. By 'sore losers' you know I mean 'the negative posting FORM' about everybloodything, and NOT the posters themselves. I retract any 'term' giving you offence such as sore loser or pitiful. Geez mate do you want Forb's back. I DON"T know people's motives , or whatever it is you're talking about. I have always tried to be upbeat and NOT insult anyone , and post history , and great things about, and people in this sport. and even some winners to bet on. I give up , let Luddy and Brodie post to ya. full of enthusiasm. (or is that a touch of sarcasm too much? )

A great question Brodster. I disagree though. He has outstanding success over decades , and doesn't get accused of things like Mark does ?? Big Barry has 'Always' had great horses too.!! He trained Mark Hanover to win Interdominion , Luxary Liner, CHOKIN to win miracle miles, Holmes DG who i did an article on recently, but got No reply from anyone. was surprised as surely someone appreciates good horses? Improved the Hopes best horse 'White Sox' to win heats of the last Interdominion run (and in fact, trained a placegetter in that Grand final too, MACH SHARD, behind Nat on Ultimate Sniper for Allstars) Barry won plenty with Belle of Montana recent times. A whole Catelogue of Success for decades as well , just like Mark (except even Longer) He is a dominant force ! was leading trainer many years with dad Roy, and still winning 4 decades later. Not as Professional ???????????????? did you really say that ??? one of NZ 's best ever winners in harness????

Just a bunch of sore losers Galah. the people commenting in the 'Negative' that is. There is nothing New. Mark was associated with his brother and father. (A smart trainer who engaged the best drivers before his boys drove , Wolfie won the NZ Cup with Sole Command) and Mark followed suit engaging a very tactical and proven driver in Natalie Rasmussen (already a great trainer and 4 time Interdominion winner with Black's A Fake, who beat NZ's Best for many years) So Mark and Nat have won for decades, Mark drove Mark Hanover to win Interdominion 1991 or so for his dad. An ABSOLUTE CATELOGUE of success for Decades !! There is nothing new that can defeat a History of greatness. There you go!! there is the Total reason for you. Not the first horses to do this from the stable. nothing New. would be 100's of others too. ANY horse (especially one like South Coast Arden , a horse with ability but lacking winning form) would improve with the Cullen/Rasmussen combo. They are 'Getting much closer' with the trotting gait horses too ?? watch out for some more wins shortly then !!!!! excellent!. we'll be rolling in it, just like Rolleston

A plague of millions in NSW at the moment? some farms completely over-run. Is it like the rush of people trying to get to the harness racing these days.?

unfortunately stormed home late from well back for 1/2 head second . Where's Nat when you need her ? in front a stride past the post. Nat drove 5 of the 7 Cullen's with a sit last night. Italian Lad was without cover last lap after trailing up from outside of the gate draw. so a top run by him . Amazing Dream sat 1-1 at Auckland FFA and beat the $1.10 fav. Copy That. Always well driven by near the Best In the World !! Nat and along with Tim, Blair and Mark (and now Olivia) !! No wonder there are so many winners. yeah good on you for sticking up for your rites. you'll think of something then .

well done by Cats too just now!!! Lol.... easy win . And LIONS for the flag !! (great game last night here in Brisbane against the Premiers) good luck with your wild west tips. For the kiwis go SPELLBOUND (Vic G3 tonight for Nathan) into ALTA ORLANDO (Nsw menangle for Dunns) double. What could go wrong???