Gammalite

I'll go for the 2 I saw go round as kid in Nz Chief. Bob Skelton and David Peake . must of gone close to 2000 ? Jim Cassidy and Shane Dye probably a lot more in Aussie than kiwiland.

Some good points Brodie . esp New participants are getting harder to find as the costs associated with running a harness horse are high as you mentioned in the past . The Galah has mentioned the lack of training facilities are a major issue going forward. (When Franklin is sold off at Pukekohe what happens with those trainers ? will be not good. ) and yes the lack of Junior driving racing will Not motivate youngsters to 'Have a Go ' and get that competitive edge/nature/ going. like the old boys do at the golf. Can't agree with your boring racing though, at least thers' a bit of variety there at Auckland compared to all the mile racing here for low class horses week in , week out . 5 days a week . As a great fan of harness racing I even get bored with that and don't watch all of them. you don't know what boring is mate 😁😋 (no actually you do , as have said about constant mile racing previously) And as a punter far more likely to bet on Nz harness still. especially feature racing with the better horses and drivers participating. If you're getting better odds at the gallops one is more likely to bet there though , as in 'trying to make a quid' , instead of a general little flutter for fun , like you might see at your summer grass track racing.

There was a Group 1 tonight Brodster and good race .Queen of Hearts (and backed the winner lol 😋)🍾 the 4 horse field was because there was 4 scratchings in it . just a abnomily mate. There were some small fields at Addington too ?? . a six, 2 seven horse and 2 eight horse fields...About 90 odd runners . and 2 x big fields of worn out trotters made up about a 1/3 rd of the race- card 😉 Auckland still had 74 runners and was some good racing. don't lock the gate yet ??😎 You're just a bit biased being in the South 🤣 and must of been enjoying seeing Rachmaninov and Take after Me going around for the umteenth time (in the 100's lol) getting nothing . I quite enjoyed the Auckland trots and gave Addington the flick . (on this occasion)

Jeremy Young ... wins the Group 1 'Queen of Hearts' a few minutes ago with 'Lady of The Light'. congratulations to Jeremy on the Big Group 1 Win tonight at Alexandra Park and to be on the winning Group 1 trainer list . Lady of the Light placed in Group 1's last year behind True Fantasy , but with Marky Boy not turning up tonight at Auckland , the local good mare gets her Big Win !!!!!

Yeah know I shouldn't of bought gallopers owners/syndicates into the conversation. didn't mean to offend you about that stuff. the Australian Oaks winner with her 80 owners and All during last season. Anyway what is HARD to FIND is the owner/ and or trainer of Standardbreds, doing All the work with the horse, and then Winning a Big Group 1 race , While Not being a Household name horseperson training more than One horse at that level ever . We used to find a few of those around . Was thinking about it because Interdominion is on . Lorraine Nolan from NewZealand won the last one at Brisbane 22 years ago. YULESTAR Nz Horse of the Year 2000 season... Did she have another Group horse like that ? I think not. That's the sort of person I'm after and trying to give Credit here too ... Can you think of others ?

Looking at those 2 fields for the Grand Finals and you want 200-1 .🏆 (i'm getting 300-1 Sportsbet) 💰 Not without a chance is the SPIRIT of St Louis - QUEEN Elida double.👍 Both horses with quite a Few New Zealand owners. cool. 'Spirit' likely to trail through with cover from the 2nd row , now would seem to be with Trainer Luke McCarthy driving . If Grant Dixon with 'Larry' pours the pressure onto Swayzee he might crack ?. Unbelievable he didn't crack when Akuta was looking at him turning in NZ Cup last month 🙄 , so he might be too good ? if runs like that again . Spirit won't be far away though... Queen Elida the ONLY horse capable of beating 'Just Believe' in the trot. 6 of the runners are over 100-1 and no chance...So pretty good value to have a crack at the upset as 8-1 second favourite.

