Gammalite

She's a big chance still. But you would think with 3 stable-mates against her, with plans A,B,and C ready to be played, Spellbound is up against it. AND the dramatic form increase of Grimson/Trainor lately. and lack of McCarthy will allow them to 'dictate'. Best of luck though !! I think she can still pull it off. It's a 30k Group3 . com'on Spellbound !! have always loved Purdons getting something. Nathan's turn to shine !

I'm gunna go YES!!. he did that so well and easy past 2 weeks. he is big and strong. SHOCK WAVE is a beauty. The 2nd placegetter last night, yet another big Loss for NZ years ago. MIGHTY CONQUEROR won 2 out of 3 Invercargill 3 years ago. Now has WON 17 out of 37 in Perth and $1/2 mill +, for the Bonds. could of been a FFAer in NZ.

Here's the field tonight for Spellbound. I am absolutely staggered with not just the improvement in the THE STUNNING NUN , forced a couple to chicken out too, by the look of it.? lol. like the stablemate RUBIES FOR TASH (a handy 1.53 mare with 5 wins in 23 at Brisbane over past year ) has gone to Grimson/Trainor bit over 2 months ago , and proceded to now beat home FreeFor Aller's Alta Orlando, Star Galleria , etc ????? How is that possible? Last start 'Ruby' started FAV,???? in the time-honoured Treuer Memorial. which is now unfortunately reduced a Group2 event, with a sign of the times of harness racing, but used to be a GRAND circuit event!! , won by Village Kid, Westburn Grant, Black's A Fake etc. so from midweek Albions to fav in Group2 's in 2 months. extroadinary . 1 30s31 SWEET JEMMA NZ Brad Hewitt David Hewitt NR63 FR1 $41.00 2 21111 THE STUNNING NUN NZ Jason Grimson Jack Trainor NR91 FR2 $2.25 3 s1112 SPELLBOUND NZ Nathan Purdon Ashley Hart (C) NR93 FR3 $6.50 4 35479 MAKE MINE HEAVEN Bernie Hewitt SCRATCHED NR102 SCR 5 61622 ROCKNROLL ANGEL Jason Grimson Cameron Hart (C) NR103 FR4 $4.00 6 12215 RUBIES FOR TASH Jason Grimson Jack Callaghan (C) NR120 FR5 $3.00 7 4116s OUR PRINCESS TIFFANY NZ Dean Braun SCRATCHED NR120 SCR

An interesting story is that for most of this month the 10 horse barn of Jason Grimson and Jack Trainor was moved to the 'Retention Centre" under surveillance of stewards. Trainor (from Dunedin) used to help Dexter and Cran, then worked 5 years at Blake Fitzpatrick at Menangle, now took out a trainers licence late last year. Grimson and Trainor results and 'Improvement in horses' has gone so extreme, the suspicious stewards actually locked down their barn to see what they were doing.??? Can they do that ? is like you're guilty of something so off to the holding cell you go. No charges laid? quite extroadinary.!!! The boys are onto Something good !!!, that's for sure. Tonight SPELLBOUND for Nathn Purdon in a group3 mares race Menangle is up against the THE STUNNING NUN .The 'Nun' left NZ 2 years ago after some handy Akld form for Young, and has nice placings for 2 years in North Vic country. but has 'exploded' in 2 months in the Lock -up, 4 wins including 1.49.7 last beating or flogging McCarthy multiple Group winning 'Bettor Enforce' (who is a chance in the Redcliffe Cup tonight against Colt Thirty One). MIGHTY FLING ART (from southland) HIDDEN COURAGE , and generally the whole Grimson/ Trainor Team Barn is 'flying high' . quite sensational improvement. Well done them I spose???, stewards can't work it out , and the barn has 8 in tonight at Menangle. Poor 'Spellbound' looks to be in for quite a 'fright'.

Hey your new driver did a good job in that Jnr race Jonesy !! Rough and Ready alright. Bit of a fierce going thing throwing it's head around, but your girl timed run beautifully from last in running, to score well !! very good. Book her now for Sweet Lou filly drives is that what you're thinking? (If 'Zac' hunk Butcher Effron not available)

Could be up shitt creek too lol. with hot tips. my wife adores that show, (Schitts Creek) says it's the best on television.!! If you like beautiful grey gallopers , and is kiwi -bred, and we have a bit of rain like NZ that she loves , and Chris Waller training, and a very weak field compared to what she is usually against , and the on-fire Tommy Berry riding, we have it all for you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! POLLY GREY in at Eagle Farm R4 Tatt's crown tomorrow , who fits the bill nicely . looks a special. who needs Johnny ????

