Gammalite

Yes it was a fantastic race. And here's one for the Chief as well , as on the Very same night Lord Module won his last race start above, the Dominion Handicap Group 1 was on for the trotters , with Grand warrior Stormy Morn taking the win . in a great finish. and Chief's family horse McShane having a crack at glory , finishing on late for a good 4th (in the white neck-strap)

Com'on mate . That was a bit of a fluke really. Gammalite putting 3 Great New Zealand Cup winners to the sword here with Armalight 3rd, Hands Down 4th and Bonnie's Chance 5th. a couple of lengths behind him. the 'lucky' 4th Nz cup winner named Lord Module staggering by the great Aussie Champ late on . his last race start ever for Lord Module. probably barred from bad manners after that ? 😉 Gammalite back in the New year a few months later (with Popular Alm as sidekick for Australia) to clean em' up at the Auckland Interdominion .🏆 now there's a BIG Win 😊. Now that was much better than the little Matson race ? 😎

Unhinged has done a great at the coal-face job with interviews with some of the characters in harness racing. quite enjoyed them really. thanks for pointing them out time to time. Mick Guiren obviously can't get stuck into the industry and tries to spin his 'Positive' knowledge onto the viewer but comes out with some funny stuff. on Hunter Cup night he co-hosted here in Oz , his brainwave said that the way the driver carries his whip in the score up decides whether he is going to leave the mobile gate in a rush or not, advantages of the marker line as opposed to the 3 wide train, and many assorted pearls of wisdom like that ...giving me plenty of humour to chuckle over anyway. he's being funny without even trying to be a lot of the time. 😄. BOAY posters like Ranga and that come out with funny stuff , way more than other sites , and even though a few often comment on the State of the Nation and/or can't get a Bet on etc the vibe seems pretty positive with mentioning of strong performances (like Carter doing well driving for example) so yeah, why not some more racing achievements for some positives vibes week to week like that , we can contribute to here and people can mention fun times like a good bet or yarn about some of the good horsepeople past and present ..... and maybe even future ?

Graeme Rogerson having a good run lately . Nz derby with Sharp N Smart at the gallops, Nz Trotting Derby with LoveMe Too just the other night. How big a slam is that ?top draw stuff 🏆 an amazing man . won a Cox plate too lol. Never met Don , but did hack around old home town Takanini with Dillon Dale at one stage. He was a great youngster and won the Nz Juvenile championship and about 10 or so races as 2 year old from memory , for Aussie man Gary Hillier. But broke down soon after. some time later I was helping another Aussie dude trainer Brian Pretious , get Dillon Dale back on the track . was a wonderful strong horse. had a few brothers and sisters out of broodmare Birdie. Birdie Twice, the first foal didn't get it going till 6 year old first start lol... much later on Dillon Dean won 1/2 million I see. wow !! , Don Dwyer along next and married the millionaire owners daughter and had a great ride for a while. Dillon Dale 3rd in the NZ cup for Don and then WON the Nz FFA beating the Cup winner 'Camelot' around 84' ? 3 days later. Old Aussie war-horse Gammalite was in those races , but ran no-where against the classy locals.🤕 If Jason (and wife ) good at training thoroughbreds sounds a good way to go? bit more money in that code it seems.

Very well said Walt. not just this paragraph but your whole post above. The HRNZ board need to listen to the industry participants and include their input into future stratagies, and even if some New Ideas can't be implimented they should at least respond with some ideas of their own. Criticism itself doesn't cure wounds. you need actions. Jason Teaz is the trainer of Brookies Jaffa I take it? probably same bloke ? therefore is a licensed (and capable) horseman able to get a horse to Metro level, so knows what he is doing/talking about with-in the industry. Alas new procedures were put in place to silence those bringing the industry into disrepute , some time ago. and penalties applied to license holders who break that rule. Better to use anonimous nom de plume and stay safe from the industry 'watchdogs' and feel free to express your concerns for the 'nation' ,as we get/do here at BOAY and similar, so we can criticise if feel like it, BUT and also 'try' and enjoy what's left of the once mighty Harness (and thoroughbred) racing industry's too. 🏇

Yes that was a lucky break for Self Assured for sure , anyone else would of had their horse up the inside as Self Assured eased back, to leave him parked out after his early attempt at the lead. Still the Nz drivers do it well. They had a very rare crack at an open class stand at Albion Park tonight and I spose the start was ok. (only 4 of the 12 galloped out ) which sounds bad but these horses rarely do these stands. And Pete Mcmullen poured the pressure on the leaders a Lap out , forgetting about the extra distance for a moment there possibly ? nah .... his stable-mate rounded them up last 1/2 mile from the back, and won easy. driven by his missus. His horse was favourite and i usually like Pete has a go always . but that was rediculous and didn't give his horse every chance to win at all . at least the nz drivers all drive to win .

