Gammalite

Was great to see BlairO win a heat for the locals. in heat 10 tonight. MATS DJUSE from Sweden has got juiced up with a couple of winners nicely tonight , and the Canadian James MacDonald has taken the lead as most were predicting with 2 winners as well. he could of won on 'Sans Au Revoir' for me which would of been just dandy , but missed by a head. Here's the latest points then , with Blair up to 4th. Gets to his favoured Addington now too. so should do well.

only newly married this year, so with a large sum like that they could invest in 'real estate' . and set up a nice new home togeather. Hopefully for many years of wed Bliss 🤔 that way if they split up later on (like one in 4 couples do) they can split the home like anyone else 😋 . Meanwhile they can have a nice modern home to live in and it builds in value over time as well. even buy a nice dog for it ? lol. 😆 well Ben could buy a 2nd dog out of his half anyway. A pick each that way 😅 and no fighting lol.

wouldn't be many .but I was visiting in Victoria 1991 and went to my only Melbourne Cup . Let's Elope winning. STEVEN KING not only won the Caulfield Cup- Melbourne Cup double , but the Mackinnon Stakes in between them as well .🏆🏆 🏆 Let's Elope winning all three very well indeed. A nice hattrick by horse and rider.

well there's no fast horses at Cambridge 😉, so the winner should be the Best driver lol. 5 heats tomorrow. Blair Orange has drawn a couple of outside barrier draws so will be very hard indeed for him to get in the frame. The driver's that draws well as far as barrier goes, gets a luckier run usually. JAMES MACDONALD the Canadian has a few handy barrier draws in the 5 Waikato heats tomorrow. Gary Hall Jnr is the current leader on points after 5 races, but my guess is James will over-take him at Cambridge. I quite like the macDonald drive 'Sans Au Revoir' in the 9th heat as well , even drawn the 2nd line , as she is a bit more experienced than her rivals (and I won off her a couple of times previously lol 🤣) But the World drivers Championship will take these five heats to see who is a chance at Addington and Winton of becoming the next World Harness driving Champion.

Final Heat for Kaikoura coming up . Heat 5 is race 5 shortly. Let's give Blair a rev and get him home on Gem N Em . he did drive her to victory at Addington not long ago. The USA bloke must be a huge chance on the John Dunn runner, as their stable going great guns lately . Led by the impressive Got The Choc's. Miki's Courage looks well placed in this Kaikoura WDC race. so a MIKI's COURAGE - Gem N Em Quinella could be the go ? 🤔.

meanwhile Tu Tangata keeps taking the punters dollars in NZ. Race 4 running now as favourite ??? what How did they send that out favourite yet again in New Zealand.? must of taken so many punters for a bath the last year it's a wonder he hasn't been run out of the country. sell it off to some poor Ozzie bugger. so old RACHMANINOV at 10 years old, trots to a 2nd place yesterday , then backs up and wins Wins today . Good on the old Boy !! well driven by young Robbie Close too.

Ja ja ja ja . Jaap. . The Netherlands draw a Metro class horse to win the 4th WDC Heat today. Jaap Van Rijn draws the certainty of the century with It's Tough for the John Dunn stable. and wins by lengths. That horse will go close to being a FFAer for John so that was money in the bank in that field. should of taken it in plenty of doubles with other selections today to DOUBLE the winnings 💰. but thought it would be paying $1.10 . ended up at $2.10. 😳 slipped through to the keeper that gift 🙄 nice Win Jaap 👍

yes . a good point of note is he uses mainly Local bred product , and competes (with his junior driving them mainly) at Redcliffe twice every week , just getting the same results every other trainer is getting there ( about 4 wins per horse each year) and has just a few fast class Metro horses. He is very honest. even with 3 millionaires as his owners. in contrast (Leading trainer Pete McMullen gets heaps of Imports for his 3 millionaire owners worth Big bucks) one of Dixon's owners Greg Mitchell , does buy a few from NZ for him .some lovely old NZ horses. especially trotters over the years. Currently racing 'Zealous Spur' to fair results but had the 62 win 'Our Overanova' who trotted to record number of wins here over the best part of a decade. When trotters were not very Big at all here. sometimes race 10 on the card was the trot, after everyone had gone home , and he would start off 50m near midnight lol. What a great old NZ horse he was. Greg had picked him up after eight 3 yearold starts in NZ. where someone there did a great job getting him going as a youngster. OVERANOVA a fine credit to the NZ trotters list of greats.