Exactly right. I think everyone in the media and here on forums has been in awe and very impressed of the wonderful achievements and the Group 1 Wins of those select few Professionals there in Nz. for example the best going Allstars and Dunn's with 2 each , then S+ATelfer and Phil Williamson winning the eight Group 1's on GrandPrix Day . and Barry Purdon (with Phelan Partner) winning 2 as well with multi millionaire QLD owner of Derby Winner Merlin. seemingly the Five Top stables in New Zealand. *****BUT....just seems the 'Dream' is over for 'owner Trainers'. through all the Big races now. Not long after Gammalites day's saw a market gardener in Auckland (Notman) get Village Kid going , and then sold him to an owner trainer Bill Horn , a Butcher .. to take the Mantle of best horse down-under. wouldn't happen nowadays. the PRO's are just Way Too Good and prepared. Armalight had a true amateur trainer Smith (winning Auckland and Nz Cups) , John Tudor in the Auckland Cup there too with the Dodds brothers, Greg Robinson taking on a few for old Max Robinson..plenty of regular folk could send them round and have a chance. there's just something great About the Big Race Winners that Do it with just One horse only ......... The thoroughbreds too... the trainer doing their One horse , is just so Special . Won't be anymore Snowy Lupton with Kiwi Melbourne Cup, (or Takeover Target with his taxi driver owner trainer won at Royal Ascot in the end ) winning the Big Gallop races either. I guess there's lucky 'regular' owners with 'Micro shares ' in ones like Melody Belle and that I spose. But they have no say in the racing, so don't even 'really own them' as in making decisions about anything to do with it's racing. they're even sold off at Broodmare sales at the end of racing as a clause as well. so that is just not the same as having your own horse....

Very good Walt lol. yeah had a regular bloke owner /trainer and farmer driver . 2 Interdominion Grand Final Wins (one of those at Auckland ) The days when you don't have to be a multi millionaire to Win the Big races . Like the Owner of Nz Derby winner Merlin (Dean Shannon) the other day, Owner of Leap to Fame (seymour) , all of Mark+Nathan Purdons owners and Nz Cup winners Copy That and Swayzee (Boots) in recent times. When's the last time a regular , say factory worker or teacher or man of the land won a Big One.? Boots and Seymour own near 500 horses between them and have 2 horses each (All the 3 favourites) in the 2023 Interdominion Grand Final this Saturday. here's a Boots article today >>>>>>>>>> 'Knockabout' owner can reap more success in Inter Dominion 13 December 2023 | Adam Hamilton (RQ Media) Self-described knockabout Mick Boots is by far the biggest harness owner in this part of the world, but teaming up with fellow NSW Riverina horseman Jason Grimson has unlocked his feature race success. Boots, 61, owns "well over 200" horses with 43 different trainers in Australia and New Zealand and has two runners – Swayzee and Nerano – in Saturday night's Group 1 Inter Dominion pacing final. Both are trained by Grimson. "I've raced horses for 16 years since and really stepped it up the past few years, but ‘Grimmo' (Grimson) won the first really big one for me with Betterzippit in The Nullarbor (in Perth) in April," Boots said. "Since then, he's gone on to win the Blacks A Fake and New Zealand Cup for me with Swayzee and now he's got these two in the Inter Dominion final. It's been some sort of year." It's a match made in heaven for the Riverina lads with Boots born, raised and still living in Leeton, while Grimson is from Young, but now trains at Menangle. Inter Dominion history awaits Grimson, who is trying to become the first trainer to win three successive pacing finals with different horses. He won with Boncel Benjamin on protest at Menangle in 2021 and I Cast No Shadow at Melton last year. Boots, a retired self-made millionaire, first met Grimson in early 2021 at the Melbourne yearling sales, did some homework on him and sent him a horse to train a few months later. "I spoke to Peter Birks, a great old-fashioned horseman from West Wyalong. He's a legend in these parts and he said Grimmo used to hang around as a kid and that he had ‘it'. He could see things in horses most couldn't," Boots said. "I'm sure the great facilities they train from at Menangle help, but Grimmo is a real horseman. I remember early, he said ‘let a horse be a horse, get all that gear of it and start again'." Nerano has gone to another level during the Inter Dominion series. Picture: Dan Costello While Grimson's deeds with Swayzee have been his greatest yet, Boots is in awe of how he's not just resurrected the once promising Nerano, but taken him to a new level. "Nerano was sold to the US, but he did a tendon the next day and I refunded the money as a good bloke would do. The horse had his rehab, went to Grimmo first-up for seven months and bolted in at Menangle. It's all gone from there. "He's really peaked through this series and he's got a terrific turn of speed." Boots' first Inter Dominion runner was Bundoran, who won a heat in 2021 before finishing ninth in the final for trainer-driver Amanda Turnbull. He returned and ran ninth at Melton last year. "The Inter Dominion has so much history behind it, it's a thrill to be part of it again, especially with two runners," Boots said. "I don't get to the races much, I'm just a knockabout block who prefers to lay low around home, but I'll be at Albion Park this week." Swayzee is $2 favourite and Nerano is $5 third elect, so Boots is well poised to win his first final and give Grimson his third on the trot. But Boots said Grimson has perhaps his biggest challenge yet to have the pair primed for a clash with hometown hero Leap To Fame. So, who does Boots lean to? "I don't want to sound negative and I hope I'm wrong, but I think both of mine will find it hard to beat Leap To Fame," he said.

