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In case anyone hasn't seen the race people are talking about, here it is. Pretty impressive.
I have seen many a Champ come and go and have loved them all BUT Blackie is THE CHAMP. Nat just bring him to NZ !
In case anyone hasn't seen the race people are talking about, here it is. Pretty impressive.
Interested in Harness Racing? Read View From the Racetrack Grandstand
Thanks Alan. The caller got it right - Dominent!! Very Impressive.
Totally Agree.Originally Posted by AW1
Find it a bit odd when people claim that Blackie is the best to have ever raced in Australasia. In Australia -arguable with a great case. But Australasia means NZ as well and since he has never raced here the claim is non senseical. For four years now Blackie has been coming to NZ but has failed to appear every time. Even million dollar purses on a big track over a distance right up his alley wasnt enough to tempt his connections. So excuse us Kiwis for being a bit cynical when yet again we hear that Blackie will be at the interdoms next year. All his absense from racing on this side of the Tasman has done is to fuel suggestions that the horses connections have something to hide. Will he come. History would say no
Not sure what you find odd Southern Man because where a horse races doesn't mean much it's who the horse races. And for years we have been sending our (NZ) best over there and Blackie has beaten them more times than we have beaten him. As far a the connections having something to hide....well.
The point I was making was quite simple. You cannot be the best horse to have raced in Australasia when you have only raced in Australia. To say it makes no difference is just plain stupid. Home track advantage is just that, an advantage. Different rules.stewards , tracks and driving styles all add to the difficulty that horses face when they race in a foreign country. So as I said Blackie is arguably the best horse to have raced in Australia but until he has proven himself in NZ leave NZ out of the equation.As for why connections would rather race in Australia for under half the money you draw your own conclusions. Over the years I have hosted several Australian trainers in NZ and without fail they lose most of their drenches, ointments, pastes ect at customs. They spend most of their time trying to replace what they have lost at customs with mixed success. Just another hurdle horses moving between countries face. Will Blackie come to the Interdoms in Christchurch. I doubt it
The only reason that Blacks A Fake is still racing is so that he can contest the next Inter Dominion. If they had no intention of contesting the Inter Dominion, he wouldn't be racing.
Connections have nothing to hide. They have raced in QLD (obviously), NSW, VIC, SA and TAS. The only thing that will prevent him from travelling NZ for the 2011 Inters is injury or his form not warranting the trip. If his form is still good , he will be in NZ.
We have heard it for five years but the book of a thousand excuses has always been opened and used. The bottom line is it is not in Australia and they will have to go through customs and be subject to a lot more scrutiny than they will ever face in Australia. Couple that with the rumoured 72 hour guard for all finalists and he aint coming.
Last year (2009) was the first real opportunity that connections of Blacks A Fake had to take their great horse to NZ for the NZ Cup.
In 2006 the horse got sick in late October which prevented any possibility of taking him to NZ.
In 2007 he was struck down with Equine Influenza in October/November and couldn't leave his property in Qld let alone get to NZ to race.
In 2008, Australian horses still couln't get across to NZ without undergoing an extensive quarantine process that would mean that they couldn't race for an 8 to 10 week period. As expected no Australian horses raced at the NZ Cup Carnival in 2008 due to this.
So 2009 was the first real opportunity that connections had to get to NZ. They turned down this opportunity because they wanted to look after their now 9yo Blacks A Fake and focus on winning the Miracle Mile and the Inter Dominion.
As a 10yo in 2010, connections have never said they were contemplating going to NZ for the NZ Cup. They have said though all along that their focus is the 2011 Inter Dominions.
Customs wont bother them at all. Blacks A Fake had to spend 2 weeks in quarantine in Qld and Victoria just to race at the 2008 Inter Dominions after contracting EI. They have also seen how well Smoken Up, Karloo Mick and Flashing Red have raced in NZ in recent years after each of these horses has gone through Customs.
Barring injury or a loss of form, Blacks A Fake will be in NZ for the 2011 Inter Dominions.
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