Well you could give it to Grimson ( like when he got Swayzee off the Tim Butt stable ) and any number of other horses Jason Grimson got to do form reversals. Or now we have the Queensland version. give it to A trainer you haven't heard of yet in Mitchell Dawson. (brother of leading driver Nathan Dawson) give your horse to him. Mitchell is getting a few old has-beens to 'Go Forth and Multiple' as the old saying goes, and is racking up some extraordinary performances lately. NZ bred gelding BOLD MEDLEY JUJON takes the cake lately as the Dawson Star Improver. Racing on our Slow Thursdays in QLD , when the 1.56 to 2.00 mile horses strutt their stuff . Bold Medley Jujon , a recent arrival at the Mitchell Dawson stable ZoooooMMMMed away in a 1.50 mile by 15 lengths from the field for a gob-smacking win . Quite something !. as The horse had been raced for 3 years at the Leading stable of Grant Dixon , with very average results. Grant had started the horse 24 times this year for 2 Wins , both in 1.58 mile rate at Redcliffe. The horse couldn't get warm at Albion Park. Come the 23rd October though , and one week after leaving Dixons, picked up by Mitch Dawson, he's thundering away from the field in blazing fashion , 26 seconds out of the gate, then 26.3 seconds down the back straight to give the field the slip , and cruise in by half the length of the straight, still powering along alone. Slow Thursdays are Not what they used to be 🤣. wonder if Grant feels like a 'poor' trainer now after seeing that lol 😎. Grant could get back behind Larry (LeapToFame) and feel better anyway. Although he would be 'flat out' to go that fast as what BOLD Medley JUjon can now go lol.

yeah . it couldn't pace very well so was quickly out the back today, I bet they're glad it didn't gallop at Addington with all the money on 😁. Blair drove a good race then . Can't wait for 'GemN Em' tomorrow 👍 Speaking of huge difference in recent form I have a Grimson like beauty for you. a big one from our 'slow' Thursdays. I'll pop it on a thread for tomorrow .

Viva la Italia . bellissimo driving lol 😎

I think what I'd do is run 10 races for the 10 drivers , and have them all start one race in every Barrier position from one to 10 each. Like then , they all get one pole marker each across the series , one or 2 second rows . every saddle cloth number once each. and then draw whatever horses into those positions according to their rankings. DOVER TERRACE the plunge horse is in the next Heat. first round for Pacers. Is he 'Red-Hot' today ????😉

The Galah trying to go against the young star Carter there and not paying off. Greg O and Mick G are so excellent at their knowledge it's incredible. they know the sport and characters so well it's like second nature to them. Could never , ever pick or back anything to lose in life. even if I hated them. They are trying or competing to win , so always wish everyone well in every contest. and may the best (or luckiest ) on the day ,take the Victory 🏆.

Gary Hall Jnr does the good Aussie thing and finds the top in Heat 1 . that's the way to do it Blackie. Hoof-in it out in front, while the goings good. None of this galloping out the back like the 2nd and 3rd favourites did in that first heat lol 😎. I still hope Blair can come good and take the Title though for his home fans 👍🏆.

Don't forget it's the state of the Economy as well. .And also it's just not a great product to bet on when your horse is galloping out the back . whether in the North or the South. I think you trying to separate the 2 is just folly. Galloping folk hate trotting betting generally. after watching any race you like , you can see why punters are put off betting on harness. The very last race I just watched the well supported BLAZE CRAZE was galloping out the back before they even got to the start. You're stone raving crazy if you would 'Risk' more than a tenner on that rubbish. (harness horses anywhere) straight After seeing all the amazing gallopers at Flemington and Randwick yesterday where punters made an absolute fortune yesterday. they can put on thousands and actually get a run for their money lol 😂🤣💰💰

James McDonald with a great warm up drive in the first race today . The man from Canada winning on the Dunn runner Judine in race 1 at 8-1 odds. gets a great sighter of the track. Perhaps drawn One in Heat 2 with 'Holly Highlander' in Race 7 at 10-1 ? , and a Mark Jones trotter in race 5 named 'Switch On' also at 10-1 could give James another winner too ? How good are those 2 trotters ?

yes I think it is very unfortunate that Dean went out the door during the year. He is an extremely passionate Harness racing supporter, and has had a great time supporting NZ and QLD harness racing for a lot of years. (his horse Dragon ran 3rd here last night so wishing him well to go better at Kaikoura with Merlin tomorrow ) A quick funny story for you about the size of betting NZ in comparison to here. You blokes a pretty organized and Kaikoura has the full race cards listed for today and tomorrow on the betting sites in Oz , complete with Fixed odds. Meanwhile ( I swear this is true) right at this moment anyway , our local Redcliffe trots today, don't even have the tote betting open yet. let alone fixed odds 😂. these non-descript horses are so un-interesting to the betting people that they can't be bothered even taking bets ( the very few there are) to the last minute. 😅🤣. It'll stop any race fixing I spose ? 👍😋 the racing here is Clean as a Whistle lol..

