Match Race Anyone?

[Messenger]

The talk here is about Ride High v Lochinvar Art

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/tonkin-moran-flag-support-for-ride-high-v-lochinvar-art/

But would it work?
One is going to lead and go as easy as possible and the other is very unlikely to come out and apply pressure as he will just be covering extra ground

If one has a far superior sprint he would likely be the winner
If one is a much tougher horse is he really going to pour it on for a mere match race (unless the stake was huge)

I reckon we should see enough clashes between the two in the classic races

Thoughts?

[aussiebreno]

How many open age Gp1s between them?

Maybe when there is 5 or 6 at least would be time for a match race.

[Messenger]

Good point Breno. I think they are just using the Ride High buzz to promote the industry which struggles for promotion (Maybe HRA could have videoed the RSN interview and updated their 3 month old Video Highlights)

[Messenger]

Apparently they are a good chance to meet (in a normal race) at Bendigo on Aug 1

http://www.harnesslink.com/Australia/Stars-set-to-collide-for-the-first-time

[Messenger]

Lochinvar Art resumes at Shep on Saturday

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=SP250720#SPC25072001

[Mighty Atom]

If I had an outstanding horse I would never allow it to compete against another in a match race. One will be the winner the other the loser and you may not have a horse at all after that. In a full field not a problem. Many years ago I watched Pure Steel take on two horses Satinover and Rip Van Winkle and they were never the same after their defeat by Pure Steel.

[Messenger]

They were talking about them meeting next Saturday at Shep - I cannot see it happening now

[Showgrounds]

Yup. Moran thought he was on Pure Steel, words too hard for 3/4 of a lap. Kudos to Jody Quinlan on the winner for ensuring Lochinvar Art did not get much of a breather and was gone entering the straight.

[Messenger]

A message to those who lost big on Lochinvar Art

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/big-bets-loch-out-for-big-plunges-on-short-priced-favourite/

You RISKED $20,000 to gain $1,600

You RISKED $10,000 to gain $900

You RISKED $10,000 to gain $700

You RISKED $8,000 to gain $480

The horse had drawn the 2nd line in a field of 11, I reckon the risk of breaking, not getting away, serious interference, gear malfunction or horse being sick would have been about $1.05

[Messenger]

I don't think it would have been scheduled for 6.05pm if the match race had eventuated

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=SP150820#SPC15082001

I have a fair idea of why they have done this but I would prefer R1&2 to be R8&9

[Messenger]

It would seem that the 2 poster boys are going to meet at Ballarat on Saturday
BUT it is not the ideal race/timing for LA, it is simply a case of the trainer not being able to find a suitable race

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/it-is-on-lochinvar-art-to-take-on-ride-high-saturday-night/

[gutwagon]

Looks like it may not go ahead due to lack of nominations, need 6 ! Can you believe the board might not bent their rules for the better of the sport !

I would prefer to see them meet over the sprint trip. But I can't see LA ever beating RH.

[Showgrounds]

Looks like it may not go ahead due to lack of nominations, need 6 ! Can you believe the board might not bent their rules for the better of the sport !

I would prefer to see them meet over the sprint trip. But I can't see LA ever beating RH.

Lack of marketing gumption from HRV. They could have promoted a Pure Steel v Satinover style match race and targeted the locked-in-their-houses Victorian market with a post-curfew race time. No foresight, absolutely no will.

[aussiebreno]

Notwithstanding they are both on 0 open age Gp1s wins so I fail to see why there is such an appetite for a match race but would interest in a match race not skyrocket in 2 months if they both continue their form. Plenty are tuning in weekly to watch Ride High and Arty's demolition jobs...once one of them loses a match race are they still tuning in with the same anticipation or have they lost interest?

[Messenger]

Looks like it may not go ahead due to lack of nominations, need 6 ! Can you believe the board might not bent their rules for the better of the sport !

I would prefer to see them meet over the sprint trip. But I can't see LA ever beating RH.

When will either get to race then. Moran was saying that one of his limited options other than backing up this week was Terang on Sept 12 (3 weeks away!)

[Messenger]

IT IS ON: Lochinvar Art to take on Ride High Saturday night

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/it-is-on-lochinvar-art-to-take-on-ride-high-saturday-night/

HRV need a new story

IT IS OFF

Fields

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BA290820

[Messenger]

Ride High is time trialling (unofficial) in a few minutes after this R4 about to be run at Ballarat
Tune into TrotsVision (and maybe Sky2)

[Messenger]

I watched it on TrotsVision (nothing other than horse hooves to hear)
Was there any commentary on Sky2's coverage?

Having watched harness racing for a long time, after watching the pacemaker, it never occurred to me that a Standardbred can gallop faster than it can pace or trot. It may look a bit bouncy but why don't we have gallop races?

[Adaptor]

I watched it on TrotsVision (nothing other than horse hooves to hear)
Was there any commentary on Sky2's coverage?

Having watched harness racing for a long time, after watching the pacemaker, it never occurred to me that a Standardbred can gallop faster than it can pace or trot. It may look a bit bouncy but why don't we have gallop races?

Wouldn't it have been nice to have a commentary...with some times for the quarters.

[Adaptor]

Wouldn't it have been nice to have a commentary...with some times for the quarters.

