Vicbred Super Series 2021

[Messenger]

We had the 2yo's tonight at Shep
3yo's tomorrow night at Kilmore
4yo's Thursday night at Ballarat

With 24 going to the Semis, not too many get eliminated especially for the 4yo mares where 26 will only see 2 eliminated

[Messenger]

For both the 2yo's and 3yo's no favoured runners missed qualifying - there was not a horse under $26 that missed the top 6

[Messenger]

The Semis fields are out

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=MX221221

2yo Fillies and 2yo C&G - nearly all the best performers have drawn poorly but first half of the field is all they need

3yo C&G - Beyond Delight has done best of all

3yo Fillies - Joanna has drawn well in the strongest semi where TayTay has 12 and Ladies In Red 13 have drawn poorly again

4yo C&G - the 3 heat winners have all drawn well
while the 4yo mares are really just the heats being run again as virtually no mare was eliminated

[Messenger]

The trotters heats at Maryborough today. There are only 2 heats for the 2yo and 3yo Fillies so very few need to be eliminated. The C&G divisions have 3 heats so only 4 will make the final in those

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=MH201221

[Messenger]

It is a testament to the improved reliability of todays' trotters that there are no real surprises in the first six placegetters (or more so those missing out) in the qualifying heats

[Messenger]

Semis night and 2 big scratchings from the Stewart stable
Sounds Perfect from R1
Irish Black Label from R2

[Messenger]

Bondi Lockdown and Ladies In Red were clearly the highlights of Semis night

[Messenger]

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=MX311221

2yo C&G agree with the market - Solesseo over Heza Gun simply because of draws
2yo Fillies - Amore with the draw advantage a bonus
3yo C&G - Bondi Lockdown but Better Eclipse a serious threat with Sugars from that draw
3yo Fillies - 9 is good enough for Ladies but she will have to hold her form with Joanna in 1
4yo C&G - Honolua can't be beaten with the way the draw fell
4yo Mares - Purdon's make a habit of winning big races but I would not be taking $1.50 Spellbound

[Messenger]

Three Gp3 $25k Silver Trots at Geelong tonight and an even bigger night at Bendigo tomorrow night with Six $25k Silver Paces and Six $12k Bronze Paces

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=GE291221

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BN301221

[Messenger]

You would think the TAB could have markets up for these races tomorrow night
As usual Harness is the poor relation
They have markets up for 6 gallops meets and 8 dog meets tomorrow
but for harness only 2 - Reefton NZ and Penrith NSW
You would think that being the VIC TAB we might have had Bendigo and Hamilton trots up

[Messenger]

The big day (night) is here. I am happy with the virtual division of the trots and pacing races as near on 7 hours is too much for most people and many followers divide into 'trots' or 'pacers'
I will probably watch R1 (hoping Rick's girl can finish first 5) then races 5 - 9, and watch replays of the 'trots' later

[Messenger]

It is likely to be 38° plus for R1 and the early part of the program (poor horses), being December 31 this is not going to be a rare occurrence - just another reason to split this program so that it can have a normal 7.30 start

[Messenger]

Maajida the magnificent - 2yo, 3yo, 4yo winner. It appeared a super drive from Greg Sugars but I wouldn't be surprised if it attracts the stewards attention as it seemed like he nearly took Its Ebonynivory legs out early

[Messenger]

Is Chris Alford going to be in trouble for when he came off the fence on Amore Vita and seemed to check Fiamma who was put out of biz

[Messenger]

A night for gutsy wins
Ladies In Red, Bondi Lockdown, Honolua Bay
Gutsy, Gutsy, Gutsy

[Messenger]

PP writes up Chris Alford's win on Amore Vita as the drive of the year. It is funny because I was thinking that in North America he would have had the race taken off him. He is not the only one, I am thinking Bondi Lockdown may have lost his race for the stewards adjudged him as causing interference too. Maybe Maajida if Sugars did cause any interference (nothing in Stewards Column mind you). Plymouth Chubb could have lost for Kerryn's whip use and I have yet to spot what James Herbertson did other than the whip but maybe in the USA he too could have lost his win as he has been suspended for something

[Messenger]

I am really taken by Ebonys Anvenger's win. She could not go a yard early and despite drawing 1 she ended up behind the favourite Just A Bit Touchy who had to go right back from 7
I was amazed at how after finding another gear down the back, she was held up (lost some momentum) and yet could go again and dive through that split to win