Used to be the Moonee Valley Gold Cup the week before Cup at 2500m. and the MacKinnon Stakes was run today , Derby Day for a lot of years .2000m . as the last lead up race for the Cup. Rising Fast , Let's Elope, Empire Rose, Rain Lover , At Talaq, and Rogan Josh all pulling off the Mackinnon -MC Double . the 'Mackinnon' has now shifted to the last day of the carnival so the tradition ended. .

and What is wrong with HRNZ doing that ? of course they'll try and Help out the famous Club. A lot of sporting clubs (and Construction and all sorts of businesses) run at a running loss , but can keep operating because of the assets. ATC has more assets than the debt. They just need a way forward . I thought for a moment that Slot races might be a help. The rich racing for Big stakes and funding themselves to run for the BIG BUCKS, so the general non-group racing could have the usual funding (ALL Around NZ) . But I've lost that arguement, and after seeing what happened with the greed in the NSW Eureka this year, I'm not keen on Slots anymore at all lol. 🤣 that idea is canned lol. The new AFLW runs at a $50,000,000 Loss per year currently (now in it's 8th year ) women's AFL football. They're not packing up and going home because of a loss on the books . They'll take some action to cope and make adjustments. The Auckland Trotting Club has great assets and Great people. The debt was caused by issues during the apartment construction Phase. Yes . they shouldn't of done it . But they did (Hoggard arranged it but died at the wrong time alas and sadly ) so now a Recovery Plan is needed. Not abandonment and neglect. These are your fellow kiwi Champion trotting folk you are talking about. Not lepers.

Yes it's a bitter pill to swallow but the sale looks the only way to clear the debt. and develop Franklin or something that they already own. Eventually the prizemoney will drop like it has all over Australia already. The Future of the Sport is dependent on Keen Participants as much as the dreaded betting . Many Australian States are worse off than NZ harness racing, and are propped up by millionaire benefactors . Betting is very 'light' these days everywhere. This is the best way forward. Seymour is currently 'Sponsoring' SA racing for millions annually just to keep it going. QLD trotting would of folded without him . am glad he got a amazing horse (LeapToFame) as a reward for his lifetime of dedication to the sport. Dean Shannon raced many here in QLD and had a stud farm as well , but is choosing to buy and race them in NZ these days, to help keep you guys afloat. What a legend !!! The late Chris Garrard from QLD did wonders helping harness racing too, in both countries. A friend of mine races in Meant To Be and about 3 others. A QLD mate owns a share in Magician (and one other) at Dalgety's too. He's happy to race a horse or 2 all the way over there in NZ, to help keep NZ harness racing going. even though can't see it race. a good man. of course the ENTAIN deal , (as Ladbrokes in Aus do) are holding up the betting side of things to help out , and stop collapse. . HRNZ is full of employees doing a great job servicing BOTH Islands. they Cannot taking a biased stand like he or anyone else on forums wants. and subject the North Island to neglect because a field of 6 started in a race and not 10. At least all the connections racing in the North are likely to earn money , unlike a heap of South Island horses that earn nothing. HRNZ are there to LOOK after ALL your NZ participants in the Sport. the prizemoney and races are calculated by computer annually and run accordingly to Service Both Islands. Perhaps shutting some of the many South Island tracks is the answer to save a few bucks? they shut Hutt Park, New Plymouth , etc in the North. well they have shut Forbury I guess , so that's a start. could save you a few bucks if that's what you're so worried about . Victoria runs at a huge loss. HRV still runs over 20 tracks as a lot of Keen participants still spread out over . they need to merge some , but how do you do it ? it's hard. people are making a living. Brodie talks like the North Island have got nothing worth racing, when really it's the better competitors who are still making a quid from the sport. the better smaller fields allow this to happen. All the North Island stables would be winning currently, unlike a lot of South ones.

