Slot race Cambridge.

[mikeynz]

I note still 2 places for the trot, only 6 at the moment, wanting 8,, looking at the slot holders it's really now just an in-house event, first year the pacers saw  Senz, Hydroflow got involved, clearly the interest has waned not helped by the Ellerslie one now where slot holders would get more exposure, maybe slots ain't the great savior some may have thought, maybe a passing phase.

[the galah]

1 hour ago, mikeynz said:

I note still 2 places for the trot, only 6 at the moment, wanting 8,, looking at the slot holders it's really now just an in-house event, first year the pacers saw  Senz, Hydroflow got involved, clearly the interest has waned not helped by the Ellerslie one now where slot holders would get more exposure, maybe slots ain't the great savior some may have thought, maybe a passing phase.

i truly believe that the emphasis and importnace HRNZ and nz media put on slot races as a way of promoting the sport and rewarding the high end performers  is a symptom of organisations out of touch with what is best for the industry.

put simply,the hype is so out of touch with the realities of the publics and the grass roots industries interest in these events is so overblown,its just sad.

I really don't get why anyone ,i mean anyone, would think the people who have starters at methven ,or winton or rangiora over the next couple of days would have more interest in a slot race than who they  ran against at the workouts last week.

In fact,i think you could guarantee every person who say ,has a non win horse running this weekend would be able to name lots and lots  of horses that they have run against recently,yet if you ask them who are in the slot races at cambridge,they would go,i don't know,i guess leap to fame and kingman,then say,i'm not really too intersted in slot races.

One day,it can't be too far away,maybe within 2 years,industry stakeholders are going to demand a  seismic shift in who is governing HRNZ and who they prioritise.

is as certain as day follows night.

the so called smart people strategies have been ..we need change,because change is good...Well change is only ever good if it works better than what you had before..

harness racing just needs to get back to basics.

all this money they are throwing away should be spent on so many other things of importance that will undermine the industry in years to come..

HRNZ priorites are away with the fairies and the NZ harness media is running alongside those fairies blowing them back in the air.

Edited February 5 by the galah

[mikeynz]

So the slots must have been up for renewal and up till now no takers, or not enough will there be any more, if the best horses have already booked a spot seems a expensive punt that no one wants to take, possibly a reflection of the awkward times business face, don't seem smart business if you only get half your stake back if you run down the track, harness races are so dominated by a few that technically that's what's stuffing the concept unlike the gallopers which ain't so predictable, you can't write the script so worth a punt.

[Gammalite]

20 minutes ago, mikeynz said:

o the slots must have been up for renewal and up till now no takers, or not enough will there be any more, if the best horses have already booked a spot seems a expensive punt that no one wants to take, possibly a reflection of the awkward times business face,

quite interesting as the PACING race has 3 year slots purchases. The trot must of had only 2 year slots timing ?  as has only been run twice. The TAB trot. 

The problem being Mikey , the race is over if KEAYANG ZAHARA takes a slot , as she is proving to be the next Superstar now that Just Believe has retired. Last week she completely ripped the balls off last years Cambridge Slot Trot winner and current Interdominion Champion in ARCEE PHOENIX , and made him look 2nd rate past 2 starts. 

No one would be able to take on a horse to beat her in their slot . so sort of ruins it by being so good lol. 🤣

I thought Don Hugo would win the Pace last year ( having defeated Leap To Fame in the Miracle Mile) but Leap To Fame drove him into the ground in one of his Freakish performances. But the Pacers slots are All filled up ok , and these are the slot holders for them . A Fabulous lot of Long Time Harness racing Supporters. 

footnote: Craig Whiteoak owns QLDer THE JANITOR at Pete McMullens. would be great to see him there. He's a powerful horse and might give Leap To Fame a run for the money 👍💰

The 10 slot-holders are :

All Stars Racing and Chris Ryder
Craig Whiteoak
Dennis and Mark Dunford
Harnesslink
Montana Park Pty Ltd
N40 Racing
Rakero Racing
Rampant Pty Ltd
Solid Earth Pty Ltd
Stonewall Stud Ltd

[Brodie]

Racing at Cambridge is also not that enticing would be better to race at Addington if you are into Slot races?

