Auckland Reactor sets out on Inters mission

[Maorisidol]

see this story...http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=94991

"A start in the 2012 Inter Dominion Championships depends entirely on how the son of Mach Three comes through a couple of Free-For-All races (starting on Friday week) at Melton's Tabcorp Park later this month."

Guess ill be driving out to Melton in 2 weeks time...will b great to see him in Melbourne.

[triplev123]

Let's just hope that he gets to the gate in one piece and that, on the eve of the race, he's not abducted and extensively probed by Extraterrestrials...or that a South American Pigmy stowaway with mischief on his mind doesn't emerge from a carelessly left unlocked shipping container armed with a blow pipe and fire a posioned dart into his backside...or that the horse doesn't suffer some sort of a Demonic Possession episode or similar. :rolleyes:

[Lucky Camilla"s Lovechild]

An enigma wrapped in a connundrom! Auckland Reactor not VVV.

[Maorisidol]

Let's just hope that he gets to the gate in one piece and that, on the eve of the race, he's not abducted and extensively probed by Extraterrestrials...or that a South American Pigmy stowaway with mischief on his mind doesn't emerge from a carelessly left unlocked shipping container armed with a blow pipe and fire a posioned dart into his backside...or that the horse doesn't suffer some sort of a Demonic Possession episode or similar. :rolleyes:

hook line and sinker Jaimie, didnt take u long at all...

[triplev123]

Old habits die hard.

[Itisi]

Just a thought, maybe they send him over to Luke, going by threads on the other link he would be good thing in any race

[Maorisidol]

Just a thought, maybe they send him over to Luke, going by threads on the other link he would be good thing in any race

Mick as much as I u may b joking, I think that would absolutely make him as a horse.
Look what Franco Jamar did, I reckon Reactor would do even better...

[Trotter]

So luke is better then purdon now??? Franco jamar galloped more times then anything, yes he won a few over here but I honestly don't think he improved at all

[aussiebreno]

So luke is better then purdon now??? Franco jamar galloped more times then anything, yes he won a few over here but I honestly don't think he improved at all

A distant also ran who started long odds in the ID to a 3rd favourite in the Miracle Mile?

I think thats improvement.
Whether McCarthy was the reason I don't know (eg horse was only 4 last season) but the horse definitely improved imo.

[triplev123]

So luke is better then purdon now??? Franco jamar galloped more times then anything, yes he won a few over here but I honestly don't think he improved at all

[VVV] I reckon Trainers to horses are like a woman to the eye or a bottle of wine to the palate. I've got a mate who likes women with thick calves and fat ankles & he drinks Houghtons White Burgundy. Seperately or combined, each would kill a brown dog so work that one out.
Similarly, it is simply not possible that any one Trainer can be all things to every single horse. It's a different racing code I know however a friend of mine has a good piece of a TB that was sacked by 4, that's right, 4 high profile, well known & successful Trainers...only to ultimately see a kind of relative knockabout get hold of the horse, work out a few things that were not quite right with it and get it going forward like a train without a station.

[Maorisidol]

So luke is better then purdon now??? Franco jamar galloped more times then anything, yes he won a few over here but I honestly don't think he improved at all

Trotter , mate that is one of the best examples of spurting out oral garbage before your brain has a chance to know what happened.

When he joined Luke,
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
Won
7th
Won
Miracle Mile 5th
$138,175 This Season in Australia...

"I honestly don't think he improved at all" wanna think about that again?

[teecee]

[QUOTE=Maorisidol;15515]Trotter , mate that is one of the best examples of spurting out oral garbage before your brain has a chance to know what happened.


I have a feeling you can think of a better way to express your views than what I see above.
It is fair enough for someone to express the view that LM did not improve Franco Jamar such that he can win 6 for Luke. The horse came to him as a 12 race winner in his homeland racing against stronger opposition on the whole than Luke has generally asked him to compete against. As Luke has previously said about the horse..."I got him at the right time"....having come off a close second to David Hercules....(reputedly one of Australia's better animals).. in the Breeder's Crown.