Well another way to fix it would be for the Brodster to come up with a good tip for tonight !!! lol ...Sugar Me? paleface adios has done his bit and come up with SHOCKWAVE (potential superstar in Perth tonight) , although as a Geelong Cats supporter is licking deep wounds today lol...., inflicted by the Mighty Brisbane Lions last night ! tough Luck paleface !lol....... made to look like pussies lol. Redcliffe Derby and Cup on here tomorrow . Superstars KRUG (should win the Derby by a minute), and COLT THIRTY ONE the group2 Redcliffe Cup , to go past $1,000,000 in prizemoney won, and become the 2nd best ever QLDer to Black's a Fake.!! what an honour . Today Bob Butt from NZ, is having a drive at Albion on a trotter !!!! wow ! let's back him in ?? love a good kiwi driver R9 IMA CALVERT ROSE .from the high performing Butler stable. so it's SHOCKWAVE - KRUG - COLT THIRTY ONE - IMA CALVERT ROSE quad at 30-1 !!! $2 gets a carton !! Com'on Bob !!! do ya bit and win with the trotter and join the 3 superstars !! I can taste the beer already hehehehe

Yes I thought the same in Aus. very slow to get the vaccines to rest homes, the people that are in most risk. and keep shutting down cities and internal movement everytime a hotel quarantine gets broken. Sydney in disarray currently , as is 1 million folks school holiday plans due to start after today. all getting a bit silly. As you say , treat/isolate the elderly to keep safe as possible, and let the people get on with their lives. UK are trying to get on with it and get back to Royal Ascot , football and of course their work as much as possible , even though the daily UK Daily covid cases number has risen to 16,000 positive per day. There's only 20 deaths per day average. (103 past seven days) so doesn't seem as deadly as what was made out, it just seems to compare similar to the Many of strains of flu, that occur world-wide every year.

Absolutely!!, Every week all year round Addington and Alex Park should have 2 meetings. One for the fast class metro, and one for the lower class , slower ones. they are Prime centres. they need to be fully utilised. (Albion,Menangle,Globederby,Gloucester,Melton) 5 states have been doing it for years , and it works beautifully. Costs to much to travel far these days, and trainers have horses at home to work so they need regular 'short' trips to the races. Those Aus tracks don't race Sundays either, as even HARNESS folk deserve a day off ONE DAY a week lol.... still have to have someone feed/swim/drench/shoe/host visiting owners do a few hours though. (slow old Tassie backwater races Sundays however) Use Sunday for family and friends and celebrating your Big Saturday night Metro wins !!! lol...... it's quite a long week in harness.

With Kane Williamson leading the BlackCaps to the inaugural WORLD TEST cricket Championship overnight , with a crunching win over India. The Wonderful Williamson harness drivers ,have gathered a 'HAT-TRICK' of their own each,, to celebrate at Forbury Park harness on Thursday. Matthew and Nathan Williamson , 2 of the best in the land , celebrating the Huge cricket win in style with 6 winners between them !!! what a Day !. Brad missed a winner but joined his brothers in nailing the $100 trifecta in race 5. at Forbury. so had some fun too. Congrats to the worthy cricket team and of course All the Wonderful Winning Williamsons !!!

Some very good points . the horses have to be fairly tractable to be in junior races, with the inexperience factor. I wish you guys could of seen them from the 80's. Tony used to win the 'probationary' races mostly, Mark P on dad Roy's horses would go close , the rest of us would scrap it out for the remaining 12 drives so was very much like a random draw in the end , as to who a trainer (or owner) wanted to 'Give a go' on any given week. Usually C1 or C2 class horses , but wow , there are demolition derbies on occasion, because field size, too BIG !!! Was way more opportunity getting to Australia. (races 5 days a week (some 6) in most states you can attend and drive. In Brisbane these days , the reins are given to the youngsters mainly EVERY race. John McMullen, only in his 50's like a few of us but hasn't driven for 10 years, says its a young persons game .(Race Driving) His 4 kids win 10 races every week between them Grant Dixon probably the oldest at 50 years old that goes round regularly. Juniors are in Every race. They drive for to old an age in NZ .lol.. Average driver age would be twice that of an Australian race. Mango seen the light lately? lol give the youngsters a go.

Excellent idea. even have 2 races like this per racenight , once a week. limited starters per race of say 8 (increases safety and owners chances of winning) and extra $2000 for winner above the normal they would race for. use C1 horses (at least one win so have been around a while and/or capable of winning a race. ) random draw as Jones suggested to get new winners each week !! RESULT : 2 winning horses , 2 slightly richer happy owners, 2 very chuffed junior drivers at the weekly meeting. What could go wrong ?

