Gammalite

Well of course they had the fan-fare and spent time off on holiday, after Amazing Dream won the Auckland Cup 2020 . Hence the Galah has noticed the 'less result' if you like , during the Cullen and Nathan era ever since. You and I notice change as well . And you asked the question about the other stables of Barry, Telfer ,Dunn closing in. I think you're right. With Marks stable finishing 2nd in All of the latest Grin Race, the last NZ Cup, the last NZ Derby, even the last Roy Purdon Memorial , so it seems the field has caught up. Mark would normally win them all lol 😆😉🏆 He has won the 3 year old Sires Stakes again though > and OscarB did win the Dominion, so Not all is lost . The Auckland Cup will tell the story soon. must be next week maybe?..Having Quinellaed that race a few times in recent years , including last year, and they (Mark Purdon stable) have WON the LAST 8 Auckland Cups !! (with 7 different horses) a truly gobsmacking amazing effort. No One else will Ever come near that streak . perhaps the best trainer driver in the world

hahaha sorry old mate i'm always a bit bemused by it all so didn't mean to create same for you lol. I put quite a few on a Pedestal really. Currently Leap To Fame, Just Believe, well generally ANY Interdominion Grand Final winner gets my upmost respect as the Champion of both Nations. So they are my Ultimate favourites on the Winning Pedestal . 🏆🏆 yeah Allstars I guess, Emma Stewart stable , Phil Williamson with trotters, probably Dean Shannon lol for bringing the money to NZ and giving Barry and Phelan a lot of horses that have really taken it up to the Allstars stable with Merlin and Co lately. (makes the racing even better) Just can't come to the Grimson /Trainor/Seaton 'Improvement party' though. and am bemused they ruined my Interdominion Pedestal by winning with battlers Boncel Benjamin and I cast No Shadow and then the Nz Cup with Swayzee so I'm very bemused by All that crap 😅😂. NZ quinella again just now in the fast class at Menangle . Northerners TAIPO and SIMPLY SAM. We're lucky Dean Shannon (and also Herlihy clients) are repopulating those northern stables or they would run out of horses . Boom and Classy Operator won tonight as well. Classy Operator won last 3 of 4 starts now and is just jumping out of the ground. Very Bemusing Classy Operator that horse the Dylan Ferguson team drive with that time at Auckland that you noticed . One of those suicide drives on the young horses 3 years ago to the day . When he drove for the stable-mate MeetmeinSorrento to win. think Classy was just a 2yearold then to against the older horses. Ferguson should of got months DQ for that drive. One of the most Bemusing things I've ever seen. 😅🤣 whatta shocker that was.

Mate you were the one who said the comment about the last 3 years. as you can plainly see here in your personal opinion. So I gave many examples of the races that Mark Purdon has won in the past 3 years. He still is a feature player. and the one to beat (on most occasions) 😉 You should remember the 'Official' Allstars brand of 'Mark and Nat ' was retired on new years Eve 2020 when Amazing Dream smacked out that brilliant Auckland Cup win. What a finish !!! and as you say the 'patchwork of Cullen (All-triangles) , Nathan and whoever since is probably not quite as strong overall anymore. (John Dunn even got the 'chocolates' in the Welcome Stakes Friday )🤣😂 defeating them (Mark and Nathan horses) comfortably. so as Walt is asking perhaps the tide is turning. Weight of numbers gets results. How many do Dunn's work there on the beach ? seems a lot of runners at times. there was 20 starters at Addington 2 weeks ago 😳 . also some Payne bloke trained with him for a while .was he any good . or just All-squares ? 😅😎 Yes when the REAL Allstars partnership started (Mark and Natalie 🥰) they had 2 strong chances every feature race nearly from 2010 on for a while so am not surprised of the increase in Stakes Won that you have mentioned for Mark Purdon . With Smolda and Lazarus and a few awesome performers in those years we were given a treat of the best on the Planet ! well done to NZ harness 🏆(and the little QLD lass joining in to help it along )