Most people dont give it a second thought and a costly exercise when HRNZ are subsidising the stake money, while it lasts!

Interesting times 

[Nowornever]

3 hours ago, Gammalite said:

All Stars Racing and Chris Ryder
Craig Whiteoak
Dennis and Mark Dunford
Harnesslink
Montana Park Pty Ltd
N40 Racing
Rakero Racing
Rampant Pty Ltd
Solid Earth Pty Ltd
Stonewall Stud Ltd

All Stars Racing and Chris Ryder   AKUTA
Craig Whiteoak                               THE JANITOR
Dennis and Mark Dunford              WE WALK BY FAITH
Harnesslink                                     KINGMAN
Montana Park Pty Ltd                     MERLIN
N40 Racing                                     ? DON HUGO OR CAPTAINS KNOCK, SWAYZEE, PINSEEKER, CAPTAINS MISTRESS
Rakero Racing                                 RAKERO ROCKET
Rampant Pty Ltd                             ?DON HUGO OR CAPTAINS KNOCK, SWAYZEE, PINSEEKER, CAPTAINS MISTRESS
Solid Earth Pty Ltd                          LEAP TO FAME
Stonewall Stud Ltd                          ALTA METEOR? 

[Gammalite]

45 minutes ago, Nowornever said:

All Stars Racing and Chris Ryder   AKUTA
Craig Whiteoak                               THE JANITOR
Dennis and Mark Dunford              WE WALK BY FAITH
Harnesslink                                     KINGMAN
Montana Park Pty Ltd                     MERLIN
N40 Racing                                     ? DON HUGO OR CAPTAINS KNOCK, SWAYZEE, PINSEEKER, CAPTAINS MISTRESS
Rakero Racing                                 RAKERO ROCKET
Rampant Pty Ltd                             ?DON HUGO OR CAPTAINS KNOCK, SWAYZEE, PINSEEKER, CAPTAINS MISTRESS
Solid Earth Pty Ltd                          LEAP TO FAME
Stonewall Stud Ltd                          ALTA METEOR? 

Bootsie's horse Captains Mistress could turn out to be the best yet lol. She roared away by 6 lengths with a stunning 53 second last half mile the other night to win with real Class. She is gunna be a real beauty. the next Big Thing. might even Win the Miracle Mile next month 14th March 😎💰

DON HUGO is going to the Perth Slot race on April 17th , the 1.2 million dollar Nullibor. Luke wants to keep him separate from stable-mate Kingman as much as possible. so unlikely to go to Cambridge again after 4th last year. 

[mikeynz]

Are any of those slot holders not connected directly to harness racing, first year Hydroflow and Senz has slots, Senz were fly by nighters,. 

[Nowornever]

I suppose Marketplace and Got The Chocolates would have to be contenders this year as well, though I don't know how they would fit in to the slot holders for Cambridge

[Gammalite]

1 hour ago, Nowornever said:

I suppose Marketplace and Got The Chocolates would have to be contenders this year as well, though I don't know how they would fit in to the slot holders for Cambridge

yes they are 2 beauties alright. Quinellaed the Addington 3 yearold Slot in November 7 lengths clear of the field.

Come to think of it Captain's Mistress was in that Velocity Slot race as well,  and finished 12 lengths behind them so she might not be the next Big thing after all. lol. 

A big ask for Marketplace and the 'Choc's' to run against this field in their first go in Open Class Ranks. They used to run the NZ Messenger as the Feature 4 year-old race , but changed it to Open Class in recent years , so they don't get that one to fight over either. 

What about Rebublican Party? NZ 's best horse and taking on Leap To Fame tonight at Kilmore too for bragging rights. He hasn't made a slot in your field yet ? (ran 6th in it last year behind Leap To Fame at Cambridge) 

arch rival Stonewall's  should put him in their Slot ? hahaha🤣

[Westview]

After yesterday's run I've been expecting a call for The Lobster 🦞 to join the slot race, oh well maybe next year.

[Gammalite]

20 minutes ago, Westview said:

After yesterday's run I've been expecting a call for The Lobster 🦞 to join the slot race, oh well maybe next year.