stabilize all the current Clubs still in action. they all 'deserve' something in the HRNZ handout of prize-money. Bring in an award winning accountant to work it out (the distribution hand-out) ? Clubs responsible for the on-course maintenance and race day facilities, but most importantly , have Benefactors , who love the harness racing , to support the Clubs financially, near where they live and want to race their horses. In Auckland, Max Harvey (of Harvey Furnishings) used to have Inter-island challenge stakes, Akld Cup sponsorship etc, be club 'Patron' etc, . these days you need Millionaires who love harness racing to donate to the clubs prize-money pool for races to make it viable. Kevin Seymour and Chris Garrard (horse and hound millionaire) have done it for years in Brisbane , whereas without them, Albion may of folded years ago. Why not try John Green at Auckland ? Get the 'Hugh Green Foundation' to run the show??? Multi millionaire dollar organisation , and John loves harness racing, (raced The Agent Orange) and he's former trainer too!! . even had wedding at Alex park (as I was lucky enough to attend with the bride Trish's family.) so they love the place. It is IMPERATIVE to get millionaire breeders ,example : like John Green (or Seymour in Brisbane ) on All the trotting club committees to keep clubs afloat. and keep harness racing alive. You need STRONG (i.e rich, lol.....) club board members, who want to race their horses.

Childish stuff ??? a competition for drivers to compete doing something they love and live for ?? happening next month whether you like it or not. obviously 'Not' in your case . A great chance to advance their careers , experience's, making contacts, and begin establishing an identity in harness racing. everyone should be wishing them well. obviously 'Not' in your case.

Brisbane Albion Park has been blessed with great BENEFACTORS over the years. Kevin Seymour (past chairman , multi millionaire property developer, and massive horse owner) has fought tooth and nail with RQ (racing Queensland) to keep the track running for years. Current deputy chairman Mitchel, races heaps horses with Dixon too. (keeps it going) The greyhounds move out 2022 to 40mill complex being built at Yamanto 40km from CBD . fantastic for them !!!! Ultimately the track will be resumed for the Olympic village and broadcast centre , when Brisbane wins the Olympic bid for the 2032 Olympic games. The beautiful gold coast harness track ,opened 1990, was resumed 2010 for the 2018 Brisbane Commonwealth games , and the Gold Coast club folded (very very sad), and the athletes village built on the site. (sure to be used again for Olympics too)

Well sorry about that. No offence intended. I thought this thread was about achieving more Junior drivers and competition between the Islands. The more the merrier ???? especially home grown products from the greatest harness families. With the young Herlihy, and wolfendens boys, now dexter and Trainor all doing so well overseas , thought you would love the next gen of the famous families , to actually be RACING IN NZ. I'm very disappointed Andy and Todd McCarthy went off to the states, as were near the very best in Aus. leaves a BIG hole locally.

Fair enough then, if you think that. If I was HRNZ ,I'd be desparate to keep Auckland going. Especially since of the feature racing they host. For the good of the sport. As Galah said if NorthIsland eventually closes down and SouthIsland still going with harness racing, how long before they start closing tracks down there. Forbury already I think you guys were saying???? I used to love racing at Ruakaka or Taranaki (New Plymouth) and is hard to believe someone didn't have funding to keep them going. I realise a lot of people are unhappy with Auckland trotting Club performance for some reason. EXAMPLE : I'm unhappy with the Wallabies too ,and rarely watch these days. BUT wouldn't for a second wish them out of existance , because of poor performance and/or management. Still hope they win , and still fully EXPECT Rugby Australia to throw money at them , to achieve better days. HRNZ should have funding /management to 'Prop' these clubs up !! not let them all die? , like is happening. AND for the Junior drivers are MENTORING and SCHOOL program , like they have apprentice school here in QLD , young people coming through every year. It's Time to look after /educate /mentor the young drivers too !!

If there's a problem Brodster , you need to throw more money at it , to improve things . not less. (as in any business) to attract investors and participants. and it's nothing about 'deserving' , if you want the industry to survive. They have many feature races there , that the southerners have raided since I was kid in Auckland. Locarno took the Messenger my first night and Sapling the Auckland Cup a month later. Don't you enjoy that sort of thing ? Recently (even the last Alex park meeting) had southerners plundering spoils) was great racing , no matter what you think about it. didn't you see Cheezel and co? excellent stuff. example is Brisbane racing for much much less then Syd , Melbourne and Perth but Kevin Seymour and Chris Garrard (millionaire breeders) have thrown 100,000's at it over decades to keep it going for their horses. (and the other trainers here in Bris. ) Garrards sponser NZ as well , to SUPPORT the industry all-over. maybe someone like RonRobertson and Max Harvey (raced Comedy Lad) who used to throw some money around at Auckland need to be found. and throw more money at it to build it up again even bigger. Shame about the Junior's !!!!!! I finally worked out what went wrong in the North today . The new generation didn't come through as I discussed earlier. you're right ! that has caused desparate times now. (shortage) TIM BUTT's kid just started driving (Rylie) but unfortunately for you , is in Victoria instead of Canterbury