How is paying some of the Best horse people in the WORLD a waste or drain of funds.? surely it's the OPPOSITE. They're paying them more than the South Island because they're Worth It. The Leading Stables of NEW ZEALAND even see the advantage in racing their and Telfer's and Dunn's compete so regularly at Auckland and Waikato , they're practically North Islanders as well. Close em' down ya reckon ? Yes I mentioned a Lot of OLD BLOKES like Barry, and TonyH and Maurice and David Butcher and Bernie Hackett who were all competing there when I was, over 40 years ago. and winning then. And still Winning Now. but their kids like the young Butchers, young Orange, Crystal, Ranger, white and others are coming through to take up the retirements. Maybe Dr Chin should chuck it in shortly though ? 🤣👍 You want to show them ALL the door ?? because you can't bet on them ?? and HRNZ pays them instead of some battlers in the South . Instead of sinking the Boot into ONE of THE GREAT THINGS OF NEW ZEALAND. The World Class Trotting at Alexandra Park that has Happened for over a Century. you should get behind it . Be a Benefactor ? you got spare cash , save the day and feel good and do something great with your final years. Race a horse in the North and knock that QLD old mate Dean Shannon off the perch lol 😅 (who has tried to help out there each year) Wolfie and Roy would turn in their graves with the Support the Trotting gets these days on Forums . Thank Goodness HRNZ is still doing a great job and putting races on for everybody. A great mob who knows what they're doing thankfully. with so many feature races through the year it embarasses what Australia can do. 💰

Probably your worst stuff yet Brodster. We have WORLD recognized horsemen of 1 Barry Purdon , 2 Tony Herlihy (MNZM) , 3 Maurice McKendry, ( MNZM) for decades at not just the Top of the North Island but near best on the planet. TAB is in Dreamland if watching these fine blokes (and their amazing families) race along with the 4 Butcher clan , the 5 Hughes family, the 6 Hacketts family win every week nearly, and even old 7 Ray Green winning a couple of NZ Cups for the North in recent years , (when the Aussies aren't winning them) 8 Arna Donnelly leads up the lady stables with many fine performances to show the horsewomen are top quality too. the next five aren't too shabby either. Mr White and Dickie and Balle and Blanchard and Stormont all capable of getting a winner or three. Probably at the next level down which is about the South Island Mr House level general Metro/country level and he's your 2nd best winnigest stable there ? so 10 North stables would be more Group racing level ahead of him then ? with 9 Stonewall man, 10 Woodlands and 11 Dean Shannon being Not just big owners but Are GIANT ones , winning that many races with Merlin (inc the NZ FFA at Addington and the Velocity and a host of others , also Young 12 Mark Purdon coming home recently too, where he was winning Interdominions for his dad Roy at a young age with Mark Hanover. The Best Stables are indeed in the North . even your leading South training ones of Dunn's are keeping a satellite stable there to keep their foot in the door, winning a trot at Alexandra Park tonight even. I think they are near permanent Northerners now. with young Jacob. so you discrediting them with being weak ? is just plain embarrassing . For their amazing achievements for decades and the NZ Order of Merit achieved by some of the participants. So did some of these TWELVE harness names i've mentioned and numbered above, ring any bells Brodie ? with how good they are ? which ones aren't making the grade in your opinion and are 'Weak' and draining your funds ? that's just a terrible thing to say mate.

He could definitely claim to be his 'equal' should he win this year . and be the equal of 5 other greats as well. This is surely Blair Orange's BIG big chance to join the list of World Champions. The winning SIX x Nz World Harness driving Champions are Kevin Holmes (1979), Robert Cameron (1983) , Tony Herlihy MNZM (1985), Maurice McKendry MNZM (1991), Mark Jones (2003), Dexter Dunn (2015)

yes that will make a big difference. they won't be used to the slightly more contact that the pacers (and therefore Blair and Gary Hall) can tolerate and dish out during a Southern Hemisphere pacers racing this will give Blair and Gary a big advantage ( although I see the first 2 Kaikoura races are mobile trots Sunday so advantage lost in those first 2 races ) Blair (Nz) and Pete McMullen (Aus) copped the same in Europe 2 years ago in the 2023 championship, finishing down the ladder driving trotters Only through the series . they're slightly more tricky to keep balanced.

I don't know about that Mr Galah. He'd have to be a strong chance of running Top 3 with Ohoka Cobra (heat 3) and Aldebaran Crystal (Heat 2) ?? Blair has driven both of those into placings in the last few months at Addington . which is much harder than here ? I actually think they'll both WIN. young Gary Hall NOT at ALL used to driving Trotters. They'll be a chance of galloping on him lol 🤣 even though he has over 4000 wins to his name , very few were trotters. and in Monday's 2 Pacing heats Gary is on the rank outsider in Heat 4 , ( the Dutch bloke looks a certainty in that heat on the nice Pacer It's Tough. should win by lengths. and in Heat 5 Gary is inside of 2nd row with a $1.80 favourite Semba. can't win from that draw unless the number one horse leads can he ? and it's the rank outsider of the field. Blair drove Gem N Em (his drive in this ) to victory at Addington just 3 weeks ago. He'll WIN this for sure at 15-1 !!!!! go the Gem !!!👍🍻💰💰