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=MX311221#MXM31122112

Although she is 'trotting' bred and mum trotted, her dam is a half sis to Hollys Miss Molly
I can't do a full search as HRA's search engine is down but looking at ClassicFamilies (you can always rely on CF) I only find 7 trotters credited to damsire Life Sign (all Australian)
The 4th dam Smooth Gale has some sensational pacing descendants

https://classicfamilies.azurewebsites.net/CF/Descendants.aspx?HorseID=10018387

Open those little + boxes to see

So like other Vicbred Trotting winner Queen Of Crime, Ebonys Avenger has plenty of pacing speed in her bloodlines

[Messenger]

Watching the replays, it is surprising how often leaders go well inside the pegs - I reckon we might need some serious penalties as some drivers are making a mockery of fences being removed for their safety

[Messenger]

3 wins to Somebeachsomewhere and 1 to dad Mach Three with the other 2 pacing finals going to Art Majors

[Messenger]

As you have probably seen, Aaron Dunn doesn't only train and drive Bondi Lockdown, he owns him outright
Already a tenfold return on his $20k purchase price

[Messenger]

Other random Vicbred Finals observations


Cover Of Darkness might have raced a bit like a giraffe (Dan Meilicki) but she sure gives the impression he has incredible speed for a trotter, she raced a bit fiercely going to the front, compared to how No Rules Apply cruised around to the death (Powderkeg came from a long way back)
Bacardi Barmaid did not see much clear air in the 4yo Mares trot
Rogue Wave could prove to be Ladies In Red's biggest rival in future mares races. She has been looked after like Ladies, for after running her 2yo campaign onto the NSW Oaks she only had 3 races leading into this Final (after about 8mths off). As a 2yo at her first start she ran 1.54.3 which was only 1.8 secs outside the Shep Tk Rec
It would be good to see Ladies In Red on a big track where she can sit and sprint, instead of having to do it tough thanks to bad draws and wanting to eliminate the risk of bad luck back in the field
Narutac Prince (3yo Colts) was flying at the finish, I wonder whether someone couldn't do a 'Honolua Bay' with him
Heza Son Of Agun (2yo Colts) completed a remarkable campaign. He kicked off with a couple of runs in May then maybe a short break before racing from July all the way to Finals night - his 15th start
Honolua Bay looked very tired at the end of his win. It was only the 5th run of this campaign but this campaign is only his second campaign. His first campaign started as a late 3yo and was 16 races over 8mths.

[Messenger]

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/stewards-reports/stewards-reports-detail/?mc=MX311221

Chris Alford, driver of Amore Vita NZ, pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) in that passing the 500m he directed Amore Vita NZ out and commenced to ease Fiamma wider and in completing the movement caused Fiamma to be checked and subsequently break gait and Jo An Jo, Mykorona, Elegant, Patsy Valentine and Nonparreil, who were following, being checked to varying degrees. In assessing penalty Stewards considered the relevant factors as outlined within the HRV Stewards Minimum Penalty Guidelines placing weight on Mr Alford’s guilty plea, his exceptionally good driving record (1343 drives since last offence), the Group 1 status of the race, the degree of interference involved and the circumstances of the incident where Stewards were satisfied that Fiamma resisting the wider movement of Amore Vita NZ contributed and Mr Alford had taken some corrective measures in an attempt to avoid the incident. Stewards accordingly imposed a 10 day suspension of Mr Alford’s licence to drive in races and a fine of $500. This suspension was ordered to commence midnight 8 January 2022.

Kerryn Manning, driver of Plymouth Chubb, was suspended for a period of 7 days and fined $500 for using the whip in an unapproved manner in that inside the final 200m she applied the whip on more occasions than is permitted. In assessing penalty Stewards considered the relevant factors as outlined within the HRV Stewards Minimum Penalty Guidelines, placing weight on Ms Manning’s prior record and the Group 1 status of the race.

These penalties are ZERO deterrent
I appreciate that harsh penalties affect participants livelihoods but Chris Alford should have got months and with Kerryn's pathetic whip record so should have she - that Gp1 race can never been viewed now without it being a glaring example of horse abuse

[Yabbie]

It is likely to be 38° plus for R1 and the early part of the program (poor horses), being December 31 this is not going to be a rare occurrence - just another reason to split this program so that it can have a normal 7.30 start

No race meetings start at 7.30 these days. You are lucky to get a 6pm start. The theory is that you race early so you pick up punters immediately after the races. HRV's view is turnover is everything

[Messenger]

Of course you know I know this Carol!
I am talking Animal Welfare.
The hot weather policy has seen us start meetings before 11am in the past so anything is possible - it just depends on their priorities/values

ps You're right I should not have said 'normal' but rather 'old 7.30pm start'

[Messenger]

Carol you prompted me to get out an old 1970 Racebook for the Showgrounds
First at 7.25, Last at 10.55 - Great memories
Thanks