Country Cups 2021

[Messenger]

Bendigo Cup
It is a good Gp2 field
You can pretty much get $5 the field
Gp1 winner Our Uncle Sam is the fav
I think Another Masterpiece is the only other Gp1 winner in the field
oops Wolf Stride too as the Metro Region Championship was somehow given Gp1 (30-70 class)

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BN090121#BNM09012101

[Messenger]

I don't think much of HRV's lack of promotion of Bendigo (maybe they figure Bendigo does it themselves)
Finally go a story today but it is about the 1150m Mercury rubbish

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/the-heat-returns-as-mercury80-fires-up-for-summer/

[Adaptor]

I don't think much of HRV's lack of promotion of Bendigo (maybe they figure Bendigo does it themselves)
Finally go a story today but it is about the 1150m Mercury rubbish

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/the-heat-returns-as-mercury80-fires-up-for-summer/

Hang On Kevin...the writers have been busy:

The Bendigo Addy to the fore:

https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/7075673/quality-fields-for-bendigo-pacing-cup-maori-mile/?cs=81

And LAP IT UP...the Country Cups Promotion on Thetrots.com

https://www.thetrots.com.au/trots-country/bendigo-cup/

AND Michael Howards Article on Jan 4.

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/trots-review-bettor-than-ever-and-primed-for-bendigo/

[Messenger]

Oh yeah, I forgot about the Bettor Than Ever article - I must admit that I saw it but did not read it and thought it was just going to be about the BC being his next target. I did not realize back on Jan 4, when it was written, that Saturday was the Cup - my bad (I did not realize until I saw the fields yesterday)
and many thanks for pointing out that LAP IT UP is not just a banner but a link (my bad again but I have not been 100% the last couple of days)

[Messenger]

The Cobram Cup
A very nice field for the next level down (Gp3) on Sunday
The heat will be a worry (Charlton on Monday is starting early)

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=CO100121#COC10012101

[Messenger]

Wolf Stride confirmed tonight that he will be a topliner/Grand Circuit horse

[Messenger]

How was this for great coverage by the Bendigo Advertiser

[Messenger]

Western Sonador cost himself the Cobram Cup by missing the start

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=CO100121#COC10012101

(The replay is still not up and I had trouble logging on to Sky so the TAB ap is the way to go)

[Bonnie]

Only 7 nominations received for Saturday nights $60,000 Shepparton Cup with 2 of those having other noms on the same program. Noms extended until 7.30 tomorrow. Some of the races are struggling for fields. Hope a few trainers jump on their computers tonight.

[Messenger]

Yes Anne, LA must be scaring them off

[Messenger]

The mile is really going to need some help to stand up

[aussiebreno]

Well at least he wont get trapped 4 pegs this year when yours truly was on...

[Messenger]

And the fields are now up and no added noms for the Cup so he only has 6 to beat (3 from the Aiken stable) and he has drawn 1

[Messenger]

What has become of last year's Shep Cup winner Phoenix Prince?

[Messenger]

As much as I like spreading around the venue of our main metro class meet, I think the Melton Friday night meets before them could at least have a few $10k races.
Menangle Tuesday meets are all $9,180 races.
As well as Country Cups time, I think there is a place for more double headers ie Bendigo/Ballarat (Frid) - Melton (Sat) during the year

[aussiebreno]

As much as I like spreading around the venue of our main metro class meet, I think the Melton Friday night meets before them could at least have a few $10k races.
Menangle Tuesday meets are all $9,180 races.
As well as Country Cups time, I think there is a place for more double headers ie Bendigo/Ballarat (Frid) - Melton (Sat) during the year

Would the country Melton meet assist the Hamilton Cup meeting Sunday?

[Messenger]

It probably helped their Cup Breno

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=HM170121#HMC17012101

[Showgrounds]

What has become of last year's Shep Cup winner Phoenix Prince?

Think he went amiss in last year's Ballarat Cup, not seen since. Another of the Stewart / Tonkin passing parade, I read.