Well they could have 2 strong chances in Every Major Feature race thereafter I spose. from about 2010 onwards possibly?. that's when Blacks A fake finished up in Oz for Nat. (interesting funfact that champ never won in NZ in 3 starts there 🙄) But Mark was fantastic way before that mate. right from the Get-go in the 90's. Winning the Interdomion for his dad and Barry with Mark Hanover at home in Auckland around 92' , and then going out on his own , winning an enormous amount of NZ Derbies , had Il Vicolo , trotter Pride of Petite winning everything. And a whole heap of great trotters like Buster , etc...The list of 100 horses I could reel off for you winning Feature races, before Natalie came along is just through the ceiling 'Incredible'. Most Trainers can't even get horses into these races , let alone WIN them all the time . Mark is the 'Usain Bolt' of harness. Always been in front of the field. Shame about American Me stopping him Winning the ROY PURDON Memorial' last night , but handicaps are designed to even up the contest. so it worked I spose . as it has in 100+ years of trotting history in NZ

Well I think you are dreaming if you say they have lost a wheel in that time frame. Akuta raced Magnificently winning the last Auckland Cup and 2nd to the Aussie in NZ CUP. Self Assured won the last TWO NZ FFA's . even as an old horse. and also the Inaugural Grin RACE for a $1,000,000. Millwood Nike won everything she was in. Oscar started winning everything when Sundee retired, including the last Dominion. 9 (Nine) NZ Derbies in a row !!! before the tragic 2nd place last year by DSD to Brother barry's 'Merlin' ended that staggering run . 8 or 9 x 3 year old Sires Stakes in a row (and still going winning again last week 🏆💰 ) there ya go mate . there's 8 of your ABsolute TOP Notch Class Races, still ALL being won by the Allstars in the 'last 3 years or so' as you say. They've lost nothing mate. Others are still chasing ? 'Chasing The Dream' one might say ? 😄👍

Looks like it Walt with Akuta and Millwood Nike injured they are short of their 2 best stars. The horse you nominated as class act in Chase The Dream is still going well , and Won the rich Sires Stakes Final last week , and so might be the NZ Derby Favourite for later in the year. OscarB the defending Dominion winner still might be a Rowe Cup chance. Don't Stop Dreaming had an incredible season with 2nds in many Big Races in NZ and Oz including the narrow loss in the Grin RACE and Hunter Cup, and is a chance to go through the Million dollars in prizemoney soon. But as you say Merlin been tipping him over a few times has shown maybe the Allstars Top billing has gone 😪 . Roy's Silver grey colours are back and Winning more, so they Allstars might be just bridesmaids now with the Telfers and Dunn's in the bridal party looking for a bouquet as well. 😁

Well I was only jesting that if we could magically get rid of Pokies that he betting dollar would return in large amounts to horse racing. (of course impossible with our governments enjoying billions each year from the pokie gambling taxes kindly donated by Pokie addicts. In harness racing they have run slot races at Cambridge the past 3 years , so things are looking up and some great racing , with the very best horses from both Nations, and owners and Win a large amount in one go , like they do at the metro Oz gallops , the Everest is fantastic each year. Real progress as the Aussie states start up their own 'Slot' races too. Perhaps Nz gallops could join in and try and attract some 'High Flyers' and public interest in the racing again. Aussies might visit and stables like Te Akau, Marsh, Rogerson could all have stables in both countries and the racing improve with it. The Nz Racing has been great this season. It is still going to be ok. I enjoyed seeing Ellerslie back in action. You need the biggest City to set the 'Tone of improvement.