Well I guess as the result panned you are right.... Kango did win the week before (when leaving Self Assured parked out) so credit for that is warranted and to win the Cup he was gunna try the same again . So David Butcher every right to lead the race. and try and win. Nat having to ease for a trail again with the defending Champion after the unsuccessful challenge for the lead after the first lap.. I think she (Nat) would of Won if he (Butcher) gave her the lead (and Kango would of been strong chance for 2nd place) as he did run 3rd to Self Assured in last year's edition of the Big 2 mile race so has plenty of ability. BUT... David Butcher thought he'd try and win the race from the lead , rather than just run possible 'good 2nd' , so good on him I spose for trying to Win, ...... and I retract the poor drive comment. The whole field went nicely really . bunched up. finishing in a length or 2 margin between them all , just behind Akuta. An enjoyable high quality race !! (which is why I enjoy Nz harness racing )

Auckland Cup done and dusted for another year . The legend himself taking victory on the horse he part owns AKUTA . and for good measure trains the Quinella yet again. Nat 2nd on Self Assured. well done Mark. you're just too hard to beat most of the time. that makes it 8 straight Auckland Cups!!! with Mark Purdon trainer listed. (in combo's with Nat, Hayden Cullen and now son Nathan ) Wonder why ADORE ME couldn't win her 2 races ? (2nd twice here on the amazingly fast updated wikipedia chart ) Maybe she's not that good ? 😂 she could of made it 10 straight Cups and helped out a little ?? 😎 Winners list[edit] Year Month Distance Horse Hcap Owner(s) Driver Time Second Place Third Place 2023 May 3200m Akuta Fr (9) Cullen Breeding Limited, Mark Purdon Mark Purdon 4:00.55 Self Assured Smiffy's Terror 2022 May 3200m Self Assured Fr (6) Mrs J L Feiss Natalie Rasmussen 3:58.96 Spankem Kango 2021 Not held due to COVID 19 2020 Dec 3200m Amazing Dream Fr (3) Mark Purdon 3:56.56 Spankem Copy That 2019 Dec 3200m Self Assured Fr (3) Mrs JL Feiss Mark Purdon 3:59.4 Thefixer Triple Eight 2018 Dec 3200m Turn It Up[3] Fr (6) JA Gibbs MNZM, L Pilcher, Mark Purdon, Mark Purdon 4:03.0 Star Galleria Ashley Locaz 2017 Dec 3200m Vincent (Aust)[4] Fr (4) W R Feiss Natalie Rasmussen 4:04.7 Titan Banner Heaven Rocks 2016 Dec 3200m Dream About Me[5] Fr (9) CJ Roberts, Est Mrs JL Roberts, P G Kenny, Mrs ML Kenny Mark Purdon 3:55.4 Hug The Wind Arden's Choice 2015 Dec 3200m Have Faith In Me[6] Fr (U1) DM Dunford & MD Dunford Tim Williams[7] 4:06.0 Hughie Green Smolda 2015 Mar 2700m Christen Me[8] Fr (11) CJ Roberts & VL Purdon Dexter Dunn 3:13.8 Adore Me Ohoka Punter 2014 Mar 2700m Terror to Love Fr (11) McDonald Bloodstock Ltd Ricky May 3:15.8 Adore Me Saveapatrol

$20 Exacta with Mark and Nat . $6 quinella can't beeeelieve I didn't get that 🤕. Too busy mucking around with them in Copy That trifecta . and then that bugger didn't get 3rd. blast. Self Assured sure monstered David Butcher on Kango for the lead at one stage. and then kicked again for a brave 2nd . What a TOP trier horse he is. The 'Chief'Butcher needs his head read not taking a sit on Nat at that stage when she pressed for the lead. was just a sitting shot after to get run over, so a poor drive by David. Never saw the BIG Lew. was he in the race ? 😉

Yeah those were the days of best horses in my opinion . so did junior driver days there for a few years but too hard (Way Too Hard) against the local lads winning all the probationary races at the time . Namely a young Tony Herlihy and young Mark Purdon winning them all as they still are 40 years later .😂 . fantastic then. legends now lol. John Devlin was sending heaps of horses to Aus in the 80's through his South Auckland standardbred agency, so flew out with a plane load of those for him when the chance arose. and raced all round Aus with them. couple of handy ones . but mainly slow pluggers lol.. good enough to beat the Aussies though lol..