A great horse though, but he missed away in the Sires Produce that Uncle Jasper won . Trident won the Sires Stakes Final in Auckland in May when expertly handled by Wolfie (worth 4 x more than the Produce anyway) so had a great season with 7 wins . Had Broken track records at various tracks around the countryside with Wolfie, Robin Swain, Alan Scobie and John Hay all setting those records . O'Meara having a great old time with him

wow .that is super impressive . not far off the Big Six. Carter Dalgety has plenty of fans so can't see him heading him off. Nz well represented today at Albion Park in 2023 Australasian Young drivers Championship. I went along to have a look and Sarah O'Reilly and Zev Meredith WON a heat each , and Crystal Hackett has 7 more heats this week to try and join them with a Winner. Wonder if the kiwi youngsters can Go 1. 2. 3 ..... might go close.

The Interdominion Trotting Final . (won last time it was at Brisbane by Take A Moment for Anthony and Tim Butt) NZ owned Queen Elida Very hard to beat for the Barron family . Just Believe , the best Aussie is the defending Champion after Clean sweeping last year. Been to Sweden and back this year. He does a great job , and has great draw here in the Final. One of our best trainers Pete McMullen is driving old Cambridge trotter Funny Face. Can't work out why that is ? He trains GUS , but is driving for another Trainer ??? wouldn't see that sort of rubbish goings on in Nz . wonder what GUS's owners are thinking ? pay the bloke good training money and then he tries to beat ya with someone elses?? lol. very strange indeed. (Chantal Turpin is Pete's missus) $265,000 No NR. RBD. TROTTERS. Mobile 4TH LEG QUADRELLA, FIRST 4, 3RD LEG TREBLE Form Horse Trainer Other Eng. Driver Class Hcp 1 33234 MUFASA METRO NZ John Justice John Justice NR120 B3 FR1 2 11355 FUNNY FACE NZ Jack Butler Pete McMullen NR105 B1 FR2 3 98446 MAJESTIC LAVROS NZ Tayla Gillespie Matt Elkins NR78 B1 FR3 4 s1111 JUST BELIEVE Jess Tubbs Greg Sugars NR120 B1 FR4 5 12221 QUEEN ELIDA NZ Brent Lilley Chris Alford NR120 B1 FR5 6 32112 OLLIVICI NZ C W Lang, S L Mahar Chris Lang NR120 B1 FR6 7 s4474 VAN SANK Shannon Price Adam Sanderson NR111 B1 FR7 ------------------------------ Second Row ------------------------------ 8 12243 SIR FAHRENHEIT NZ Daren Garrard Angus Garrard (C) NR120 B2 SR1 9 1s305 CONSTANTINOPLE (Em 1) Belinda McCarthy Albpark 16/12/2023 Luke McCarthy NR85 B5 SR- 10 47122 PLYMOUTH CHUBB Peter Manning Kerryn Manning NR116 B3 SR2 11 45656 THEBESTBOURBON Grant Forrest Cameron Hart NR74 B4 SR3 12 42303 ADELLE NZ Jack Butler Nathan Dawson ODM NR119 B1 SR4 13 00538 GUS NZ Chantal Turpin Chantal Turpin RODM NR66 B5 SR5

He is such a fast beginner Turn It Up (mark still owns him and Nat's sister Vicki races him on lease.) He's got a bit old and not quite finishing off his races as well now though. Could be a thorn in the Grimson Grand Final plan though? . or so could Future Assured who could be asked by owner Seymour to 'Go Forward' and 'Squeeze' lol. to help Larry out a bit too . That's what i'd do anyway 😆🤣. all those years ago (40 to be exact can you believe it?) Gammalite gave Poor old John Noble (El Regale) the 'Squeeze' at the first corner to get in behind Popular Alm and then take the Win. John was driving 'all out' to keep 'Poppy's' back after the start from the second row... but had the gallop with a wheel under his legs and ended up 4 back the fence 😉😁. where there's a Will there's a Way mate 😎

