Gammalite

Have to say you are right there. horse only got to be slow away and no time to catch leaders after. let alone gallop out. Why can't they use the fricken mobile and get everyone away safely. Harness is struggling (betting wise) from all the horses galloping out the back. You just can't let punters lose like that these days. they'll just back thoroughbreds everytime instead. There's too many races where your horse is actually involved in the race !! lol... I'm waiting for Veeery Eleegant in the Queen Elizabeth next week. What a bonnie NZ mare she is. good run for your money.

The horses are better off Brodie. a sit and sprint and are fine to race again next week (the bulk) without being flat. Just watched race 3 won by Major Collect , get home from 4 back the fence to win. that big track helps. four back on fence in Australia and you would run last, over a mile. Even the third horse Rocket Boy with BlairO got home from the tail for third, so I do agree that if 2600m , would be more chance of catching leaders from that position, BUT only because they might be tiring more. Therefore Much kinder to horses ! they could race next week. If 2600m might struggle week to week. Is much harder to back up and be competitive. Yes , some QLD horses race 50 starts a year, not flattened by distance racing. 2100m tops. easier to train too.

That horse Poppy, was super good and near the best ever yes!. 1.53.2 in 1983 is just freakish. Total of 49 wins from 62 starts. 7 Group 1's. $700k and 15 defeats of Gammalite. Gammalite 94 wins. $1.3 mill in stakes. 15 Group 1's (not to shabby?lol) for the 80's, and 2 defeats of Popular Alm . The Australian Cardy? lol....... Both Poppy and Gamma had pretty shit drivers , but were rarely (if ever) boxed in, in a race, and 'gave it' to all opponents 100% of the time , with 100% determination to win. How does ADORE ME shape as near best NZ er? 1.47.7 mile win here. (sensational fast ) and 24 wins from 31 starts. A 3.54.6 time over 2 miles stand. wow. or did she have too many seconds to Christen Me late on?

Charges that get quashed are not relevant. Vicki did get DQ on the very serious Match fixing charge however. very sad. Regarding posts and rails, a Leading Trainer here Darrel Graham, just did a year DQ as well very recently, from excess Cobalt levels from horses chewing posts and didn't get off unfortunately. very sad. some leading Aussie galloping trainers O'Brien and Kavanagh got off their cobalt charges (big dollar lawyers help) The 'Naming the actualTrainer' Merry-Go Round is a total joke , as you say . (Australia) The NZ trainers so much 'more honest' over the years !!! The actual people training are named ! how good. Mark has had other training partners (inc Nat), even Barry Purdon , heaps of them. Even this very year Fantastic NZ horseman and near leading Aus trainer Anthony Butt, actually puts his fiancee Sonya on the training ticket because she is doing some training , and /or a huge part of his organisation. fabulous they do that . The whole Craig Cross/ McCarthy thing is so phoney in it's realism . In Queensland Pete Mcmullen stable is a near front runner, but operates in his wife Chantel Turpin name?? .great horsepeople. but how bad is that? No integrity when a trainer is driving a runner for another trainer, while the horse he actually trains, is driven by his wife?????? A total joke for Honesty and Integrity. Very 'serious flaw' in my opinion, as stinks of corruption, when things like that happen. His grandad 'Hollywood John' must turn in his grave.

Belinda was a group 1 trainer for many years . Just like Allstars the McCarthy's were high quality from the start. Andrew became a top driver here in Qld , now in USA. third brother Todd (Interdominion winning driver with Tiger Tara) also became best in Syd , now like Dexter Dunn , is a star in the USA. geeez I hate they all went there, leaves our countries short of the cream? NZer farrier Craig Cross the Cobbity Farm honour as NEW Trainer as Belinda got a positive in 2013. forced sabatical for a year ?? but had longer off , maybe kids ? not really sure. good sabatical. now back this year and won Miracle Mile already ? hot stuff. Also Vicki Rasmussen got a Year Off here in QLD. horse that a DQ former horseman put 3k on, handed the lead by a horse trained by her. simple as that.?? goodbye Vicki for a year. Stewards don't muck around here. Out you go as soon as out of line. Trista did a year as well. Grant Dixons wife pulled slightly to one side and let Grant through to win. Stewards do the job , no matter who it is. (she had a baby during her sabatical) lol... Are the Stewards there weak ? I didn't think so. surely surely surely they would take action if anything 'Out of Order" with Mark's stable (or anyone elses) I just assume they are champions of the sport, and all is level and fine. (until convicted of something)

