Gammalite

Gidday Brodie from Queensland, well no doubt the ground work is done by the NZ trainers initially. Many trotters improve with age as they gain confidence and practice. And most likely reason is there is many more races/ tracks to choose from and set your horse for over here making life easier and more suitable for your horse. Plus a lot of the Aussie trotters are crap (compared to NZ ones) This century since the great Pride of Petite in the late 90's being USA bred (but out of a great NZ mare) only one single Aussie bred trotter won the Interdominion. That was the Maori's idol man with 'Sumthingaboutmaori'.

The current Interdominion champion TORNADO VALLEY (a former kiwi) not making the trip to Auckland is surprising. He did start over here this month (3rd off 50m) and has won 23 from 30 Australian starts last year and this since being exported. Must be unable to trot right handed properly would be my guess.

Winner Winner!!!. Yes HAPPY SUNRISE it is. Couldn't help but put up a photo as with your posts everywhere, all I could see was this magnificent animal. He came to Brisbane , along with HYPERSTAT from Victoria who had won 20 in a row or something. for $1/4 mil each I believe. everyone was gob-smacked as 1/4mil then, would be like 1 mil now I guess. They both performed moderately with 5-6 wins each over 2 years or so in Brisbane without a big race win, so probably bought to an end those huge purchases. That stable had some luck though later on in 2003, picking up a moderate Tasmanian horse FLASHING RED who had won 15 from 60 starts racing for 3 years in Tassie , then after they bought him, he went on to take 2 New Zealand Cups and an Auckland Cup among other big wins. lucky pick up for sure.

Hey that is the first 4 you have picked !!!! Excellent work by you there!! . Have just logged on in Brissy at 10.30 here so missed it.

Very close indeed , but no cigar. Ricky in the bike. This bloke does look a little like Inky Lord but unlike him was unable to win the NZ cup at his crack at it against another Ex-pat kiwi in Lightning Blue just before Inky Lord came along. This bloke ended up in Brisbane here for a very high sale price but never reached the Dizzy heights of Lightning Blue and Village Kid.

A quiz for you older kiwi harness racing supporters. Who is this horse? One of your contributors may have a fair idea at least.

Wow, my hero as a kid in NZ. Mr Smooth driving Captain Smooth. (I am Tasmanian but was in NZ in the 80's) Your drivers in NZ are so good, and so good to see Blair Orange getting those 2 big races there recently as a reward for effort. [and ability] Wonder what happened to Owen Purdon? He was driving beautifully early 80's before Mark started. Must of had an accident I guess.

Hello to 'Chief' Rangatira from Queensland. Just wondering [excuse my dumbness] what the AGH is, seemed to be Ain't Gunna Happen is what I could find. I remember the Stormont's were the crew to make Delightful Lady the Queen of the park, and Hillier got her late on.

I think Lazarus is nearly the Best ever. But Crowd pulling ability by a harness horse is long gone sadly, . Winx and Black Caviar certainly drew a lot of extra people to the racecourses when they appeared around Australia at the races. BTW, NZ racing was being slandered badly on Australian forums, but Melody Belle and Te Akau Shark with some stunning performances lately during the Spring carnival , has sure shut the critics up for a while. Well done Belle and Shark !

Scotch Notch won the Interdominion trotters final for Aus in 83' as well [but Sir Castleton got his revenge the following year] For the last Interdominion held in Auckland in 2011, the Aussie raiders got first 3 trifecta in the final. [Smokin Up later DQ'ed for added extras] I'm theMighty Quinn as promoted victor. Mark will be sure to stop that happening again. haha But how about Blacks A Fake, our mighty Queenslander, promoted to 2nd in 2011 to give him 4 series title wins and 2 seconds.!!!!! Doubt anyone could ever beat that record. All with your 'All-star girl' Nat Rasmussen as pilot as well. She is Amazing.

Hello NZ from Queensland, This is bad luck for Mark, but at least Spankem still has the much honoured current Miracle Mile Champion Title. I have signed in to enjoy some Interdominion Banter with you good kiwi folk next few weeks. I was lucky to be at Auckland Interdom 83' and see Gammalite defeat the brilliant Popular Alm and amazing Delightful Lady. 'Vow and Declare' has brought the Melbourne Cup to Queensland. Can 'Colt Thirty One' bring us the Interdominion as well ? Wouldn't it Be Nice???