2025 Country Cups

[Messenger]

The Bendigo Cup and Maori Mile look to be very interesting races for Saturday night
I was looking up accommodation until I saw the predicted weekend temps but it should be a great night out for locals

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BN040125

I would not be taking the pre-market odds on about Queen Elida, she was even shorter when Arcee beat her last year although his draw is not as good this year. She hasn't had a break since the Inter while he seems to have been set for this. She will probably lead but there are other chances in the race too

[Messenger]

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/rock-n-roll-doo-ready-to-make-victorian-return-at-bendigo/

Maths cannot be Lachlan's strong point as it is only a year and a bit since Rock N Roll Doo raced in Vic

It is absolutely ridiculous to mention the Hunter Cup as a target for him - he just has to show that he is not finished

Interesting to note that there are no Stewart runners in the Cup

[Speedy]

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/rock-n-roll-doo-ready-to-make-victorian-return-at-bendigo/

Maths cannot be Lachlan's strong point as it is only a year and a bit since Rock N Roll Doo raced in Vic

It is absolutely ridiculous to mention the Hunter Cup as a target for him - he just has to show that he is not finished

Interesting to note that there are no Stewart runners in the Cup



I don't understand your comment about the math Kevin, he literally says "It's been over 12 months since Rock N Roll Doo, the 2022 Victoria Cup champion, last raced on a Victorian track, but that's set to change this Saturday night."

[Messenger]

Originally it said "over 2 years"

[Messenger]

In R1 we see Code Bailey returning again. It has been 20 months since he started and that 4 start campaign followed a 21 month break

[Messenger]

Queen Elida in opening markets was $1.60
She is now $2.50
Arcee Phoenix opened $6.50
He is now $2.80

[Messenger]

Tact Macleod opened $2.30
He is now $1.75
Bulletproof Boy opened $21
He is now $7
Rock N Roll Doo opened $7
Got out to $21, Now $17

[Messenger]

Maybe prizemoney isn't everything but how is it that both the features are for $75k
For the trotters that is enough to be a Gp1 while for the pacers the Cup is only Gp2

[Messenger]

It is hot at Bendigo and I hate thongs (just ask my wife how much $&!% I put on her) but really Duncan couldn't you have found some better footwear to present the trophy for the first Gp1 of the year
Call me a snob

[trish]

We won a big race at Menangle one night & we were presented with a cardboard box. But he did have shoes on , then they took back their ribbon......

[Messenger]

The $15k Cobram Cup is now tomorrow/Monday

I am not a fan of the race's conditions. It is for horses with zero $15k race wins. So a horse that has never been good enough to win such a race will now be a 'supposed' cup winner

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=CO060125#COC05012501

[trish]

The cup races back in the day were most for FFA horses . Always were I think.

[Messenger]

The favourite and winner was $1.18 not $2.80

Ray Chaplin and co-owners would be hopeful of second place-getter Big Bad Ossie being able to stand up to racing this campaign. The 6yo has only had 9 starts and has plenty to offer

[Messenger]

It is Shep on Saturday night

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=SP110125#SPM11012501

[Messenger]

and Hamilton on Sunday (a twilight meeting)

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=HM120125#HMC12012501

[Messenger]

An unbelievable effort first up by Captain Hammerhead to win the Shep cup but it was good to see the stewards making David Moran sweat over dropping his foot in the straight
The bubble certainly burst for Miki Pins

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=SP110125#SPM11012501

[Messenger]

WOW I never thought I would see the stewards show such courage - Captain Hammerhead DISQUALIFIED

[trish]

I have not watched it but was he doing more than just dropping his foot??

[Messenger]

No that is what he has been done for. It was pretty blatant

It has been about an hour since they amended the results and declared All Clear and yet HRV/HRA's results page is still showing him the winner

[Messenger]

There was $117k in the First Four pool and it ended up paying $28,469

The Quaddie paid $34,803

[Yabbie]

Here’s a link to the head stewards explanation for the disqualification.

https://fb.watch/x2LUIQZ6Sz/?

[trish]

Thanks Carol.
The stewards would have better vision.
Adam H has a bit on racenet about it , on LTF story.