[Trotter]

He already won 12 and came over here with huge huge wraps with them aiming at MM. Horse didn't improve and raced the best in nz. Luke stated he got him at right time and all he had too do was throw a bridle on him race day and keep him ticking over. Wake up to yourself Ash you make yourself sound like a fool in that post. My "oral garbage" is nothin on the crap dribblin off your chin champ palleeassee

[Maorisidol]

He already won 12 and came over here with huge huge wraps with them aiming at MM. Horse didn't improve and raced the best in nz. Luke stated he got him at right time and all he had too do was throw a bridle on him race day and keep him ticking over. Wake up to yourself Ash you make yourself sound like a fool in that post. My "oral garbage" is nothin on the crap dribblin off your chin champ palleeassee

No worries Trotter, i may have gone a bit hard on you a bit quick, but when u say things like "Franco jamar galloped more times then anything" but he WON 5 out of 7, it kinda implies he didnt run well...
and then "yes he won a few over here" again, 5/7!!! 2/7 is a few to me...
now i dont know what mile rates he won in back in NZ, and i assume not too many 1609's but putting a couple of 1:51 MR's a 52 and a 53 winning MR i reckon thats pretty impressive, and in my humble opinion it will have made him a better and particularly faster horse, we'll see when he resumes in NZ.
His Vic Cup effort was massive.

[Trotter]

Yes Vic cup big run. Note tho he did gallop out in 2 starts that he won... Remember???

[Maorisidol]

see this story...http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=94991

"A start in the 2012 Inter Dominion Championships depends entirely on how the son of Mach Three comes through a couple of Free-For-All races (starting on Friday week) at Melton's Tabcorp Park later this month."

Guess ill be driving out to Melton in 2 weeks time...will b great to see him in Melbourne.

Great to see the Reactor in the flesh in Ballarat.
Raced in the death for last mile, broke Bondys track record by 1 second, and he has to be better next week for Hunter Cup.

[M.John]

He was good, seems to have settled down alot, steps away and isnt latching on and pulling himself into the ground. But as good as he went last night he wont get past Jaccka Clive next week.

[teecee]

He was good, seems to have settled down alot, steps away and isnt latching on and pulling himself into the ground. But as good as he went last night he wont get past Jaccka Clive next week.

What an Extraordinary statement..!!!!

[Maorisidol]

He was good, seems to have settled down alot, steps away and isnt latching on and pulling himself into the ground. But as good as he went last night he wont get past Jaccka Clive next week.

You gotta ask yourself M.John, is Reactor a death seat horse?
I'd say not.
Will he improve on his first run in 12 weeks where he sat in the death and ran a track record?
I think so.
Can he beat Jaccka Clive?
Gotta agree with teecee here...Hell Yeah!

[M.John]

Jaccka Clive is the perfect hunter cup horse. Steps, tough, run all day. He will be off the front, if he steps away he will bully his way to the front and will be mighty hard to beat. I wouldn't be lining up to back Auckland Reactor. Yes he should improve, no he definitely won't sit in the death and win next week and with Purdon driving him he will be given every chance but how many times in the pas few years has everyone got all exited about this horse for everything to come un done.

How ism statement unbelievable? How is Jaccka Clives run last week not the perfect Hunter Cup trial. Goes that good this week and he'll win.

[Harold Parker]

I've been impressed with Mach Wiper from behind the mobile and even more so from the stand.

[teecee]

Jaccka Clive is the perfect hunter cup horse. Steps, tough, run all day. He will be off the front, if he steps away he will bully his way to the front and will be mighty hard to beat. I wouldn't be lining up to back Auckland Reactor. Yes he should improve, no he definitely won't sit in the death and win next week and with Purdon driving him he will be given every chance but how many times in the pas few years has everyone got all exited about this horse for everything to come un done.

How ism statement unbelievable? How is Jaccka Clives run last week not the perfect Hunter Cup trial. Goes that good this week and he'll win.

I didn't say your statement was unbelievable.
It's believable but solely because of the uncertainty of racing.

Hunter Cups aren't won by horses as you describe JACCKA CLIVE to be. They also need brilliance, speed at the end of 3000m and CLASS to win Hunter Cups.