She's a ripper mate . Put her in.

You have to buy one of the 2 slots first lol.  if she can't get the legs going quick enough to keep up with 'Zahara' i'll get Pete McMullen to send GUS over to race in your slot. 

Go the Lobster !! bet you're still singing like Fred Schneider here after the great win yesterday 🤣😅🏆 

 

 

[Nowornever]

9 hours ago, Gammalite said:

yes they are 2 beauties alright. Quinellaed the Addington 3 yearold Slot in November 7 lengths clear of the field.

Come to think of it Captain's Mistress was in that Velocity Slot race as well,  and finished 12 lengths behind them so she might not be the next Big thing after all. lol. 

A big ask for Marketplace and the 'Choc's' to run against this field in their first go in Open Class Ranks. They used to run the NZ Messenger as the Feature 4 year-old race , but changed it to Open Class in recent years , so they don't get that one to fight over either. 

What about Rebublican Party? NZ 's best horse and taking on Leap To Fame tonight at Kilmore too for bragging rights. He hasn't made a slot in your field yet ? (ran 6th in it last year behind Leap To Fame at Cambridge) 

arch rival Stonewall's  should put him in their Slot ? hahaha🤣

Telfers have not got anything that would go with Leap To Fame and Kingman so maybe they would look at another runner outside the stable.

[mikeynz]

They extended the cut off time until Feb 20 for the trotters slot race, any news?

[Brodie]

Cambridge could chuck in a couple of hundred thousand dollars to increase the stake and entice more in?

[Nowornever]

11 hours ago, mikeynz said:

They extended the cut off time until Feb 20 for the trotters slot race, any news?

Because Keayang Zahara and Jiliby Balarini are coming and are likely to draw one and two in the race everyone else has virtually no chance of beating them so no one wants to turn up. In fact there is one slot holder who is trying to back out and is going to court to try to get his money back.

[Nowornever]

Just now, Nowornever said:

Because Keayang Zahara and Jiliby Balarini are coming and are likely to draw one and two in the race everyone else has virtually no chance of beating them so no one wants to turn up. In fact there is one slot holder who is trying to back out and is going to court to try to get his money back.

It is turning into a shit fight. But this is the problem if there is a completely dominant horse who is likely to draw to dominate the race who wants to put up 10s of thousands to try to beat them on that leaders bias track.

[mikeynz]

30 minutes ago, Nowornever said:

It is turning into a shit fight. But this is the problem if there is a completely dominant horse who is likely to draw to dominate the race who wants to put up 10s of thousands to try to beat them on that leaders bias track.

Seems they ain't queuing for slots, but maybe it will be a no go, if not this year, again.

[Gammalite]

3 hours ago, Nowornever said:

Because Keayang Zahara and Jiliby Balarini are coming and are likely to draw one and two in the race everyone else has virtually no chance of beating them so no one wants to turn up.

yes , I guess NZ's best 2 trotters in Oscar B and Muscle Mountain had their Butts kicked in both the TAB trots to date , so if Marky and the Hope team  can't beat the Aussies no-one can . 

Those 2 you mentioned weren't even part of the Aussie Trifecta's run in the Slot trot so far either. But should be this year (along with Gus) 

NZ trotters have really fallen away badly recent times. Ran a gallant 2nd and 3rd in the rich Interdominion last Winter in Brisbane with Bet N Win 2nd and Oscar B 3rd, so there's always some hope if they come over.

But Keayang Zahara will be here too in July for the Interdominion , so just might frighten you guys off again .

She is certainly the Real Deal , and one of the most Pure trotters ever seen since Maori's Idol  (the best ever) 

here's a photo to enjoy of the great mare winning at Albion Park late last year. Just a magnificent trotting machine.

 

 

[Gammalite]

Because I like you guys and you like a punt more than enjoying the Big prize racing . here's one for you to admire. 

In the photo above in previous post,  to the far right,  is a very nice NZ trotter (formally of McGowans about a year ago in NZ in the North ) that Keayang Zahara was flat out to get past here in the Group 1 Great Square trot in December.