Great fun those summer nights at Alexandra Park . Back in my Nz days they had The Messenger meeting at Christmas time. was a great Christmas highlight for a young bloke on school holidays. Here's Locarno Winning in his dashing style at the end of 78' when the race (Messenger) was just for 4 yearolds and was my first visit there to see the live action. he went on to win a Miracle Mile later !! what a ripper horse. No Response was winning the National trot at Christmas too, on his way to winning the March Interdominion in spectacular style at Addington. Sapling winning the Auckland Cup towards the end of Summer in February , as Gammalite did winning the Cup too, a handful of years after that before yet another successful Interdominion campaign for that great warrior. Can see why they shifted the Cup to New years week as is holiday time , and a lot of people can go and see the best racing . Delightful Lady won her 2 Auckland Cups as well holding off the 'southern raiders . great stuff !!!

Yes for sure Walt, it was a great exhibition of the team numbers giving advantage. (I'm a fan of it as long as ALL members attempting the formation driving have equal and every chance) Like Ashley Locaz did in the video on this thread as a member of the numerical stable advantage. Telfers had some good results with 'team driving ' too last year , at Auckland mainly. As long as ALL runners are given a chance to WIN , then I have no problem with stable-mates chopping and changing the lead , etc. to suit their own needs , and to beat the 'main' dangerous rival like they (Allstars) did to Copy That . He (Copy That) certainly got the 'last Laugh' smacking them back with the last 2 Nz Cups since that race above that Amazing Dream won !🤣 good on him I guess 🏆

Thanks Chief. can watch that over and over. The 'Perfect' race plan. And probably Nat's very last win as a Trainer (with an Auckland Cup quinella) whatta great way to finish up. 🏆 Hayden Cullen with the Training credit last year when Self Assured won his second Cup with Nat still driving. (Cullen's gone quiet now at Telfer's ??) in rugby terms, it must be like leaving the Allblacks to play for the Wallabies in comparison 🤣😂 Tonight if Self Assured wins his 3rd Auckland Cup will be for a third Trainer , with young Nathan Purdon now getting the credits these days !! and Copy That can be beaten too. (by Self Assured twice recently and Akuta too)

Well he won't be racing them at the end , just following those BIG 3 in some way behind in all likelihood. the best 3 horses in Nz should trifecta this easy as Pie ! 🥧🍟 (you want chips with that?😂 They have the most exceptional '2 mile standing start form' including the last 3 NZ Cups and 2 of the last 3 Auckland Cups between them. Perhaps Ray Green is gunna use him (Lewbowski) as a battering ram ?? and try some team driving sort of thing ? 2 years ago in the Auckland Cup, Copy That was beaten into 3rd place by Amazing Dream with Mark and Spankem (Nat) , in some of the Best Team Driving ever seen on a Nz racetrack . (was The absolute best I've ever seen) check it out on replay, if you want to see ALLStars at their Absolute Premium Best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!🏆💰. so doubt that Ray Green wants that to see anything like that happen again....

Well the Interdominion is now run in December each year to end the season. and I think they would still like Nz competitors to turn up , as that is the tradition and reason for the thing. worth a $1million all up this year. I guess the running date of the Auckland Cup was to co-incide with an Autumn Campaign for the open class runners that took them trough the 'Waikato Mile' and 'The Race' at Cambridge >>>>>>> followed by the 'Taylor Mile' into 'Messenger' into the 'Auckland Cup' big finale. A BIG 5 race program . Copy That surprisingly only won one of them so far with form 2142. wonder if he can finish with a win Friday?? then they all have the winter off (or go to QLD ) and come back in the Spring to get ready for the Cup in Nov.