IMO as this campaign progesses you will see a different Reactor from previous seasons and Oz campaigns just as Kiwis saw a different Reactor Oct / Nov from what they were used to.

[M.John]

Bondy was a hunter cup horse all over and won it. I think Jaccka Clive will win it in a similar manner. If he get the front, look at the sectionals the horse can reel off all day, mighty hard to run down and in my opinion Auckland Reactor doesn't worry me. 30, 30, 29, 27. That's a very nice run and I'm happy to see the horse going well but it doesn't compare to Jaccka Clives Run last week .. 28, 31, 28, 27 and he was doing work the whole way. But you are right the great uncertainty of racing. Anything can happen this week but all I'm doing is simply stating my point of view.

[Old Frank]

I didn't say your statement was unbelievable.

It's believable but solely because of the uncertainty of racing.

Hunter Cups aren't won by horses as you describe JACCKA CLIVE to be. They also need brilliance, speed at the end of 3000m and CLASS to win Hunter Cups.

IMO as this campaign progesses you will see a different Reactor from previous seasons and Oz campaigns just as Kiwis saw a different Reactor Oct / Nov from what they were used to.



Currently that CLASS your honing in on hasn't seen Auckland Reactor sighted and get anywhere near hot in Australia in any big race.

Winning a FFA at Ballarat doesn't constitute he's a given in the Hunter Cup by any means.

The horse is on the 'gunna' list for mine when it comes to big races over here. I could be wrong however but that's where he sits for me.

[Old Frank]

I've been impressed with Mach Wiper from behind the mobile and even more so from the stand.



I agree, mainly from an odds perspective. He'd have to be a nice each-way price in a Hunter Cup you would think.

[Viv Strangman]

Currently that CLASS your honing in on hasn't seen Auckland Reactor sighted and get anywhere near hot in Australia in any big race.

Winning a FFA at Ballarat doesn't constitute he's a given in the Hunter Cup by any means.

The horse is on the 'gunna' list for mine when it comes to big races over here. I could be wrong however but that's where he sits for me.
Auckland Reactor has only raced in Australia four times in his life so why you make comments like those above are beyond me. He seems to be that kind of horse though, attracting more negative comment than a politican. Some horses just seem to get saddled with that their whole careers regardless of what they do on the track. Mr Feelgood attracts the same kind of response in NZ. His record says he is a great horse but his performances in NZ (11 starts, no wins ) means he is not regarded with the same respect he has in Australia or North America. Must make sucess for the trainers and owners of horses like Auckland Reactor and Mr Feelgood taste that much better when the knockers have to turn the volume down for a while when they win a race.

[Old Frank]

Auckland Reactor has only raced in Australia four times in his life so why you make comments like those above are beyond me. He seems to be that kind of horse though, attracting more negative comment than a politician. Some horses just seem to get saddled with that their whole careers regardless of what they do on the track. Mr Feelgood attracts the same kind of response in NZ. His record says he is a great horse but his performances in NZ (11 starts, no wins ) means he is not regarded with the same respect he has in Australia or North America. Must make success for the trainers and owners of horses like Auckland Reactor and Mr Feelgood taste that much better when the knockers have to turn the volume down for a while when they win a race.


Shame your glamour horse has done diddly squat here, as you will say no doubt that Mr Feelgood has done there, but your bloke had his best years 'age racing' and winning the majority of 3yr/4yr old features.

Yes Reactor did win a NZ FFA and Auckland Cup on the Kiwi side of the ditch, but then if your going to compare, I'd rather have Mr Feelgood's record over here in Aust. with a Hunter Cup / Victoria Cup / Inter-Dominion and a couple of QLD Pacing Champs, not too mention recently a Cranbourne Cup also. I suppose the Kiwi's are far superior horseman than ours and don't rate those achievements when compared to NZ's finest. Must make the USA horseman look idiots then for rating him because he won some little insignificant race over there called The Little Brown Jug?

Over here, Reactor hasn't done squat for the boom you have Kiwi's have placed on him from the outset. He's a fine horse, but he stay's a 'gunna' with me over here until he wins a big one. Time will tell and as I said earlier I could be wrong.