SUNSET HILL has had that close 2nd to 'Zahara' (by 2 metres in that photo above) and has Three Wins in Australia from his other 3 starts. winning each one  by 4 lengths or more each time and twice in 1.55 MR. tiz a very good trotter. 

I think SUNSET HILL well worth a ticket or 2 in the Interdominion . and is currently 50-1  in the early markets, and is being kept in cottonwool ready to spring a surprise . ( For the place punter Brodster is 14-1 for the place) .  

just beautiful to throw in a multi here and there. e.g a  Leap To Fame - Sunset Hill Interdominion double is 150-1 . Thank me later when we're all rich and collecting 😆😂💰👍

[the galah]

13 hours ago, Brodie said:

Cambridge could chuck in a couple of hundred thousand dollars to increase the stake and entice more in?

sounds like the right pitch to give you the inside running in any job interview you may have with cambridge,auckland or HRNZ.

But seriously,what you suggest is the same type of thinking that exists at hrnz and the nz media and the high end trainers.

If hrnz see participation levels  low in certain areas,e.g.  2 year old racing, They throw more and more money at them in the form of higher stakes,bonuses,next gen promotions,etc ,etc,etc.

As to the trotiting slot race.

Seriously,the media and HRNZ hype is all a joke from my perspective.Only hrnz,the media , the high end trtainers and gamma gives those races a second thought.

Nobody else cares in the real world no matter how much they hype them up..

Actually thats not quite true,what most do give some thought is wondering why the media and hrnz are obsessed with those type of races,when no one else is.

Edited 1 hour ago by the galah

[Gammalite]

36 minutes ago, the galah said:

Seriously,the media and HRNZ hype is all a joke from my perspective.Only hrnz,the media , the high end trtainers and gamma gives those races a second thought.

Nobody else cares in the real world no matter how much they hype them up..

Actually thats not quite true,what most do give some thought is wondering why the media and hrnz are obsessed with those type of races,when no one else is.

This is the EXACT problem with NZ Harness at the moment !! you've hit the nail on the head.

Harness racing Suffers from too many folk Not wanting to SHOWCASE it.

Every other Sport has Show case events for it's very best. examples : NRL has State of Origin for it's Millionaire participants , which people love more than the week to week product. they don't need to have it but it Showcases the sport. Tennis and Golf put on 'Majors' for the very best to assemble and showcase their sport. etc

The Race by Betcha, the TAB trot( and the Interdominion Championships) are 3 of the pinnacle events of our sport and you don't want to have them because someone at HRNZ has to put in $200,000 ? that's hard to believe you think like that. It SHOWCASES our Sport to TWO nations . Queensland puts in $1,500,000 to run the Interdominion to run it for the next 2 years. QLD already had 2 of the last 3 of those Contests with Leap To Fame winning both. QLD travels along the same as NZ harness (on a Entain funded budget via Ladbrokes) but can still come up with a few Bucks to run the Show Case . I'm proud of them. whereas you guys just go "Waste of money" . 

But it's Important to SHOW CASE your sport. And appreciate the best of the best. any sport. at least once a year. 

We only get 2 nights of Trotting on National free to air TV in Australia . Hunter Cup night (recently where we had the Great Southern Star for trotters that Keayang Zahara won , and Victoria Cup night (October) the Interdominion doesn't even get a run on TV . That makes me feel ill , as it's the TRADITIONAL SHOW CASE of our sport with both Pacing and Trotting Championships involved.

The last Interdominion Grand Final on TV was Beautide at Menangle 10 years ago . Now that's hopeless at Showcasing your sport , and just like you blokes , most participants and observers 'don't care' if it's Run or Not anymore as a direct result.  I weep about that. tiz very sad for the sport. 

A sad state of affairs when you can't enjoy a SHOW CASE of your own sport . 

 

[mikeynz]

13 hours ago, Nowornever said:

Because Keayang Zahara and Jiliby Balarini are coming and are likely to draw one and two in the race everyone else has virtually no chance of beating them so no one wants to turn up. In fact there is one slot holder who is trying to back out and is going to court to try to get his money back.

Well if you buy a slot that's too bad, you pay ya money, you take ya chances but question is will anyone or enough next time be so keen ?

Edited 43 minutes ago by mikeynz