There are owners on different agenda's . Of course the big owners are prepared to pay up for yearlings and then race them from the Big stables . Dean Shannon a prime example lately. Merv Butterworth racing 'Copy That' and 'Arden Rooney' could of just used Aussie trainer at home , also the Fiess lady of Mark Purdon , but they are rich enough to support the NZ harness scene and Pay up for the slot races, etc. and enjoy the BIG Glory they strive for. There's a good way forward being taken on board in NZ. real progress with those events past 3 years (slot trot and Pace). The racing has improved to go with it. And indeed you still have the Aussie raiders there tonight to have another go a few weeks later . excellent stuff. real progress !!! multi millionaire Kevin Seymour (Leap to Fame owner) and Brissy local the amazing Chris Garrard , and Dean Shannon have poured heaps(millions) into the local QLD harness scene , and now the Nz scene, and they deserve every incentive and reward going as far as I'm concerned. many winners for them is greeeat. If we relied on your 'bloke with 2 jobs to race half a horse' the game would of collapsed in NZ and some states here in Oz long long ago too. that's just the dreamers mate. Manawatu nearly closed? like Wellington did, and Dunedin . Manawatu possibly saved by Michael House and Doody? . No Big trainers or owners or good 'Group class' horses there mate. So no interest either from most. Brodie and I are very keen harness racing supporters but wouldn't get too enthused over Manawatu (or Redcliffe to be fair 😅) and therefore it's just those BIG KEEN owners like Seymour , Boots, Butterworth, and Shannon and those millionaires that 'Keep It All Running ' at the main tracks. Bless them heartily I say.

The Welcome Stakes has always had some prestige and nothing wrong with having increase in stakes 💰🏆 if possible to maintain the quality and prestige. Yes the good stables that race in ALL the Group races are the 'face of the industry' . You expect them to dominate these races with Billionaires like Shannon having 17 horses with Barry and phelan for example. (Merlin and co) Tonight the feature $140k 3 year old Fillies Sires championship at Aucland is dominated by 3 of the BIG 4 stables in New Zealand. Nearly the entire field. A real shock Allstars are starting to show signs of the 'cutback' ?? with nothing in this race to battle against the multiple Dunn , Telfer and Barry Purdon runners. (Nat is driving a DUNN runner !! 🤣😂) the main rival on most occasions lol. Her standards are slipping? tongue in cheek 😅) The smaller trainers are valuable to southland, west Coast, manawatu and the like , but the GROUP racing is the flagship , and as long as people are still buying the yearlings , they can pop them in these stables at a lower training fee, and Hope Like Hell , they can win a race or return a profit or even get to the races at All ? lol 😁😎. looonng may the industry run 👍

wouldn't get to dismayed mate. I think Chiefy is a little jealous of your fine contributions on this site that have shown great knowledge of all things racing , including the participants, clubs, tracks, horses (of both codes, attendances, betting, and even the 'dreaded' topic of Track conditions. a favoured Chief topic. he is running a long nicely too (in 2nd place 😂🤣👍🏇) funnily enough I could help with an answer to his posing question of what could make the industry great again. Well looks when it went downhill a little. (apart from NZ weather that makes people attend their local pubs and clubs like RSL's etc. rather than get blown around at the race-course. they get special catering there with meals and deals and entertainment. Of course the beautiful horses are 'on-screen' on Sky channel to bet on all around our great nations. BUT the gambling dollar changed in the 80's and 90's with Lotto and Pokies coming in . SO Chief My lad . Burn the Pokies, Can the Lotto and get the gambling dollar back . (might have to improve the state of the economy as well 😁😎) and Bob's your Uncle > the mighty horse racing industry Will Be Great Again !! problem solvered .