[Viv Strangman]

I am assuming you can read but with your reply I have my doubts. I think you need to read the post again. As I was pointing out some horses seem to attract the knockers like flies to shite. Mr Feelgood attracts the same kind of scorn in NZ as Auckland Reactor does in Australia, the knockers having a field day when they dont win. Is that fair to both horses, No its not but that doesnt stop the knockers does it.

[Old Frank]

Admin / Mods:

Since this isn't North Korea or China last time I looked, can you please enlighten me into why you have edited my post (post #27) under the term 'Removed attacks' when I don't recall in anyway where I originally did?

I'm being serious as I'm quite offended that my opinion is edited when I don't feel I've attacked anyone. I feel I contributed sensibly to various topics on here and if I've genuinely offended I'm the first to throw my hands up but I think this is over the top.

Could you please advise?

[Old Frank]

I am assuming you can read but with your reply I have my doubts. I think you need to read the post again. As I was pointing out some horses seem to attract the knockers like flies to shite. Mr Feelgood attracts the same kind of scorn in NZ as Auckland Reactor does in Australia, the knockers having a field day when they dont win. Is that fair to both horses, No its not but that doesnt stop the knockers does it.



Viv,

Yes I can read, hence my comments were putting some context on Mr Feelgood's achievements.

I openly stated Auckland Reactor's a fine horse, however, and surely would have to admit, over here in Australia, he's been disappointing for the 'superstar' tag he has been labelled with from early on. He's had a liturgy of excuses for this, that and the other whenever he hasn't won, both here and over in NZ and will remain a 'gunna' with me until he wins a big one over here.

He's never got hot in Australia and I did say, winning a FFA at Ballarat doesn't constitute being a given in this week's Hunter Cup.

Time will tell and I could be wrong? Won't be the first time, won't be the last, but to me, he's a powder puff champion because the majority (not all, but majority) of his major results on his CV are age based wins.

[admin]

Admin / Mods:

Since this isn't North Korea or China last time I looked, can you please enlighten me into why you have edited my post (post #27) under the term 'Removed attacks' when I don't recall in anyway where I originally did?

I'm being serious as I'm quite offended that my opinion is edited when I don't feel I've attacked anyone. I feel I contributed sensibly to various topics on here and if I've genuinely offended I'm the first to throw my hands up but I think this is over the top.

Could you please advise?

You were being a bit rude to Viv Strangman. I left the substance of your post alone, but removed comments implying she was stupid for comparing Mr. Feelgood's rep in NZ to AR's rep in Australia. Your fine to say that the two aren't comparable, but you don't need to put anybody down whilst doing so.

No it's not North Korea, but we do have rules, which you agreed to upon signing up. The comparison is a tad dramatic imo.

[Old Frank]

You were being a bit rude to Viv Strangman. I left the substance of your post alone, but removed comments implying she was stupid for comparing Mr. Feelgood's rep in NZ to AR's rep in Australia. Your fine to say that the two aren't comparable, but you don't need to put anybody down whilst doing so.

No it's not North Korea, but we do have rules, which you agreed to upon signing up. The comparison is a tad dramatic imo.




In no way did I say Viv Strangman was stupid (your words).

'Implying' is your interpretation which in this case you are wrong.

What's the difference from Viv Strangman's post towards me in other posts - "I am assuming you can read but with your reply I have my doubts".

Is that not 'being a bit rude as you put it'? Is that not 'putting someone down' as you put it?

I'll be rude now, [edited]

I know you'll delete this, so again, stick your forum [edited] Please take this as being rude as it's exactly how I intend it.

From Admin:

Look man, all I did was edit a couple of sentences you wrote which I thought somebody might take offence to, as I didn't want this thread to turn into a war. That's my job, and it's not easy. You asked for a response, and I gave you an honest one in a timely manner. I really don't know why you would react with such hostility.

