Marketplace Vrs Got The Chocolates

[Newmarket]

How good has it been watching these 2 race against each other. Marketplace clearly the better early on, but Got The Chocs now has the edge and the staying power.

Reminds me of Starship Vrs Tuapeka Knight in the 80s, Starship had edge early but Tuapeka Knight soon turned out to be better. I do remember Starship beating him one day at Addington, only to be relegated as Ian Cameron closed the gap. 
 

Sir Castleton Vrs Basil Dean, Gammalite Vrs Poppy…. What other match ups can you remember?

[Shad]

6 hours ago, Newmarket said:

How good has it been watching these 2 race against each other. Marketplace clearly the better early on, but Got The Chocs now has the edge and the staying power.

Reminds me of Starship Vrs Tuapeka Knight in the 80s, Starship had edge early but Tuapeka Knight soon turned out to be better. I do remember Starship beating him one day at Addington, only to be relegated as Ian Cameron closed the gap. 
 

Sir Castleton Vrs Basil Dean, Gammalite Vrs Poppy…. What other match ups can you remember?

The memories flood back, certainly was a great era of racing, from memory starships started off a long mark on the grass at Westport before heading to Auckland, being placed in the cup, Basisl Dean was one of my favorite trotters, how good was he.

[Newmarket]

10 hours ago, Shad said:

The memories flood back, certainly was a great era of racing, from memory starships started off a long mark on the grass at Westport before heading to Auckland, being placed in the cup, Basisl Dean was one of my favorite trotters, how good was he.

I remember well….

Also remember Montana Vance being the best early on, then Laud appeared and clearly was better. Laud sat parked outside it and clearly outstayed it with Peter Jones driving. 
Sadly, i think something happened to the horse soon after. 

[PeterLambFan]

5 hours ago, Newmarket said:

I remember well….

Also remember Montana Vance being the best early on, then Laud appeared and clearly was better. Laud sat parked outside it and clearly outstayed it with Peter Jones driving. 
Sadly, i think something happened to the horse soon after. 

I made a bit of money backing Just an Excuse when Elsu was always a hot favourite 

[Shad]

Another old favorite of mine from that era was no response, his storming finishes always a highlight, remember one race where he weaved his way through most of the field, may have been interdominon, we had some top liners back in the day, remember joyboy starting off a 120m mark in a Westport cup back in the day, was 3rd from memory, Trevor Thomas was his driver.

[Newmarket]

Fantastic, Marketplace turned the tables tonight, smart drive in front. These 2 are clearly the best of that age group. Great racing tonight, Harness in NZ os going strong. 

[Gammalite]

On 11/19/2025 at 6:12 PM, Newmarket said:

Sir Castleton Vrs Basil Dean, Gammalite Vrs Poppy…. What other match ups can you remember?

Sir Castleton v Aussie Scotch Notch as well. they nearly Quinellaed 3 Interdominion Grand Finals and were both tiny little trotters but big in heart.

Don't mention Poppy. that's 2 wins for Gamma and 15 for Popular Alm in 17 race clashes. (think he fluked some 😉)

Armalight and Bonnie's Chance had quite a few great clashes  and won a NZ Cup each amongst the action, during their races against each other. 

On 11/20/2025 at 6:45 PM, Shad said:

Another old favorite of mine from that era was no response, his storming finishes always a highlight, remember one race where he weaved his way through most of the field, may have been interdominon

yep . to win the Trot Grand Final at Addington. No Response had a great arch rival too, in Scotch Tar. They won a stack of races between them. (Wolfie drive Scotch Tar in that Interdominion Final that No Response won , but galloped to the back and ran 7th in the end unfortunately. he was a very difficult horse to drive)