Jan 20 - A big BIG night at Ballarat

[Messenger]

2 Cups

Vincent, Vincennes, Vasari, Vandanta, ... who knew V was so popular

3 cracking Derby heats (with a first starter to boot)

Nathan's No Better Time is going around in R9 but for David Murphy - what is the story there Nath?

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BA200118&fromstate=vic

[Greg Hando]

It's a pity Vincent is scratched

[Messenger]

It's a pity Vincent is scratched

:(:(:(

[Toohard]

Great night at Ballarat as always. Plenty of people there and weather perfect. Heaps of entertainment on and off track.

Highlights....

The amazing performance of Poster Boy in the first Derby heat. Slowly run race and he came from miles back. Seeing he nearly broke 26 for his last quarter.

Lumineer in last Derby heat.

The jousting between races (not in the betting ring...on the track)

[Messenger]

I was going but Vincent scratching tipped me the other way - should have gone for the jousting (well done Ballarat and Kryal Castle?)

[teecee]

It's a pity Vincent is scratched

https://www.hrnz.co.nz/news-and-events/latest-news/6394-vincent-s-season-over

[aussiebreno]

Did anyone else love the run of Maratei. May not be as good right now as Lumineer, Poster Boy and Spankem but he ran very well and has a great action and could go on. Drawn 3 he might be half a chance in the Derby.

[Showgrounds]

https://www.hrnz.co.nz/news-and-events/latest-news/6394-vincent-s-season-over

Terrible news when we talk about "ways to improve" harness racing. Having the likes of Vincent race in Australia would have been one way. He is one of the very few horses that make long-time followers watch in awe. We never saw him fully extended in a race. Cross your fingers and hope he makes it back to the track, but my inner feeling is studs will be queuing up with offers to stand him next season. New Zealand, in particular, badly needs an outcross stallion like him due to the prevalence of Bettors Delight / Christian Cullen bloodlines dominating in recent seasons.

Performance wise, Vincent is Art Major's best downunder entire and his female line sires - Safely Kept, Armbro Operative, Kentucky and Hilarious Way were all leading Australian sires of their era. Add to that, he traces to a German-bred trotter and is devoid of any NZ blood in his pedigree. His connections would never risk his welfare and, being one of the hottest stallion prospects around, may be sound reasons for him to stand at stud next spring. Which is a great shame, as much as I'd love one of his foals.

[KTQ]

Did anyone else love the run of Maratei. May not be as good right now as Lumineer, Poster Boy and Spankem but he ran very well and has a great action and could go on. Drawn 3 he might be half a chance in the Derby.

Tonnes better run than Lumineer. Not sure why they let that horse just bowl along in front as he pleases all the time. Don't win from last

[Messenger]

Terrible news when we talk about "ways to improve" harness racing. Having the likes of Vincent race in Australia would have been one way. He is one of the very few horses that make long-time followers watch in awe. We never saw him fully extended in a race. Cross your fingers and hope he makes it back to the track, but my inner feeling is studs will be queuing up with offers to stand him next season. New Zealand, in particular, badly needs an outcross stallion like him due to the prevalence of Bettors Delight / Christian Cullen bloodlines dominating in recent seasons.

Performance wise, Vincent is Art Major's best downunder entire and his female line sires - Safely Kept, Armbro Operative, Kentucky and Hilarious Way were all leading Australian sires of their era. Add to that, he traces to a German-bred trotter and is devoid of any NZ blood in his pedigree. His connections would never risk his welfare and, being one of the hottest stallion prospects around, may be sound reasons for him to stand at stud next spring. Which is a great shame, as much as I'd love one of his foals.

He will certainly be sought by studs (one day). Does it count that we have to go back 100yrs for the German trotter and is it really German bred or a USA family that was exported to England and then Germany then back then here

[Showgrounds]

He will certainly be sought by studs (one day). Does it count that we have to go back 100yrs for the German trotter and is it really German bred or a USA family that was exported to England and then Germany then back then here

Not sure at all where you are coming from Kev. My point is Vincent is completely devoid of NZ blood which makes him an ideal prospect to stand there. There is a glut of Bettors Delight x Christian Cullen horses in the top ranks there (and here) which is great for racing but to the detriment of breeders now and in the future. Take a look at the too few stallions represented in the yearling sales over there, which worsens with the recent passing of Mach Three and his son Somebeachsomewhere.

[arlington]

Did anyone else love the run of Maratei. May not be as good right now as Lumineer, Poster Boy and Spankem but he ran very well and has a great action and could go on. Drawn 3 he might be half a chance in the Derby.

Pretty sure it was after Poster Boy's Bendigo warm up, before Maratei's Shepp warm up, Emma Stewart said she really liked Maratei going in to the Derby.
He's a magnificent looking colt who looks like he's still learning, a boy in a man's body. A touch of Guaranteed about him but a lot smoother.
Could he possibly get to the top before one of the other three or posi up handy, one out, for a last crack?
Anything to make out of the driver choices Breno, of course C. Alford drives Poster Boy.