[Viv Strangman]

As I have pointed out a few times now people love to be knockers in this industry. Instead of celebrating the champions we have in our industry they love to try to cut the tall poppies down to their level. To call a horse that has won 28 out of 40 a powder puff and a gunna is par for the course for the knockers. So even if he wins the Hunter Cup or the Inters will he ever be given the recognition he deserves in Australia. Not a chance

[Maorisidol]

Shame your glamour horse has done diddly squat here, as you will say no doubt that Mr Feelgood has done there, but your bloke had his best years 'age racing' and winning the majority of 3yr/4yr old features.

Yes Reactor did win a NZ FFA and Auckland Cup on the Kiwi side of the ditch, but then if your going to compare, I'd rather have Mr Feelgood's record over here in Aust. with a Hunter Cup / Victoria Cup / Inter-Dominion and a couple of QLD Pacing Champs, not too mention recently a Cranbourne Cup also. I suppose the Kiwi's are far superior horseman than ours and don't rate those achievements when compared to NZ's finest. Must make the USA horseman look idiots then for rating him because he won some little insignificant race over there called The Little Brown Jug?

Over here, Reactor hasn't done squat for the boom you have Kiwi's have placed on him from the outset. He's a fine horse, but he stay's a 'gunna' with me over here until he wins a big one. Time will tell and as I said earlier I could be wrong.

Hey Old Frank fair call AR has not done huge things in his 4 races in Aust before Ballarat, however he did win a heat of the ID didn't he?
Anyway, do u remember the ID Final and what he did in that race?
Check the replay and watch his driver Gavin Lang hanging out of the bike. In 30 years of seeing Gavin drive in Victoria in thousands of races I have NEVER seen him drive a horse who pulled that hard. I have never in 30 years seen Gavin hanging out the back nearly horizontal, 2 straight legs, 2 straight arms absolutely struggling to hang on.
Now how can a horse race like that and expect to compete?
Sure he didn't live up to his superstar status in those Qld runs but yes, he had excuses. He has PROVED to b better than that as u say in his NZ FFA and Auckland Cup win where he smashed the likes of the Monkey and Changeover. No question, best horse on the day in those 2 races. So just cos he travels overseas and doesn't perform to what he can doesn't mean he is not a great horse.
It's the same as I'm Themightyquinn traveling from WA to Melbourne recently, he ran beneath his ability due to being dehydrated. These are animals not machines and different places different atmospheres different climates effect all horses differently. When Butts had Feelgood in Oz he won things went great, they took him to NZ he ran nowhere, he came back to Oz and he is back to running up to his potential winning stuff. He went back to NZ for ID last year, ran well but not the best Feelgood IMO.

[Old Frank]

Hey Old Frank fair call AR has not done huge things in his 4 races in Aust before Ballarat, however he did win a heat of the ID didn't he?
Anyway, do u remember the ID Final and what he did in that race?

Check the replay and watch his driver Gavin Lang hanging out of the bike. In 30 years of seeing Gavin drive in Victoria in thousands of races I have NEVER seen him drive a horse who pulled that hard. I have never in 30 years seen Gavin hanging out the back nearly horizontal, 2 straight legs, 2 straight arms absolutely struggling to hang on.
Now how can a horse race like that and expect to compete?

Sure he didn't live up to his superstar status in those Qld runs but yes, he had excuses. He has PROVED to b better than that as u say in his NZ FFA and Auckland Cup win where he smashed the likes of the Monkey and Changeover. No question, best horse on the day in those 2 races. So just cos he travels overseas and doesn't perform to what he can doesn't mean he is not a great horse.

It's the same as I'm Themightyquinn traveling from WA to Melbourne recently, he ran beneath his ability due to being dehydrated. These are animals not machines and different places different atmospheres different climates effect all horses differently. When Butts had Feelgood in Oz he won things went great, they took him to NZ he ran nowhere, he came back to Oz and he is back to running up to his potential winning stuff. He went back to NZ for ID last year, ran well but not the best Feelgood IMO.



See here in lies the problem for me Maori's. Another set of excuses for his performances - "Oh he pulled, Gavin was hanging out the back, etc, etc". He's always had injuries, oh he doesn't step, etc, etc)

There just always seems to be something to this horse and his performances, yet Viv and the Kiwi's looking through their rose-coloured glasses critique us Aussies who dare keep some context on his performances/career.