[Messenger]

Thanks Carol.
I often forget fb
It was always going to be controversial
Next we might get rid of the whip before the government/public get rid of us
When you think about it - it is not OK to touch a horses legs with your leg but it is OK to hit him with a stick

[Messenger]

Xander it is generally believed that a driver touching a horse's legs with his foot can give it a scare, make it take fright and run faster
Even if it was permissible it is not something a driver would want to do for an extended period as the horse will eventually tire. An example of what I mean by this is when you occasionally see a horse's back legs making contact with the sulky/cart - this makes the horse over race from the very start of the race and they invariably tire well before the finish.

ps I would think that the class action has zero prospect of success as the industry agrees to race under a code of regulations and the stewards have done nothing that is not in their power as granted by these regulations

[Messenger]

It was a perfect evening for the Hamilton twilight Cup
Emma Stewart runners ran some very fast times winning the first two races
Then Interdom runner up Keayang Chucky smashed the Tk Rec in the Trotters Cup when coming off 50m
Now 4yo Dee Roe won the Pacing Cup impressively
while in the last Metro Assassin made it look easy - a 5yo who has only been racing 2mths and should be 5/5

It felt like there were a few there but 300 feels like a big crowd nowadays

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=HM120125

[Messenger]

Watch it here to see how blatant the Shep incident was

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y8STemgZ2k

[Messenger]

Ballarat on Saturday

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BA180125#BAM18012501

[Messenger]

Interesting to note that Herbie has chosen 10yo Bulletproof Boy over Mach Dan
Also noticed that Chris Alford is on Perfect Stride

Who will drive Kanena - maybe Robbie Morris will come down
You would expect Greg Sugars to pick up a drive and Mark Pitt now probably has the choice of either Stewart runner

[Messenger]

Am I seeing things 0-0
David Moran disqualified and loses the Shep Cup to Kanena Povlima
One week later who is he driving in the Ball Cup

[trish]

That's harness racing.

[Messenger]

I forgot that DM drove her to win this race last year!

[Messenger]

I suspected that Ryan Sanderson must have been suspended for Chris Alford to be on Perfect Stride but he was not showing on the Suspended Driver list when I looked.

[Messenger]

The old warrior survives the protest and Herbie made the right choice

[Messenger]

The two $15k Wedderburn Cups on Sunday are the next cabs off the rank

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=WD260125#WDC26012501

[Messenger]

The Wedderburn Trotters Cup is coming up in 20 minutes
It is run over 2955m - that is quite some distance nowadays

[Messenger]

The barrier draw may have made the Cranbourne Cup a procession
(what is a NR71 doing in this race?)

[trish]

Maybe without it , there would have been a field of 9.

[trish]

May as well just give the cheque to LTF's connections now

[Messenger]

The scratching and him moving down to 1 is going to make it a little trickier for him
Mach Dan will cross him, Tact McLeod follows Mach out and he too is quick so he or Dont Stop Dreaming will be looking to take the lead of Mach

[Messenger]

Strange to see that the TAB still has Serg Blanco in their market for the race

[trish]

The scratching and him moving down to 1 is going to make it a little trickier for him
Mach Dan will cross him, Tact McLeod follows Mach out and he too is quick so he or Dont Stop Dreaming will be looking to take the lead of Mach


Yes , it will . But if he hunts out he may be able to hold up , well maybe. If he does , the old boy behind him is no donkey . A lot of horses love to follow speed & have something left when it matters . But, I could be just speaking out loud.

[Messenger]

If they teamed up against him they could definitely beat him

1st Mach crosses him
2nd Tact follows Mach through to hold LTF on the fence
3rd Bullet stays on his back so he cannot drop out and come around from last
4th Mach hands up to Dreaming to put LTF 3back the fence

I think if I was Grant I would be easing him at the start

[trish]

Yea , I see where you are coming from. He will want off the fence if he can not hold up. Interesting race.
Has LTF any gate speed?

[Messenger]

I don't think he has much

[Messenger]

Well he has a bit and after retaking the lead he was never in doubt
The other of the night's horses with a 'class edge' - Oscar Bonavena, was most impressive in the Trotters Cup

[trish]

It was a boring race after about 150-200 mtrs. Half in 30.2 & 31.8 , but they allowed him to do that.

[Messenger]

Terang Cups on Friday night

Good fields (although what is a trotter who has only won 4 races doing in the Cup - every other starter has won at least 11 races)

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=TE140225

Plus a $10k preliminary has attracted Yambukian, Catch A Wave and Rock N Roll Doo

If you stay around until the last you can see Matty Craven's palomino White Lion go around
The only weak point of the meet is having a $4k race kick off the program

[Messenger]

Keayang Zahara is to work between races too.

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/zahara-to-make-special-appearance-at-terang-on-friday/

I find this a bit of an eye-opener. She has only had 2 months off and her possible first race back is 3 months off, I did not think she would be back in work for that long before resuming

[trish]

Yea ,we get that. We used to give at least 8-10 weeks to bring horse back from a 8-10 week break.

Bringing her up slowly , you still have a horse , no point rushing her.