GRAND FINAL Field and Barrier. Nerano got the poll again with Grimson Stable-mate SwayNZcupzzzeee in the three alley. Gives Grimson a great shot at the Hat-trick after winning the past 2 Interdominions at Menangle and Victoria. Com'on Grant !! Let's get Leap To Fame his 15 minutes of fame and take this thing out (please) $530,000 No NR. RBD. PACERS. Mobile 1ST LEG QUADRELLA, FIRST 4, 1ST LEG DOUBLE Form Horse Trainer Other Eng. Driver Class Hcp 1 27211 NERANO NZ Jason Grimson Jack Trainor NR120 B1 FR1 2 25336 TURN IT UP Shane Graham Shane Graham NR118 B1 FR2 3 11134 SWAYZEE Jason Grimson Cameron Hart NR120 B1 FR3 4 16145 FUTURE ASSURED Trent Dawson Trent Dawson NR120 B1 FR4 5 1s653 CANTFINDABETTORMAN NZ (Em 1) Belinda McCarthy Albpark 16/12/2023 Luke McCarthy NR115 B1 FR- 6 41111 LEAP TO FAME Grant Dixon Grant Dixon NR120 B1 FR5 7 70363 KANENA PROVLIMA KerryAnn Morris Joshua Gallagher (C) NR106 B2 FR6 ------------------------------ Second Row ------------------------------ 8 71242 CLASSIE WASHINGTON NZ Daren Garrard Angus Garrard (C) NR101 B2 SR1 9 74622 SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS NZ Belinda McCarthy Luke McCarthy NR120 B1 SR2 10 5s713 SPEAK THE TRUTH Shannon Price Adam Sanderson NR116 B4 SR3 11 11121 BETTER ECLIPSE Jess Tubbs Greg Sugars NR120 B1 SR4 12 21522 PETES SAID SO NZ KerryAnn Morris Robert Morris NR120 B1 SR5 13 12534 OUR MONEY ROCKS David Thorn Chris Geary NR115 B1 SR6

I think it's very hard driving against a pair of Stablemates. especially if they are driven by Mark and Blair. the guy never stood a chance. Good to see the other drivers Not letting Mark get his own way in the last race. He had easily the best horse but went 3 back the fence a lap out too . with other drivers forcing his hand. It's only OscarB's good finishing speed that got him there in the end over Majestic Man. at least Mark got to see what it's like 3 back the fence for a little while 😆🏆😂

FINAL POINTS for the BOAY Derby. The WOLF emerges as the MaJestic Man in that for another 6 points to wallop the triers today. Congratulations WOLF !🏆🍾 FINAL POINTS Boay Derby Day Comp. The WOLF 46 points, NoworNever and Brodie and Walt 22 pts, The Horseman 20pts, The Galah 20pts, Chief 18 pts, Blackie 16 pts , Gamma 12 pts. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

The NZ Trotting FFA completes the card. Mark a tickle lucky in it but got the job done taking cover then zooming the lane. Walt grabs the win in this race riding home with 7 Oscar B. 1st 7 OSCAR BONAVENA MARK PURDON FT - - 1.40 1.04 2nd 5 MAJESTIC MAN BRAD WILLIAMSON FT - 2.60 3rd 4 TIME UP THE HILL SARAH O'REILLY FT - 5.40 4th 1 RESOLVE BOB BUTT FT

hahaha 😂 the Wolfman has cleaned us up good and proper . i'm 100- 1 in the last on Eurocash and have put in a 'Howler' today . un-like the Wolf . 🐺 Blackie can cruise in anywhere with Harold and got me beat I think . Gamma score 🦆.

Merlin makes it a race to race double for Barry P and Scott P and is the Nz Derby Champion. Mark beaten again. Thought a month ago Don't Stop Dreaming would donkey-lick them like AKUTA did last year. But with Akuta beaten in the Cup , and Merlin in great form too (owned by the ENTAIN CEO I believe) is the DERBY Champion . well done Northerners to pull that off. The Galah has smacked Brodster in the face there and takes the 8 points in the BOAY Derby. 'Blackie' driven hard , and whips cracking gets 3rd (and 'Sooner the Better' did too) 😎 the 'Wolf' continues his merry way/day with a 2 pointer for Jolimont a very nice 4th. POINTS After Race 9. One to go. The WOLF 40 points, NoworNever and Brodie 22 pts, The Horseman 20pts, Chief and the Galah and Blackie 16 pts , Walt 14 pts, Gamma 12 pts. 1st 4 MERLIN ZACHARY BUTCHER FT - - 2.00 1.10 2nd 6 DON'T STOP DREAMING MARK PURDON FT - 1.30 3rd 2 SOONER THE BETTOR TONY HERLIHY FT - 1.80 4th 5 JOLIMONT DAVID BUTCHER FT