Some great points and debatable ones too thanks Mr Galah. Tactical competence an important one. Walt and yourself not happy with Barclay (obviously) nor the bloke driving Westport Cup on Mo'unga.( there was a worse drive in that race but moving on). I think Barclay probably felt 'awful' he didn't get the win because of an error as described by Walt. But you only have a moment in time to make these decisions and live with em' after. I and many made plenty of mistakes but you're doing the best you can at the time, and to be called incompetent after just doesn't sit right with me , in that VERY Competitve environment. I thought Blair Orange actually had a 'quiet ' patch when he returned from World Driving Championship , and Jonny Cox has been picked to pieces before .(on BOAY and other places in the past) But seems to have come good. I still not keen backing him lol.😂 Have a look at Natalie. I always back her but on Messenger night she drove 3 horses, all 2nd fav's as you are worried about odds . and all 3 ran 2nd last after some hairy fairy runs. But we're not calling Nat incompetent ? she bounced back winning the Sires Stakes Final on Friday Addington. Look how hard she had to drive and tactical assess that race to win by half a nose. Same with John Dunn in the Mo'unga final. A Dunn tactical battle that saw Charlie Brown win. by a nose. These races are hard to win. even with 'Competent' drivers. but let's get stuck in to Barclay or Cameron or Mo'unga driver or whoever because they lost a race. Happens a fair bit IMO 🙃 Driver's can make an error , when they should take off . It happens. I feel sorry for Barclay (and Nat) as have been in that position . you try something and it doesn't come off. Happens a lot. I have been wrong here at BOAY. as wouldn't of punished Cameron that time on horse 'Saginaw' (who was an outsider) and got beat not coming out at the right time or something . You guys cryed foul about it. > and yes. were all correct in the stewards eye as it panned. he got 3 months suspension or something for incompetent drive. The odds didn't matter. Because > as always they don't. I thought that was awful IMO. I've never ever a Steward even mention a horses odds in their report here. It doesn't matter here. Usually if they are in the market it's because they drew well at the barrier. Stewards tend to just worry about a drivers actions effecting others, and a horses actions in the main. I don't think any $1.70 fav should be gifted any race and can get beat the same as the 20-1 shot. All the other drivers are trying to beat you afterall 😂👍

Stewards view and assess the entire field. they are not fixated on odds like punters. Of course they DON"T. you know this. They are not going to say to a driver "You should of pulled out around the death seat horse at the 600m as you would of won the race then " as is the case being put forward in this thread . Because the driver has experience. The horse is a maiden. (could of just placed 3rd even if he did that ? who knows for sure) Good drivers win about 1 in 7 race drives. After a lot of races you might think what you could of done better to finish closer with the 6 that didn't win. Tactical moves are SPUR of the Moment sometimes. you don't have a lot of time to make your mind up. Walt makes it sound like the guy deliberately was trying to get held up and the stewards should be reprimanded for not doing something about it.? shining a poor light on both. I tend to support Both those parties in this instance. 😎The driver might have won the race if he got going earlier, he might not of either. It's not for the stewards or Punter to decide. The driver decides. his tactic didn't work out on this occasion. He was beaten a neck, 1/2 neck so must of had clear air at some stage in the straight. more than what some get at times.

you're fixated on the starting odds Walt. Stewards aren't . that's the fact of the matter. You expect the stewards to question a driver based on the support on the tote for the horse and it not being driven in the manner you thought it should. ( like Mo'unga a good example) Why should they? they don't control the odds. I can't recall ever being questioned in hundreds of races , because of the starting odds ?? nor anyone I worked with being questioned ,based on the criteria you are supplying . Stewards query a horses action is what they do , a fav I drove once hopped and skipped from the outside gate. I made up some crap like the track surface was a bit looser out there and too much give( It was too , I could here all the grit hitting the outside fence like you were throwing it at it from a shovel lol) but they don't care . Out of the draw for 2 starts you go . No matter what the odds on horse. Only time I remember being questioned actually Stewards don't tell drivers how to drive. They don't care about the odds of a horse. It's not their job. They police the racing to be a 'fair' and 'safe' contest . If a horse makes an error they address it. If a horse gets held up by a bad driving tactic , they have no reason to jump up and down?. that's just you mate . and a few hundred people at Randwick or Ellerslie or any race meeting every week , where their horse gets held up till late. Happens ALL the Time mate. Tough titties for the punter. PLENTY of horses get held up in the run. most races that happens. and plenty of Punters and non drivers think they can drive or ride better than someone out there in a race that they are watching. that happens most races as well lol.😂

