Originally Posted by
broncobrad
I know Bailey only had my best interests at heart when he suggested I postpone this year but I am 1000% over the moon that we went anyway. Under the circumstances I thought the day was absolutely brilliant. From the parking marshalls, barkeeps, bookies, security personnel...the friendly service and attitude was A1. The weather held, the track was perfect and the horses did the ALL talking. It is clearly evident when all the works are finished that Menangle will be the jewel of harness racing throughout Oz and Nz and next years event will be awesome.
That aside, it was without doubt, the best day I have ever experienced at the trots. So many quality horses on one track at the same time, 7 Group 1s. Wow!! It meant a lot to even those that experience success on a regular basis. Even Harvey had a crack in his voice at his acceptance speech after his great mare Our Sixpence saluted. Well done Harvey, success doesn't come easy and should be savoured as you obviously did and so quickly deferred the accolades to those around you who made it happen.
There was a bit of a hiccough for me when the Majestic Mach got rolled by Lenny, but that was a brave run and he only just got done. Lenny wouldn't have been there if he wasn't good enough to compete and he did put the wind up Guaranteed the week before, hindsight is marvellous eh!
Christen Me's win was just the best and he looked to do it so easily. What a highlight, what an absolute superstar he is going to be, but it was just the curtain raiser to one of the classic ID's we have experienced. ITMQ did what Brendan has predicted for so (bloody) long. Silenced his doubters (me included) with that last to first dash which not only did he sustain but could have gone another lap. In saying that Mah Sish, Excel Stride, TTL, Carribean Blaster and Washakie were not disgraced at all. Found myself punching the air myself when GH Jnr did the double handed salute over the line. Pure theatre and the WHOLE crowd celebrated with him. There were no petty jealousy's on display he was totally embraced and so he should have been.
Lauren Panellas win was a highlight (her first G1), thought Left Loaded had her covered when they sailed past me at the 100m but Lauren got that bit extra out of her horse. Great stuff.
That stabling area is absolutely out of this world and talk about tough, the security wouldn't even let us take a plastic bottle of water into the area. Fair enough.
The downsides of the day from my point of view were only trifling matters that can be worked on. As Craig pointed out above, the crowd there were a very knowledgeable bunch and like me wanted to hear the addresses and speeches and the after race driver interviews but the volume was a bit hit and miss and the gig mike was unreliable. The on-line betting machines also went down for a time as well although I doubt that HRNSW had any control over that. Shame, but overall I thought John Dumesny and Sam Nati should be extremely proud of their efforts to bring this day to fruition, the staff should be congratulated for having the facilities as functional as they were and ensuring the show went on without a hitch. Well done Menangle!!!