For sure !! 7 days. dawn to dusk. when not dealing with the horses through day and night, staff and owners fill all the gaps !! The leading Australia stable 'McCarthys' saw them putting the horses in the stable farriers name as trainer , for quite a time , to take the pressure off a bit. Belinda is back now after sabbatical. At least Cross was / is a 'Hands On' trainer ? lol..... gets a good look at the horses. wonder if Craig Cross will go out on his own one of these days. ?

Bad luck with the government there by sound of it. guess the next election is a chance to fix the problems? Look at bright side too Brodie. Mr Cullen might be collecting some handsome training fees and percentages currently. ? excellent. I would think All the 2 yearolds starting off in Cullens name , was an important part of the EARLY handover you are worried about. New Years Day was picked as a start Point for Haydens career ??? seems good as any other time. Would of been best in Australia , as that is our NEW SEASON date now. And you can bet that will come in in NZ eventually as well. way better for the 2 year olds.

I think Davis gave you the answer already Brodie , that you acknowedged . They always planned to be around for the feature Easter carnival and NZ Derby. What the hell is wrong with that? and vacation after that. Handing the control over gave Cullen a chance to promote the 2 yearolds in HIS NAME recently. Very good of them . great Planning. !!! I would think 'After the Jewels BIG Day' coming up soon, and with Australian borders now open again , and with your horrid Canterbury winters , you won't see them for dust during Winter.? you are being impatient to get rid of them ? everyone loves a Champion .....lol.....

2 wins from 121 starts. did you train it? were you happy with the 2 wins? or a touch unlucky at times. The Kerr incident is so bad for the Industry as effected a lot of people. many would be put off forever. In the galloping world , so many of the syndicators 'Rope people In' to horse shares , whether the horse can run or not. Some of these syndicators probably don't even See the horse. they just want the dollars. Heaps of football players (all codes) cough up thousands $ on expensive horses that in a lot of cases , are no chance of being competitive in a race. very sad situation. Through the years was so good to actually know every Owner of every horse at the stables where i was . Is the real enjoyment you get from it really. the horse's enjoyment is debateable

Best ever Ranga ? Lazarus or Cardy? well Cardigan Bay had a hip much lower than the other after horror trackwork accident, and came back from that inside a year to be Best in the world. Awesome ! what a will to win he had. (Gammalite tried hard like that everytime too and had 90 wins from 180 starts,) Lazarus got beaten a few times in Aus and USA. so a good final rating Cardigan Bay 1st, Gammalite 2nd, Lazarus 3rd for the GOAT. lol.....

Oscar has 12 Wins from 19 lifetime starts . Great record by anyones standards. Had a 1.55.2 win over Majestic Man about a year ago too. very fast. Obviously has had a problem since then as only the 2 starts in past year. Can't win ALL the time Hunter (Black Caviar the only one to do that) I bet on the Bolt last night in this trotting Championship. was well beaten third. your tip was only second? It's hard to win Group 1 's ? Even if Oscar fit and well as can be , best may of been only 4th last night. was a good fab race it was.

Some things are disappointing for Harness racing. You have great lists. Losing Nat and Mark is NOT one of them.