Punters expect their runner to win all the time , but we know that is not possible.😅 You can have all the tactics you like but there is always others trying to beat you. I guess if a horse pulled in behind others in the last half mile , and then got held up I would raise an eyebrow , but I've seen hundreds of races with runners trying to work into the clear in the last quarter for their final bid at glory and come up short. A 2 start maiden wouldn't register on my radar lol. better to give them cover as long as possible. (when you're NOT Allstars) I once drove a horse for 4 starts that was incredibly fast from the mobile. His arse would drop a foot as the mobile went to pull away at dispatch point, as he thrusted that hard with his hindquarter, he tried to keep up with the bloody thing. He was quite incredible. lead easy every time. first 2 times I decided to take a trail and got held up 3rd both times. smartalec trainer said keep lead and you'll win ? 😉 . I said this horse uses his gas at the start and is weak as piss at the end. but nevertheless led and got ran over 2nd and 4th for next 2 runs by John Mcmullen. Trainer still not impressed. I said horse will not lead and win. I got dragged and never drove that one again 😂. Not a good horse , but man what a thrill coming out of the gate. Holy hell it was like a V8 against mini's. 4 misses with trying different tactics. Doesn't always mean you win when leading (or 1-1 like this 2 start maiden) , no matter what horse you have.

You guys are barking up the wrong tree'. Every nearly every race a horse in the field is held up by other runners at some stage. Harness or gallops. they race in close proximity guys. When they fan out you hope for a run at them if you're going well. This horse is a 2 start maiden in this article ??? you seriously think the stewards should be worried about the driver getting blocked in and make a hoo-ha about it . can't see the sense in that. I used to get hemmed in behind the leader on occasion . when we had running rails. You can't go grizzling about when you think drivers should pull out and go round a runner. Well I spose we can grizzle on a forum , but the stewards aren't going to tell drivers when to go , and how to drive. If the bloke decided to stay in . his decision. you can't punish him for it. Got beat a neck and 1/2 neck .went pretty close so what's the problem. yeah maybe could of won . maybe not. (if driven differently ) They can't all win in the same race. I would say no-one lost confidence on that runner. wrong tree' barking 😎 Where they Lose Confidence (the Punters that is ) is your stupid galloping runners from stupid dated standing starts. Now that puts a LOT of Punters off. and is something the stewards DO Need to deal with as well. Who wants to see their investment galloping out the back? . ALL to Common in Nz harness = not many investing on those races from the real loss of confidence in harness racing that exists.

Think OP can whack em' a bit harder Chief ?. he puts in some good aggressive rides. certainly knows what he's doing ok. Jamie is super impressive in what she gets out of a horse. I'd rate her in the same boat as Natalie Rasmussen in the NZ harness racing ( at getting the job done with great hands ) . Of course things can go wrong at times. Natalie last week had 3 drives for the night in the three Group races at Auckland , on 3 x second favourites. And ran 2nd last with all 3 of them . 😂 I laughed my tits off as haven't seen her caught out like that before. A great hattrick. I wondered if the career was collapsing ? but of course bounced back this week winning the Group 1 Sires Stakes Final at Addington. Can't keep these great horsewomen down for long. A quick break now and then to powder the nose and look beautiful and then it's back to the winners circle.

With good jockeys like Celine G , one of my favs, who always gives them all a good go at it, are on and getting some weight claim relief you can pick up wins with SAVOIR FAIRE too. at Caulfield now Chief. Hope you keeping your eyes on the Cranbourne Te Akau lot. those boys (and girls) are preparing winners every week now. Better than backing Gai these days. 😅 SAVOIR FAIRE paid $23 too. Time to do a Fashion Shoot now with some of the winnings 😂💰👍

That would be boring . stick to your guns Chief. Tis great you are a big Te Akau supporter. They are going great guns anyway. (well it could quieten down with Imperatriz retired now I spose) Tell ya what though , there's a good sneaky chance at Morphettville in the 6th at 20-1 they've sent over there. A Fillies and Mares OPEN and she (the Topweight) is well weighted really against this lot . Space> and has a few panels on some of those locals. Maher stable is on fire lately as well, so 'ExtraTwo' looks hard to beat. one more and we have the Trifecta 😂 💰