The 2 year old fillies get the Job done in race 8 and the Duchess wins in a breeze. Must of been 4 lengths in the end . Not Marks usual Group 1 Day lol ?? Only 1 so far ? POINTS After Race 8. The WOLF 38 points, NoworNever 22 pts, The Horseman 20pts, Brodie and Chief 16 pts , Walt 14 pts, Gamma and Blackie 12 pts, The Galah 8pts. 1st 10 DUCHESS MEGXIT ZACHARY BUTCHER BL 4.00 1.60 4.20 1.60 2nd 7 TREACHEROUS BABY MARK PURDON FT 2.30 2.20 3rd 8 LOUIES GIRL CRAIG FERGUSON FT 1.70 1.90 4th 2 TREACHEROUS LOVE RICKY MAY FT

yeah they definitely tried it again. but a bit late in the race . How good was that winner ?? wow it zoomed away from them. Mantra Blue might have won like that too (if Butcher drove it like that )

Diamond Racing show their true Trotting Prowess with Sunny's Sister flogging the Boys in the Nz Trotting Derby just now at Addington. congrat's to them . Was like watching old Sundee's Son bury them in spectacular fashion. The Queenslander a battling 4th , rightfully Not knocking off some of the world's best Trotting Trainers. Hope 4th paid enough for his trip though hopefully. gave it a go . good on em ' Chief takes the money there from the Pole with a Great John Dunn drive !!! well done Chief . That man the WOLF zooming into 2nd , has the BOAY Derby field well covered . 6pts for 2nd. POINTS After Race 6 The WOLF 38 points, NoworNever 22 pts, Brodie and Chief 16 pts, The Horseman 12 pts, Blackie 10 pts, The Galah and Walt and Gamma 8 pts 1st 1 SUNNYS SISTER JOHN DUNN FT - - 10.30 2.90 2nd 5 MELSADELE TODD MITCHELL FT - 9.10 3rd 10 HIGH ENERGY MARK PURDON BL - 2.20 4th 8 NOT AS PROMISED (AUS) NATHAN DAWSON FT

BeachBall should of been at the Interdominion after his Nz Cup Placing, as could near of Won it but chose this race instead so gets himself a Summer Cup I spose and a few bucks. The WOLF is the 'Leader of the Boay Pack' and steals away by another 8 pts. Took the last number available too in the Lucky 5 barrier. Can he hang on ? NoworNever with 4 pts from American Me is the closest challenger . POINTS After Race 6 The WOLF 32 points, NoworNever 22 pts, Brodie 16 pts, The Horseman and Blackie 10 pts, The Galah and Walt and Chief 8 pts, Gamma 6 pts 1st 5 BEACH BALL RICKY MAY FT - - 2.20 1.40 2nd 7 SELF ASSURED MARK PURDON FT - 1.30 3rd 3 AMERICAN ME SARAH O'REILLY FT 4th 1 HEISENBERG JOHN DUNN FT

Half way there. The New Zealand Oaks is won by a nose by Telfers. Mantra Blue was like a Sea-sick sailor and didn't want to Win It for Gamma . so 6 pts is all we get. It's NoworNever again for 2 in a row and reeling in the WOLF is on his agenda. POINTS After Race 5 The Oaks. The WOLF 24 points, NoworNever 18 pts, Brodie 16 pts, The Horseman and Blackie 10 pts, The Galah 8 pts, Chief and Gamma 6 pts, Walt 2pts. 1st 3 AARDIEBYTHESEASIDE TIM WILLIAMS FT - - 4.20 1.20 2nd 8 MANTRA BLUE ZACHARY BUTCHER FT - 1.20 3rd 2 KAHLUA FLYBYE TONY HERLIHY FT - 2.00 4th 7 TREACHEROUS GALL CRAIG FERGUSON FT

Yes I bet he would of liked to do the same in the 2 year old trotting fillies just then too. with Blair giving him cover with High Step coming around . But with Empire City and Ricky May having none of those shananigans , he controlled the front and won well. Marks horse surprisingly not 2nd in the end . Lucky Mum (North Islander ?) and Princess Sadie both running on very well in solid last half 58sec.

Race 4 and it was Now or Never for NoworNever with Empire City . and it turned into Now. He picks up the 8 points with a bold front running Win with the nice three year old filly trotter. Phil Williamson showing his class preparing these trotters. Ricky May the surprise Group 1 Driver there for him ? 🤔. The Wolf with 4 points in 3rd there continues to dominate the BOAY field. The Brodster only 4th with Marky Boy so a lower than expected 2 points for that scored. POINTS After Race 4. The WOLF 24 points, Brodie 16 pts, The Horseman and NoworNever both 10 pts, The Galah 8 pts, Chief and Blackie 6 pts, 1st 3 EMPIRE CITY RICKY MAY FT - - 2.60 1.40 2nd 10 LUCKY MUM ANDRE POUTAMA BL - 5.10 3rd 5 PRINCESS SADIE MATTHEW WILLIAMSON FT - 2.80 4th 6 HIGH STEP MARK PURDON FT