[Messenger]

Yes, I am certainly for patience, I was only a little surprised - I thought it may have been similar to what you said Trish or maybe that she would get 3 months off and take 2 months to get back

[Messenger]

It is not only the Terang Cup on Friday night but it is also Terang gallops on Friday
???? Is this good planning or poor planning ??????

[Yabbie]

Not ideal I would think. Races is a sponsors type day I understand.
But Terang Harness Club are running complimentary buses from gallops to trots

[Messenger]

Some could put in a full day from about 1 - 10pm
I see Moonee Valley and Canterbury races are also both on tomorrow night - that might be a bigger problem for turnover
Albury (Swayzee) and Newcastle both have trots

[Messenger]

Terang could not even crack it for a continuation of the warm balmy weather for tonight - nearby Mortlake feels like 10° right now

Only half an hour until the Catch A Wave race

[Messenger]

Catch A Wave equalled the Tk Rec
We therefore should not be critical of Rock N Roll Doo. Nevertheless, I cannot help but wonder whether they wish they had never gone to NZ in 2022

[Messenger]

Class prevailed in the 3 main races at Terang

[Messenger]

All that meeting competition which Terang faced would seem to have hurt

Going on Vic TAB figures, the Win pool for R4 was $2,184 (Catch A Wave's 6 horse race) while for R7 the Trotters Cup there was only $3,123 (was it on Sky1?)

[trish]

Goodness that is not good.
I did look at Albury at some point before the big one & it was not great. Is that the only money bet from the tab.

[Messenger]

I don't know Trish. I used to think that it was only the parimutuel/pool money and Not the Fixed Odds (which is far more popular)

[Messenger]

We have the Ararat Cup tonight.
The pacers does not deserve the title (for zero $15k wins horses) but having had to come through heats it should be a keenly contested affair.
The trotters is a genuine quality cup for traditionalists :cool:
Both races are for $20k

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=AR280225

Then on Sunday we have the Boort Cups
The 712m track makes things tricky but both are over 2612m and for $12k

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BT020325

[Messenger]

I don't think they had any alternative but to disqualify Collective Works - first past the post in the Boort Cup
I don't know what the rules state/what Ewa was supposed to do. She would no doubt wish she had not gone into the sprint lane (for the safety of the others) as CW resumed pacing almost simultaneously and may have legitimately held the lead despite galloping.
To me the big problem was the reason the horse galloped - Ewa when looking around caused CW to go at least ½m inside a marker peg, then he jumped the next one and galloped

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BT020325#BTC02032501

[Messenger]

We have the Geelong Cups on Friday night
Small fields but competitive looking races

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=GE070325

[Messenger]

Two more 'restricted' Cups on Sunday - Birchip and Wangaratta

Why do they do this? Are they concerned that if a top class horse entered, it may scare off the rest and see the race not stand up?
I suppose it shares the money around but I am more likely to attend a Cup meeting where a good horse is racing. I'm probably not the norm anymore and small country cups are more of a community event nowadays

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=WN090325

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=IR090325

[Messenger]

Mach Dan deserved a third Geelong Cup much more than the winner but that is racing

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=GE070325#GEC07032501

[Messenger]

It looks like a good day at Birchip - I wish I was there

[Messenger]

We got the trotters cup run and won but it looks like the wild weather we are getting here in Halls Gap, is also affecting Birchip and the pacers cup has been put back - fingers crossed

Edit: Damn, the TAB now saying Abandoned

[Messenger]

If it wasn't for all the bloody dogs races, you would be speeding up the Wangaratta program as you couldn't rule out storms looking at the radar to the west and north

[Messenger]

Be sure to have a look at the replays from Wang - the close up camera work makes it like you are actually at the old Showgrounds

Tizzie Lizzie a ½ sister to Smolda ($2.4m) wins the pacers while Abitofadreamer sets a new Tk Rec in the Trot

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=WN090325

[Messenger]

Not only do we have the Charlton Cups on Sunday but also on the same program we now have the rescheduled Birchip Pacing Cup

[Messenger]

The Charlton Cup fields look strong for Sunday and will be followed by the postponed Birchip Cup

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=CH160325

[Messenger]

The heats for the Mildura Cup next Tuesday

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML010425

It is hard to understand why the Final is on the Friday not the Saturday as is the usual
(Vic school holidays start the Saturday - it may have helped recruit a few holiday-makers)

This year the cup is named in honour of past president Barry Bottoms
For several years Tasco Petroleum has been a magnificent sponsor of the cup
Previously the final was for a very attractive $50k or $60k but it is back to $25k this year.

[Messenger]

The final for tomorrow night

[Messenger]

Well driven Matthew Craven

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML040425#MLC04042501