Love Kensei mate. ridden by Larry Olsen from Brisbane who was actually our next door neighbour when running the trotters. So we were on board in the Cup, at about 20-1 as Larry stormed up the fence with Kensei. Can still remember the yelling and screaming of encouragement , and the dancing all round the living room by one and all even now, as he hit the line in 1st place . bloody champion lol 😄🏆💰🏇

Empire Rose was so big (long in stature) that she is one of the only ones ever raced to often have the barrier stall not fully closed behind her at the start of a race , because she didn't fit in properly lol....

none I don't think. She looks pretty grumpy in the photo in this thread though 😄 at the finish of the Cup , like she wants to get stuck in to someone lol...... but it's more of a stallion thing to savage at the other horses mostly. 'So Si Bon' who is still racing here each week used to Bite savagely at rivals, on occasion and was eventually gelded Late-on. He ran 2nd on Saturday actually at Morphetville R5, to a good little horse named after one of your posters in 'Foxy Freda'

Great try Chief !!! , the Big girl a fantastic Nz winner of the Melbourne Cup for Laurie Laxon . and holding out Natski in the photo below, .............just like Mankato was holding out My Brown Jug to win by a neck . and nearly getting a hickey for his trouble 😂. Freda on the money . Empire Rose , A big Chestnut like the beautiful champ Manikato who was winning his 3rd CF Orr Stakes (run at Sandown that year)

Yes I see they have been watching some of the New Zealand behaviour lol, and trying to put the 'Bite' on the opposition, when unable to get past them lol. Com'on Chief . for a bit of famous moments trivia, See if you or your nz galloping mates here at BOAY, can name the 'Bitee' ? and the 'Biter' ?in the photo in a Group 1 😁.

seems to win plenty over here in Aus ok. so if it's that tough for Nz jockeys to win in Aus as you say, he must be an absolute standout and Fully worthy of Hall Of Fame honour. great ride in the William Reid Stakes a couple of months ago in the Moonee Valley Group 1 . picked up a cool 600k in prizemoney there so good to see the connections not wasting time and money . 1st 11. Imperatriz (7) T: M.W.Walker J: O.P.Bosson 56.5kg $600,000 As at the end of the 2021 season, Bosson has won: over 1,800 New Zealand races. 78 Group 1 races (10 in Australia).

Only accidently mate, when there's a dramatic slowing of the pace. usually caused by a horse galloping in confined space and coming back on some trailing runners behind it suddenly. Some horse's will almost 'prop' when they go off stride as are not capable of galloping properly with the hopples restraining that action, and get a fright. A horse with a leg in your sulky would mean you both pull up to a standstill (out of the race) immeadiately. then you can lift the horse out .it's usually keen to get itself out by that stage as well lol 😄 A horse can't 'Pull' it's way into the sulky (cart) ahead of it in a race in general, as the pacing action is much lower than what is needed to lift a leg into the sulky directly in front of it. They can certainly puncture your tyre though !

The Big Lebowski by 10 lengths ............. The Galah by 10 lengths in the end too!!!.. 🤣. Brookie 2nd as well so a BIG Galah Lebowski 14 points scored. FINAL TOTAL....... Points Total The Galah 62 Points and WINNER , winner chicken dinner..🏆 a Big Lebowski type performance lol... congrats. Chief Stipe 50 points, Mikey 40 pts , Trotsfan 34 pts, Blackie 30 pts, Brodster 26 pts, Gamma 22 pts, Unhinged 24 pts

Dr Tim 4th as the three Lady drivers run the trifecta ! well done ladies at $120 trifecta. Mikey up to 40 points and Chief finished for the night on 50 points !!! Chiefs team of Todd Mitchell, Maurice McKendry and Tim Williams scored points in 12 of the 17 races they were in . pretty impressive. But The Galah only 2 points adrift with THE BIG LEBOWSKI still to play in a minute or 2 . (and a back-up Jaffa too) The Chief needs a miracle of good luck to Hang On with a swooping Galah about to do a Magpie ??? 😁

Mikey has the fav Nicholas Cage at Auckland and Dr Tim at Addington. I both win and Galah and Chief miss is his only hope. Chief has Peraki Seelster only running. The Galah has Brookie and Lebowski running at Auckland so is sitting in the One-one about to pounce !!!!!!!!!!!