[Messenger]

Lochinvar Art wins the Shep Cup seemingly unextended until the last 800m and yet he equals the Tk Rec

[Adaptor]

Lochinvar Art wins the Shep Cup seemingly unextended until the last 800m and yet he equals the Tk Rec


And in doing so went past the $1million mark
$986,556 +$34,200 = $ 1,020 ,756

Average of just over $27 K oer start


Moves to 3rd highest ANZ earner in the U2 family behind Lombo Pocket Watch and Beaudiene Boaz

[Messenger]

Fourbigmen too good for them in the Hamilton Cup, working to the death and equalling the Tk Rec

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=HM170121#HMC17012101

[Messenger]

Ballarat Cup

http://www.harnesslink.com/Australia/Lochinvar-Art-draws-6-for-opening-night-feature

Harley in 2, Lochinvar in 6, Wolf Stride in 9 (following out Harley)

There is a fair likelihood that over the distance Harley will not want to hold out Lochinvar
The fact that inexplicably Ballarat does not have a Sprint Lane makes it a coin toss as to whether he should

ps Don't take this as meaning I am a fan of sprint lanes

[Messenger]

With no Harley, it will now be a procession for LA

[Messenger]

The Ballarat Cup was pretty much an 800m race that LA wins coming home in 53.1
Every winner has settled in the first 4 tonight

[Messenger]

The fields may be small (the case for many races including Melton on Saturday) but the Cups at Ararat tomorrow night (Friday) should be interesting affairs

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=AR120221

[Messenger]

$1.10 pop gets beat in the trot and a $54 pop wins the pacers

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=AR120221

[Messenger]

The Terang Cup is our metro meet this Saturday
Here is the field

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=TE200221#TEM20022101

[Messenger]

Oh so easy for Wolf Stride, we already knew he is Grand Circuit material and he further confirmed it

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=TE200221#TEM20022101

[Messenger]

Boort Cups on Sunday
Unusual prizemoney IMO
The 2 cups are for $14,500
But there are also 3 races for $12k and another for $10k which all seem very generous

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BT280221

[Adaptor]

Boort Cups on Sunday
Unusual prizemoney IMO
The 2 cups are for $14,500
But there are also 3 races for $12k and another for $10k which all seem very generous

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BT280221


But there are also 3 races for $12k and another for $10k which all seem very generous.
Local sponsors topped up the prize money for these three races, and the club kicked in as well.

[Messenger]

Both Cups set new Tk Records
Im Anothermasterpiece equalled Perspective's 2019 MR while Well Defined took a whole 2 secs off the trotters MR

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BT280221

Pour some of those extra sponsorship dollars into the Cups next year and see if we can't go lower again
Mind you unless you get them up to an attractive $25k+ you could lose some of the appeal that the 'non metro $14,500' offers

[Messenger]

Birchip Cups on Sunday. It is a $4,500 race program
I reckon it would be nice if HRV could make the 2 cups $7k races

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=IR070321

[Messenger]

I almost missed that we have the Wangaratta Cups at Shep tonight. Being for $14,500, this is where we find more cup like fields

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=QY070321

[Messenger]

Excellent fields for the Charlton Pacing and Trotting Cups

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=CH140321

I was definitely going (and keen to see their new facilities) until I was reminded of a Melbourne commitment :(

[Showgrounds]

Last night's Tasmanian Cup was a disgrace and a blight on the sport.

[Messenger]

Echuca Cup on Friday. $35k like Charlton but did not attract quite the same depth of field but could well end up with the same winner (2 cups in 5 days would be quite an effort)

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=EC190321#ECC19032101

[Messenger]

Blaster Ranger wins the Ouyen Cup by a ½Hd from Egodan

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=OU210321#OUC21032101

Egodan ran 4th in the cup in 2017 when Messini set the Tk Rec

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=OU260317#OUC26031701

[Messenger]

Horsham on Sunday
The trotters Cup could be interesting but the field of 6 is ridiculously small for a $25k Gp3
In the $60k pacing Cup the Stewart/Tonkin stable have gone for the overwhelm them with numbers approach and have 5 of the 10 runners

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=HS280321

[Messenger]

Horsham Cup - why we don't want one stable dominating the field
Stewart/Tonkin had 5 of the 9 horse field and finished first 5 BUT the horses never 'raced'
They did not break 2min
Confirmed my reason for staying home
Very disappointing for a $60k Gp2

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=HS280321#HSC28032101

[Messenger]

The Riverina Championships heats at Wagga on Tuesday night has attracted stars like Wolf Stride for the boys and Maajida for the girls
but I don't think I have ever seen such a spread of ratings. In Wolf Stride's heat we have him rated at 120 while we have Auckland Star with a NR of 30

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=EY300321

[Messenger]

Warragul Cups today
The pacers could be a good contest provided Fourbigmen does not get it too easy near the head of affairs

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=WR040421#WRC04042101