Davis

No

You are also right re fitness. Anthony Butt is obese. That's what i notice about the American drives Dexter Dunn, Tetrick... they look so athletic and fit, here many drivers obese. Aussie drives the same, hot shot Cameraon Hart, slim and athletic, Kate Gath, even the best Australasian driver of all time Chris Alford is still slim. It makes a big difference the weight mate, you are on the money

Maybe? But that doesn't alter the fact that the Cruiser is the best horse in the race. The best horses sometimes perform miracles. Go the Cruiser...

Frankly, I think A. Butt is well past his best. He ruined Amazing Dream the way he drove her in Aussie. I also disagree Mike Stanley, he is a very good trainer, driving not so good. Anthony Butt will be an improvement, but the horse has no gate speed so doesn't matter.

For once you are wrong my old mate. I was a keen runner when I lived in Blenheim. I ran around Waterlea course often. I tell you what mate, the course was rougher than the Wither Hills and Taylor River tracks. Shocking track.

WTF has that got to do with the Ballarat Cup? Get real. Of course i know it's grass I used to live in Blenheim. Worst track in New Zealand, no money from me.

Congratulations to the TAB for having the odds for the Ballarat Cup and the feature trot up already. Thank you. Brodie and I have been critical of the TAB not setting odds sooner for meetings. Perhaps they have listened my old mate? There are some good odds on offer, but some too short in my mind. What a great field the Ballarat Cup has attracted. Form galore, you can make a case for most horses in the field. There is nothing to interest me in NZ, with Waterlea, one of the worst tracks in the world, the only choice. No. Ballarat is the place to bet on Saturday. Go the Cruiser!!

To be fair mate, Casino Action was by far the best horse in the field, so he should have won. Stevie Wonder could have got it home. Both Dalgety horses better than the rest in that field. Sarah's drive Evangelist isn't much of a horse, inconsistent and needs a soft run to feature in the finish.

No, agree with none of this. It was hopeless with no local Canterbury meetings this weekend. Who's bright idea was that. I generally would not bet at Nelson unless its was good odds or got the nod (unfortunately, not many of them these days). I would not be at all at Waterlea. I consider it one of the worst tracks in the world. The game is dying there because of the track and few train there now. Only slow plodders trained by Miss Kendra Gill, who is a good horsewoman but poor harness driver. Since the O'Briens left the industry under a cloud the game died up there. Sad but fact. Addington is my favourite track and where I do 80 percent of my betting.

I know he has a soft spot for the lovely Chrissie Butt (Dalgety). There has been mention of a love child, but I don't spread rumours.

Go Sarah

Remember, be kind Brodie.

I think you are right about the whip rule Brodie. It does need changing. I know you won't agree with me, but I would like whipping banned. The way it is now the whip is not used often anyway. I notice the top drivers like Cameron Hart, Sarah O'Reilly, Gerard O'Reilly, Colin De Filippi, Dexter Dunn, John Dunn, Olivia Thornley, Carter Dalgety, Orange... seldom use the whip at all. Animal rights are the future. I think HRNZ should show initiative, act now and ban whipping. Whips are only used in the straight by most drivers now and I am unsure how many whacks they are allowed... 10? Banning whips would stop a lot of punishment that a low of slow, unfit horses get now when they are being hammered 1000m from home to keep up. I hate this as it is a terrible look for harness racing. Ban the whip.

Yes, he is bred to be tough as his sire Royal Lincoln is by Mach Three. His dam Special Ops was a tough mare by Armbro Operative who won 12 races. She was trained by Ross Rennie. What has happened to Ross and Murray Rennie?

I think there real top horses are on a par with ours my old mate. In fact, I think Majestic Cruiser is the best horse in Australasia. I think his record in recent seasons says that and he is Australian bred horse tough and fast. Of course its easier to train the likes of Majestic Cruiser, Spankem, Copy That etc than the average slow horse? Good luck at the Motukarara mate.

I think Grimson has a small team so he is hands on and probably spends a lot of time getting each horse right? To be fair Gamma it wasn't the greatest field really. I see that the breeder of Major Meister, Tom Kilkelly still has a share in the horse so he will be happy. Sicario was formally trained by Brent Lilley, no disrespect to Mr Lilley, but he is better trainer of trotters than pacers. So I can see how Grimson would improve Sicario. Earlier on the programme another donkey to winner Whiskey Cavalier bolted in for the Gaths. This horse was a slow batter in NZ trained by Kyle Cameron. Whiskey Cavalier is by Lincoln Royal that was a good racehorse, but I don't think he sired any other winners?

Newmarket, I think you are being harsh on Mr House. Yes, his horses are hard to follow in Canterbury/Southland but that is more because of the rating system than Mr House's training ability. Horses like Changearound for example might win every 10 starts or so. The horse has limited ability so if it goes up a grade struggles to it goes down to the right grade again. Many races have a junior driver claim and are penalty free. Now, I think Mr House is a genius to keep track of all of these things and keeping his horses fit and well at the same time. I don't understand the ratings system and I don't look at racing programmes to see upcoming penalty free races. Yes, he gets younger horses going and sells them on. Good on him. And he is not the only stable that does this. Another reason for Mr House's success is he uses top drivers - Orange, Sarah O'Reilly, Samantha Ottley and Wilson House seems OK. Mr House performs a vital role in harness, without him the industry would be in even more trouble.

Plenty of good drivers in the 70s and 80s. Just a few Patrick O'Reilly jun, Jack Smolenski, Jack Carmichael, West Butt, Henry Skinner

Gerard O'Reilly!

Oops... Nancy was my mother I was thinking about her yesterday and typed it accidentally. Thanks for pointing that out mate. Sorry Mr Delaney!

Santanna Mach is another example of the superb horsemanship of Michael House. Santanna Mach won the Otaki Cup and Wairarapapa Cups on the Central Northern circuit. Santanna Mach is a nine year old gelding and he has won $147.871. Wow! Michael House deserves kudos for keeping his horses going all season from Auckland to Invercargill. For good measure Mr House also won the main trot Cup with Break Free. Well done Michael House. Note, that young Nancy Delaney seems a talented young junior driver up north. She won a few on the circuit. A hame to watch?

I am sorry for swearing...

Easy, fields almost the same and small fields. Can easily do markets at the same time. Both should have been up last week. Crazy stuff. None of the horses at Omakau are going to improve that much in two days then Roxborough. Get real. They need to be getting the odds out earlier to entice punters like me and Brodie, Gamma... we will win some, Brodie probably most times, but we will lose too and lTAB turnover up. No brainer?

Exactly my old mate. You are I are the only two on here with a clue. These others just come here to make smart comments or take the piss. Fuck them

What the fuck is KC AGRAIN?? Get a life..