I imagine you jest with this Brodster. ? surely stakemoney is an even distribution via sponsers and interested parties and HRNZ, and anyone racing in industry is worthy and 'deserving' of their share, whether Ruakaka or Winton. don't see why drivers, trainers or horse numbers in training are anything to do with it. You want to win, you turn up. Auckland just won the super rugby final on TV the other day against South Island Highlanders. was on tele here in Brissy even and good game. Perhaps we should Pay the NI Auckland teams more ? and base the rugby in Auckland , (as that is where the greater numbers are who participate) and reduce the stakes (pay) to Canterbury, Otago and that as don't deserve much. (The Brodster theory?) Tongue in cheek by me mate, all good. ..... the Auckland/Cambridge racing has been excellent lately . give em more I say ? just need some new drivers, as you and Jones suggested. Hey you could Get the motorcycle gangs to do Letter box 'flyer' drops all through Auckland suburbs !!!, a free dinner voucher per person at the course , all that sort of thing. My dog would love to go 'right-off' at a Harley Davison pulling up at our mail-box too !!!

OMG It's actually happened ! the racing is callapsing because the next generation didn't come through to replace the 'Old' boys ?? McKendry, Mangos, Mark +Barry + Owen Purdon, Stormont , Cooney, Wolfies 2 boys ross and glenn, Herlihy , Mitchell, Blanchard ,Smith, Hunter, Cole . (Langdon, Harris and Brosnan all pissed off to Australia) ALL of these some of NZ 's BEST NORTH ISLANDERs ever involved in harness racing, and filled the race-book just 30 years ago. 30 years on. and NONE of their kids of these top line drivers, are driving in the races !!!!!!!!!!!! some are still going around themselves. Butcher and Ferguson (if son of Peter) only 2 'next gen I can spot !! and Bernie Hackett has young daughter just started !! Well done Bernie , and congrats to Crystal Hackett with a couple of wins already.!!!! P.S where is Tony Cameron ??? isn't he a junior at Herlihy's ??

They were a lovely bunch of horses in their day. Lots of wins between them . They tire late nowadays, but how game are they? fabulous. Sabrage went his absolute best of the usual 1.54.4 he can run these days to run 3rd , but the winner sitting parked going 1.53.6 was just Way too good today. Funnily enough he tried that last start , parking outside Sabrage and ran last. Miss McMullen (now married to Ryan Vievers) had him fired up today !!! lol... CHANTRY did run 1.53.3 back in summer , but hasn't gone that quick since. a good buy at $7000 for someone still. Sabrage stable-mate at Butler's, from NZ called THE ROCKNROLL KING just ran a good second in race 9 to McCarthy, and beat the High reputation horse AMERICAN DEALER by 15m.. But he would be worth 50-100k !!

Ray Green giving a couple of his stable a run very soon at Albion in sunny Brisbane, TOMMY LINCOLN and AMERICAN DEALER from the North Island. As luck would have it Team 'McCarthy ' is in town and popped a couple in against these 2 North islanders today. RANGER BOMB from South having raced at Addington last winter performing ok with 4 wins from 11 for the McCarthy super-stable since. looks a sure fire 'quinella' in Race 6 with only 4 locals chasing third money lol......... Race 9 AMERICAN DEALER is equal favourite for Ray and the north , with McCarthy on ILIKEMEBETTER who has drawn well. But could the horse from the Deep South of NZ THE ROCKNROLL KING blow them out drawn the Gun 1 Alley ???? 'sure fire trifecta' possibly?

Bit scattered everywhere through NZ and Aus . was Just having a senior moment thinking would be fun to race one with the folk who are actually "Interested in and support Harness racing". lol . and you would get some great discussion and enjoyment racing one of these fine horses. Hope they all get the chance at some time would be great for them. BUT of course actually seeing your horse race is the fun and value of it all anyway, so we 'Luck Out' at this stage . NZ being a big place too, so is pretty hard to get 'On Location' to enjoy the racing.

Well that's good then, Thanks for you (and The Galah) for clearing that up. Video can be deceiving at times, and I was totally unaware of that method with deafeners. never used em like that. So apologies by me to Mr Newman are in order (and given), for incorrect cheating allegation earlier, and wishing him many more winners !!

He was kicking its tail IMO . there are many ways to tie a tail (gently to the sulky) esp. in wet conditions. did it many times. esp mares who try to 'swish' you away lol..... The young bloke Newman gave it (tail) a bit of a whack with his boot as the 2nd horse was getting closer, and he got the reaction he wanted. I don't like those sort of things. Try it yourself, hold your cat or dog gently by the tail with one hand, while it's mulling around your feet. then give it a little whack with your foot (between your hand and base of tail) and see what happens. Newman looking for that reaction ? pretty sure earplugs are pulled by hand ? many Brisbane horses have deafeners. never seen foot release of them before, but guess it's possible if you wanted to be awkward.