From On-course...Ride High 1:52.2, last half 52.7

[Messenger]

Another entertaining workout on Trots Vision by Lochinvar Art at Shep this time
No go pro camera but I think I preferred this one with the commentary and David Moran mic'd up in the sulky
Had planned to come home in 60/55 and did 59.5/53.2

[aussiebreno]

The non open age G1 winners can eat their heart out! Bull V Shockwave

[Messenger]

Gee GP replays look beautiful

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=GP110920#GPM11092004

[Messenger]

I hope Terang has not had too much rain overnight. Quite varied falls down that way. Hamilton had 20mm , Warrnambool 10, Mortlake 13

[Messenger]

No wonder Dan Mielicki was worried about the forecast yesterday
Hamilton has now had 35mm and Mortlake 23 but Warrnambool has only had 12 so here's hoping

[aussiebreno]

How many open age G1s???

[Showgrounds]

Ride High does the limbo rock. As Chubby Checker asked "how low can you go?"

[gutwagon]

I don't think we will ever see them clash, getting them both sound at the same time may be impossible !

[Messenger]

It is a tricky game. For as much as the Stewart/Tonkin stable have dominated the juveniles, I think they have only had a couple of open age horses in the National Top 20 (calculated on Gp1 performances) - Poster Boy and Shadow Sax

[aussiebreno]

How far back you talking? Definetely have a good point but Safari, Restrepo, Guaranteed, Philadelphia Man and Robin Hood would have cracked National Top 20 based on prizemoney on the HRA website. All wer3 debatebly top 5 horses in Aust at a point

[Messenger]

Gee, I had forgotten a few (including a couple of favourites).
Do we give them Robin Hood or was that Peter Tonkin

[Showgrounds]

Doesn't matter, Peter Tonkin is still part of the operation as are other noted horsemen such as Vin Mahar.

Stewards report will be interesting, I noticed Ride High had its mouth open before the start and even when he was working to the death. He certainly did not perform like a genuine racehorse last night.

[aussiebreno]

Bull drawn 1 V Shockwave drawn 2 at Gloucester this Friday night. Now theres a match race!!

[Messenger]

Ride High is to return

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/ride-high-on-track-for-april-comeback/

I am wondering from the following quote, whether Peter Gleeson is worried about his longevity, wanting a race put on for him instead of waiting for a scheduled race

While he is likely to return to racing at Tabcorp Park Melton, Gleeson said plans were to eventually get to Menangle, where the idea is to run a fast time that will enhance stud value.

"They (Harness Racing NSW) may put on a race if they think Lochinvar Art, Ride High, King of Swing and those sort of horses would go in a race...," Gleeson said.

[Messenger]

Ride High may have run his last race

http://www.harnesslink.com/Australia/Ride-High-may-have-run-his-last-race

and as we know Lochinvar Art is on the sidelines for an extended time

[Showgrounds]

Ride High may have run his last race

http://www.harnesslink.com/Australia/Ride-High-may-have-run-his-last-race

and as we know Lochinvar Art is on the sidelines for an extended time

The inability of HRV and a compliant, head nodding media to see through this whale charade displays breathtaking ignorance.

The true story will never be known because nobody has bothered to as any questions.

[Messenger]

Superstar pacer Lochinvar Art will stand at stud later this year.

But don’t panic, he’ll mix stud duties with his rehab as plans focus on a late-December or early January return to the racetrack.

http://www.harnesslink.com/Australia/Arty-off-to-stud

[Showgrounds]

Any match race between the two now will be confined to seeing who gets the first mare in foal.

[aussiebreno]

Don't stress guys Chicago Bull is back this week. We might get a clash with Shockwave again soon!

[Showgrounds]

Don't stress guys Chicago Bull is back this week. We might get a clash with Shockwave again soon!

The Bull is a rising 9yo so good luck squeezing any more out of him away from Gloucester Park. Ride High, in my honest opinion (and we haven't heard a lot of up-front honesty about him) has probably run his last race. It would appear connections of Lochinvar Art are having a big each-way bet about his future as well.

Shockwave is a pretty nice horse but 16 wins (1 group one) and 17 placings from 44 starts doesn't sell him to me as up there with the horses mentioned.

Over the ditch, currently fully fit and spelling, is Self Assured. A couple of days after his second in last year's Chariots of Fire (to Lochinvar Art) he was found to have a festering foot abcess and flew home immediately for a spell. The shutdown of racing from COVID 19 effectively ended his season. He will resume as a 6yo having raced only 28 starts for 17 wins (4 group ones) and 10 placings. Three of his group ones include the big NZ two-mile stands, the NZ, Auckland and Easter Cups. It's widely acknowledged he is better from the mobile and that the unreliable COVID 19 political situation ruled out any Australian campaign the past year.

He'll be here after the NZ Cup.

Copy That will also be coming here. He will be near impossible to beat if he leads in any distance up to 2700 and has already beaten Self Assured twice when leading in group two races.

Interesting times for later this year, for sure.

[Messenger]

Don't stress guys Chicago Bull is back this week. We might get a clash with Shockwave again soon!

One of the best 6ths you will see

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=GP210521#GPM21052104

You will note that the stable still took the Quinella