I reckon if Shan Noble drew 1 like O'Reilly it would of run 2nd , but just have to have 4th today. Fantastic run too, circling the field from last after the first lap. deserved better. Pembrook P tried to stop them Cullens too , with a lead and win attempt in the 4/5 year old championship. bad luck for him. The master wins ! and Nat secured second for a $2.50 quinella . That's 2 in a row after American Pride too for Mark. neat. Bottle's will be popping. not dropped which is great! at least the Allstar Cullens had a look at Krug (he was too good though) UNlike the TODD runners, buried that deep back on the fence , it gave them NO chance. onya Nat for having a crack.

The Galah has nailed it , with no trouble at all. Congrats KRUG and connections !!!(and the Galah too) The derby leaves one question . why couldn't Nat run a head further up 3rd instead of 4th.? costly miss . lol....

Well he was rolling at top pace down the back straight on Sundees Son. Guess John Dunn thought the 3 length start would be enough to hold off Muscle Mountain , and must of felt he had Bolt covered too. Great drive by Ben Hope. A junior in a Group 1 . fab effort. waited as long as possible before leaving the fence with OscarB looming up outside him down the back straight, and judged running the leader down to perfection. 10/10 !

Just like us Ranga ! the greatest there has ever been in harness NZ aspiring to our levels ? lol. good on him. I think he should be invited onto BOAY, would be some great banter? (Keep Forb's locked off though hahaha)

That is bold. they factor in on most occasions? lol. Mark has Won the Derby 11 (eleven) times !! that's a little better than team driving would suggest possible. And a total credit to his Genius.! simply amazing. x factor galore! lol....

Secret 'DEALING' there Karrots?

30 degrees , nice and sunny , beers are on ice, multis are going on now. stuff the Qld trotting (don't watch that boring mile racing anymore (but don't tell Brodie) lol) some good memories from Ranga of past Derbies. Everything is great and all ready to score up for victory. $4 at 70-1 on Bolt/franco/5wisemen/Selfassure/ all to win and coupled with ShanN with Nat at $2.60 place = $280. that quintet will get the ball rolling nicely. anything hot to trot at Auckland?

Thanks for the memory Ranga ! this derby with Hilarious Guest 1st, Portfolio 2nd, Mel's Boy 3rd (not in photo, for Jack Smolenski and went on to win the Great Northern Derby) This Photo looked familiar as is Only a week after Gammalite was winning the Auckland Cup Feb 1982 from Bonnies Chance.!!!what a win that was.......... Gammalite the 'wonderhorse' also had crack at 5 state Derbies in Australia in 1980. Placed 2 x 2nds , 2 x 3rds, and a WIN in the South Australia Derby!. mention that as being Derby Day NZ, and also a great piece of trivia is that South Aus Derby was the very First Race Start for POPULAR ALM . (nearly the best Oz horse ever) .Popular Alm was backed from 33-1 into 2-1 fav !! and finished second to Gammalite (saving the bookies bigtime! lol...). Popular Alm also second to Gammalite at Auckland Interdominion final 1983 !! Shame about the 15 other times they met in a race, the result went Poppy's way !! hahahahaha,

Derek Jones NZMM , running second to son Peter there in the Derby. Horse Might be 'Premiership'? he was a good horse for them around that time. Would of been around the year they won the Cup with Hands Down as well.

Hilarious Guest with Peter Jones ? is that his dad on the outside?

No horse named 'Operation Inca' in that field Ranga?........ (R6 racing against Aztec Shard) Are you thinking of the Inca motto horse 'C YA Do It'

Do you think Ranga means triangles? lol Think last time Krug didn't get lead, 'Hot and Treacherous' beat him after Krug sat 1-1. could be interesting. There are No fillies in the Pacing Derby this year. but there are 3 in the $100k Trotters Derby. Maybe Mark Purdon can get Wanna Play with Me in for a win for the girls?

Mighty Me (Robert Cameron ) winning Derby for the 82-83 season. congrats to connections. I'm scarred by that big Crash in the 83-84 season with 9 horses splattered and Naval Officer winning. A northerner with my good friend strapping was third PALEFACE TRYAX , managed to survive the carnage. Even Third in a DERBY with your opponents on the deck is a thrill of a lifetime for some.