Love those 2 mile races. NZ harness at it's best. 5 horses ahead of the BOAY champ Mo'unga at the finish unfortunately. The 3 Dunns and 2 Telfers. The big stables strike gold again. Pretty hard to beat that fantastic team driving. Thought Dalton had that too, but beautiful drive John Dunn (yet again smooth as James Bond ) with his well timed run . The 'Diamonds' are Forever !!! 😅

Com'on Chief . Those syndicate horses have no control over how the money is spent either. My friend raced a Flemington winner (one of those Dalziel syndicates) but was constantly tearing his hair out about what races it was nominated for, who rode it, how they rode it , etc etc. all the usual stuff. you have no control over how your money is spent. Get a trotter and own it outright . Place it where you like , pick the trainer /driver and have a good time !!😆🏆👍 , even race in Oz 🇦🇺💰

Mo'unga has his big championship soon. Only $3.00 to win in big field. BOAY's favourite horse might carry the day still though. best of luck to him. The Dunn TRIO will try and pull some sort of swiftie (hopefully 😎) makes for some great racing !!! Hey what about HEISENBERG tonight in race 4? An Open Class horse who's had near 100 Addington runs against a field of Wannabe's ?? I couldn't work out the handicapping for that. some real loose class ones in that. Quite happy to take the 6-1 on offer though 😁💰. he normally raced Way way better horses than those tonight.

Well said Walt . A Purdon FIRST 4 one way or another lol. 😁 you're on the money like Brodster. Great drive by Natalie. She stopped Williamson getting up outside her on the last bend and used her stable-mate in front of her to incredible advantage as well. Cold Chisel had every chance to beat them trailing. he did work a bit early with the Dunn's firing out early as you predicted. Great race for the Allstars with winning the 3 yearold Sires Stakes 9 or 10 times in a row now. Merlin stopped the NZ Derby Winning sequence last year , but that winner tonight (Chase A Dream) looks the Derby colt alright. thought that last year with DSD too lol. 😆. (2nd)

Yes there is a lot of 'quiet' drives by the young fella. You have to remember Dickie is probably driving to 'Instruction' a lot of the time (like gallops trainers do with their jocks) , as Joshua not training them himself, so a plan is 'probably' made to suit him and the other stable runners working to each others benefit , as often happens with multiple Telfer runners in a race. You can beat the BIG stables in feature races if you drive aggressively enough. Very Impressed last week with old mate David Butcher winning the Group 1 Cardigan Bay 2 year old with Cyclone Jordy (for a trainer I've never even heard of) , by getting him right in the picture and defying the current Barry Purdon/ Dean Shannon onslaught of winners. good on em ! Nathan Williamson has a chance tonight to stamp a BIG name for himself if he takes out the features by getting involved with DREAMS ARE FREE in the Sires Stakes G1 Final and CAPTAINS MISTRESS in the G2 70k 2yearold Fillies Bracelet feature race. Nathan reminds me of Josh driving a lot of the time , so lets hope he cuts loose tonight at Addington and wins at least one of those 2 races with some 'enterprising' driving 😁🏆💰

Well it won easy enough. Court has had horses backed like that before. a plunge stable at times. Starting unruly was in it's favour. as got left on it's own 20m behind the field at the start with no horses close to him to stir him up or unsettle him. and smaller field too. Easy trip around to the lead after 1/2 lap. the stars aligned for that one. Betting on a low class Horse from a Standing Start. No thanks . Let Ranga and NowOrNever get all the money on that one I think. ALLSTARS double team stars in the 2 year old race R4 look a better bet at getting the choc's ??. Oh shite no>> looks like Johnny Dunn 'Got the chocolates' in that one instead 🙄 . One should of gone with Brodster's tip it seems afterall? 😉😂. always on the money💰

Well you could add on a couple of 00's to that now, at least, to her value. Picked up $70k in her 2 WA starts already. As for 'AARDIE's Express' she picked up $136k in her 2 races so far at Menangle. and running blistering 1.48.9 mile too. She could be worth anything ?. wonder what the Aardie stands for ? that they name them?. They're aardiely giving anything else a look in at the moment anyway 😁.