Davis

Types like this scum Alford have always been around mate. Thankfully today his type have more chance of being caught due to technology. Woodend beach must be a crowded place with so many horses being trained there so hard to keep a secret? Was he shopped by an honest horse person?

Who needs breeding when you are nice and kind. 😅😅

They do it for greed. They do it to make money, those in the know get on early with FFWin, FFplace, FFF3 etc. A horse with little form could be paying $20+, those in the know stick a few hundred on it, price drops, they stick more on it. They could end up getting a few thousand on at a good price. Eventually, the bookies will drop the horses price because of this but those in the know have already got on at the right price. Profits galore and stake money too. The love of money is the root of all evil...

It looks like Ascot Park will also be closed. They are talking that Wyndham could become the main track in Southland. Wyndham is a good track but it's a distance from Invercargill. Southland is one of the harness strongholds in New Zealand but may not be for much longer if these plans are undertaken. Thoughts?

And don't forget the arsenic "tonic" that was used by some stables at the time. Supposedly, just to give the horses a bright coat but now banned.😅😅

Aveross Spitfire could do with a firework up his arse, he might win then?

None of the horses in the Sapling Stakes on Saturday will reach great heights in my opinion.

Many theorised that the All Stars were the reason that the two and three year old races attracted small fields because they dominated and other trainers had little chance. There are no All Stars horses in this race and still a weak field. Perhaps it is that the two-year-olds are mediocre this year? I have seen a number of two-year-old trials and workouts and not seen any standouts yet. Perhaps, the stars have yet to hit the track?

What a disappointing field for the time-honoured Sapling Stakes (G3) at Ashburton on Saturday. This race has been run since 1919 and has been won by some top horses in the past. This year's field must be one of the worst ever. None of this year's field will make it to the top.

Not much. All talk, no action.

When was the last community case in the South Island? Non-sensical to have the South Island locked down at all.

Second highest obesity rates in the world. Second highest increase in emissions in the world despite climate change being our "nuclear-free moment". Isn't she doing a grand job.

More diversion tactics mate. Friday, comes the revelation that many (Hopeless Hipkins doesn't know the exact number, surprise, surprise) Covid returnees are completing their two-week isolation then heading off to Australia. Sunday, there is a community outbreak and lockdown in Auckland and the rest of the country are at Level 3. Now, talk about the returnees going to Australia is forgotten, or shut down. Perhaps it is a coincidence, but perhaps not.

Are you suggesting team driving? I thought only the All Stars did that. 😆😆

It was a six-horse field on Friday, surely draw irrelevant?

Krug seems to have lost his edge. Unfortunately, this happens with some young horses who are dominant in early season age group races. Later, in the season, the gap closes and other slower maturing horses catch up and get better than the early star. Or perhaps he is missing Nathan? 🤤

I can't comment on many of the race meetings you have mentioned but NZ Cup Day is not about harness racing. It is about being seen, dressing in new suits and dresses, getting pissed. Few are there for the spectacular harness racing that is on offer. True harness racing fans do not bother to go to the Cup Day anymore, we are excluded. The NZMEt is one of the few clubs making money and they make plenty on Cup Day so nothing will change.

La Rosa has a difficult draw and will need to be extra good to win from there. Premier night and good conditions, sunny and little wind means coming from the back will be difficult. Despite that it is not a great field so she will have a chance. Good luck on the punt mate.

I keep hearing about these free bets the TAB hands out. My mate Craig gets them all the time, but he almost always loses. I am not in your class as a punter Brodster but since Cup Day every time I have bet I have made money. Is this why I have not been offered free bets? Like you Brodie am I being punished for my success?

And the ganja!

Alladin is a good horse but I think Krug will win this week. I think Alladin has been sold to Australian owners, so he will probably head over there eventually Gamma. There are a lot of good three-year-old races coming up here so the new owners should recoup some of their purchase price. Good luck to them.

That is all true. But why buy/lease a horse that hasn't won a race in over 50 starts. There must be far better options available to aspiring owners than the Spitfire?

The handicap system is not working. There are few races for top class mares or those horses who are cup class or near to it but cannot foot it with the big guns, the likes of Star Galleria and Vintage Cheddar. I don't understand the grading system. In Canterbury the same horses seem to race at every meeting, all the fields are ordinary and uninspiring. Rangiora fields today are boring and I won't be betting.

Winton is one of the fastest tracks in the country. Manawatu not in same class mate. Addington first, Ashburton then Winton/Nelson. I know it is difficult for an Aucklander to understand.... most up there have never heard Southland let alone heard of Winton. Historically Canterbury and Southland are strongholds of harness racing. they are the only provinces where harness racing is more popular than the galloping horses. Southland has bred some of NZs finest harness horses, Young Quinnn and Cardigan Bay to name just two. Some of the best trainers and drivers NZ has produced are from Southland.

Look no disrespect to the horses owners and trainer. For the record I think Amber Hoffman is an excellent trainer and she can improve a horse. Amber Hoffman has improved the Spitfires fitness there's no doubting that. But trials are not raceday, small trial fields at Winton no pressure. Raceday the Spitfire does't want to be there. I think Hoffman may win a race or two with him, but at what cost? Why spend tens of thousands of training fees to earn 8-10,000 in winners cheques if he happens to pick up a couple. You could buy a well-bred yearling for what it has cost to the train the horse over the years. Slow horses cost as much to run as a good one.