Davis

Thanks Karrots. All the best mate, you'll be missed.

It's hard to understand mate. I don't get it. Addington meeting Friday last had small fields too, but Timaru had larger fields on the Sunday for less stakes. WTF? It is head-shaking stuff. You've got the best track in the southern hemisphere, it's situated close to the main training areas in Canterbury and not too far for Mid and North Canterbury trainers to travel. It is a track where every runner has a chance if good enough and if driven properly. Stakes are higher for the Friday meetings than other tracks. You would think trainers would opt for Addington but no let's go to Timaru instead. Again, I don' get it. Timaru is a mediocre track and hard to win from the back. Yes, it's winter so horse numbers are down but you would think fields would be bigger than they are. I don't understand it?

I think you are receiving scam calls mate. I wouldn't worry too much about it. I get these calls occasionally. What i do is not answer it if I do not recognise the number. They can leave a message or I some times ring the number back. Often it is a charity or a Chinese (Mandarin?) recording. I block those numbers. Don't panic mate, I doubt the Chinese Communist Party is interested in you.

Disagree. There is nothing wrong with the Sunday Addington meetings that cater for the lower class of horse and I think they should be run all season. Southland harness has traditionally not had much winter racing.

Fields are generally smaller at this time of the season in the south. Addington has small fields on Friday too. This is the best time of the season for a slowish horse to pick up a win or two. Michael House does it well. He races them regularly, at least once a week. so they probably don't need much work. On race day he has top drivers and the results come. At this time of the season many races are just a sprint home and you have to be handy to the pace or you have no show. Top drivers put their horse into the race more often, not always though.

Yes, finance and a dummy spit. The winners had stopped flowing from the Premier Stable, the stables favourite "tonic" was banned. Hey, let's try NSW.

Unfortunately? How is Canterbury missing out by not having Riley Butt? We have many excellent junior drivers here, including the Tomlinson sisters, Ben Hope, John Morrison, Mark Hurrell, K. Newman and Sarah O'Reilly. We don't need Riley Butt.

Agree mate, but it was not an "error" by the coach to rest players. Unfortunately, he had no choice because of All Black protocols where players must have a certain amount of rest. Razor should have given the NZRFU the middle finger, after all, that is what they did to him.

Exactly mate. Fields are poorer this time of year too, especially in the south. Also many races are little more than sprints home with drivers allowing the leader to jog halves of 64 then wonder why they make no ground in straight. This is the best time of the season for the slower horse.

The way Zachary is driving tonight you would have to back Eagle Watch in the 4yo+ G&E Uncut gems?

Cheezel is best if saved for one run at them... she can storm home with that sort of run just like she did tonight. I'm happy, it was a good drive from Maurice McKendry, he put the mare into the race and gave her every chance you can't ask for more than that. I thought she was a good thing tonight as that field weaker than what she has faced lately. It's tough for mares likes her up in the grade having to race against entires and geldings. We need more F&M races for horses like her.

I was on Southland mare Imallabouthebase, thought I was home for the big money, never mind still good place price.

If you look at the past winners and place getters over the past decade most are still in the industry. The 2014 winner Michelle Nielson is a mystery to me. Where is she now, where was she based during her junior years?

Dexter Dunn never won the Junior Drivers' Championship. This year there are three drivers who have won the championship previously: Kerryn Tomlinson, Alicia Harrison and Sarah O'Reilly. Year Winner Second Third 2020 Kerryn Tomlinson Luke Whittaker Alicia Harrison 2019 Sarah O'Reilly Kimberly Butt John Morrison 2018 Alicia Harrison Benjamin Butcher Mark Hurrell 2017 Rory McIlwrick Ben Butcher Katie Cox 2016 Stevie Golding Dylan Ferguson Katie Cox 2015 Robbie Close Michelle Neilson Jack MacKinnon 2014 Michelle Neilson Dylan Ferguson Robbie Close 2013 Simon Lawson Mitchell Kerr Roydon Downey 2012 Zac Butcher Matthew Williamson Jack Trainor 2011 Tim Williams Shane Butcher Matthew Williamson 2010 Simon Lawson Joshua Dickie Roydon Downey 2009 Zac Butcher Joshua Dickie Anna Stormont 2008 Shane Walkinshaw Amber Jenkins Tim Williams 2007 John Dunn Reon Tither Amber Jenkins

Tomlinson, O'Reilly and Hope all well-known harness families...

On paper it looks that way but it might not be the case. It depends on the horse each driver is allocated, all the driving skills in the world don't help on a slow horse. Sadly, often there are not full fields in these races and some drivers miss out on a drive.

Definitely the South. What a team. The stunning Tomlinson sisters Sheree and Kerryn The cool-headed captain John Morrison The driving genes of Sarah O'Reilly, it runs in the family, father, uncles, grandfather all great drivers Group One winning driver Ben Hope The late blooming Mark Hurrell Go the South!!!!

What are you on about now? Hit the bottle early today?

The Hopes get them going early Galah. Perhaps that is the reason for the unsoundness issues, or it could be the breed or confirmation too?

Sorry mate my mistake, senior moment. I meant Levi Rd.

The All Stars property on Jones Road would be worth a lot of if subdivided. Rolleston and surrounding areas are expanding rapidly. I drive out to Leeston regularly and there are new houses sprouting everywhere out that way. But the part of Jones Rd where All Stars located does not have many homes so perhaps it is a green belt area? Section prices seem reasonable to me in that part of Canterbury compared with other areas of the country. House prices are soaring Galah, despite the efforts of financial wizard Grant Robertson who promised his new measures would control them. House prices have soared in the past 12 months to historical highs thanks to government policies. I understand what you mean about land for trainers and you are probably right.

The drop in Alladin's form is easily explained. P. Blanchard had success for a short time during the "milk shake" era. Since then, his wins have been sporadic.

Who will draw the best horses? That is the key to victory in these contests.

As you say Galah, Michael House has always been able to improve a horse. I don't know what his secret is but it is nothing new. House also uses top drivers Blair Orange, Sarah O'Reilly, Samantha Ottley and Brent Barclay, this is an important factor on why his horses are successful. I think other trainers, trainer/drivers who are poor in the the cart (there are plenty of them), should do the same an!d they might train more winners. Just a thought!

No disrespect to the Blanchards who took over the training of Alladin following its sale to Australian buyers. The Blanchards are not in the same class of trainer as Mark Purdon or Natalie Rasmussen, not even close. Just my opinion of course. Alladin is a handy horse but not top class. I think the current 3-year-old crop is one of the weakest in recent times. Krug is the standout but there are 10 or so others that have all much the same ability.