Facts stand, he's won two GC events, with another 5-6 'age' events through his 3-4yr old seasons and has been a fine horse. However being in fair dinkum department, his record doesn't stack up on both sides of the ditch when measuring real races against some of his fellow compatriots such as Christian Cullen, Elsu, Changeover, Monkey King, Holmes DG and his age yrs, especially his three (3) yr record's not a pinch to Courage Under Fire (who's is!). Again I'll repeat, he's a fine horse, but it doesn't make me a knocker for having an opinion that put's a different (and based on logic) perspective.

I wouldn't even bring ITMQ into it as last time I looked, he's an Auckland Cup winner, multiple heat winner and final winner of the ID - over there, plus Cranbourne Cup winner on the Eastern seaboard. He doesn't win every race when traveling, but he's winning the big one's also so his record more than stacks up. His GC record at home in WA is off the map so again, not even worth comparing Reactor to him, flawed argument.

Viv brought Mr Feelgood into the discussion and his lack of wins in Kiwi land and not garnering respect by Kiwi's yet that is such as flippant perspective to take considering he's performed in two (2) hemispheres, whereas last time I looked, Reactor left the USA with his tale between his legs and hasn't packed any real punch in Australia.

One FFA win at Ballarat doesn't constitute being a given in this week's Hunter Cup (although in perspective, it's a poor year due to closely clashing with the ID), however if he wins, good luck to him and the connections.

I stand by my comments, Reactor's a 'gunna' over here as his performances to date don't match anywhere near the reputation and he's a media build-up so far to the levels people now revere him. Some people would have you think this is the greatest horse to come out of Kiwi land, yet facts and figures say he's not even close.

In my opinion again, if he raced consistently in Victoria, he wouldn't win better than 1 in 3-4 times he steps out in FFA company down there, that's about his level.

[Old Frank]

As I have pointed out a few times now people love to be knockers in this industry. Instead of celebrating the champions we have in our industry they love to try to cut the tall poppies down to their level. To call a horse that has won 28 out of 40 a powder puff and a gunna is par for the course for the knockers. So even if he wins the Hunter Cup or the Inters will he ever be given the recognition he deserves in Australia. Not a chance



Your completely and utterly incorrect there Viv. He's a fine horse but facts stand, he's not outstanding at all up to this point in Australia and even in NZ, his record is no better than the likes of Christian Cullen, Elsu, Changeover, Monkey King, Holmes DG and as for age racing in his 3yr old season, Courage blows him out of the water.

He's a fine horse and will get his due recognition in Australia should he win our big races - as the horses I noted did.

It doesn't make me a 'knocker' nor anyone for that matter having an opinion that differs to yours. I'm basing mine on logic and records. So what if he's won 28 from 40, facts are he's always had excuses to this, that or the other (he pulls, he's injured, he doesn't step, not quite right, etc, etc) and he hasn't even won your biggest event (NZ Cup) yet you Kiwi's want us to buy in on the wonder horse reputation and revere him.

You noted Mr Feelgood not getting recognition in Kiwi land yet he's a horse who's performed in two hemispheres, Reactor left the USA with his tale between his legs so any Kiwi judging Feelgood against Reactor and critisicing Feelgood just isn't basing it on logic.

Reactor is a fine horse and good luck to the connections for his future events. If he wins big races over here, he will be more than recognised accordingly.

Doesn't make you a 'knocker' for having perspective.

[Viv Strangman]

Mr Feelgood has had 11 starts in NZ for NO wins. Using your lodgic he is just an over hyped horse of moderate ability going by his NZ record. However his overall record says otherwise.Outside of NZ he has a fantastic record but the fact remains in NZ his record is terrible. You cant ignore it but you dont let it cloud your thinking either. I have been lucky enough to have seen Mr Feelgood race in North America, Australia and NZ and know what an outstanding racehorse he is. His abject failure in NZ doesnt fit the ability of the horse ive seen race overseas. And that is the problem I see with your analysis of Auckland Reactor. His NZ record is outstanding. He has won 26 of 33 here which includes 3 races where he lost a hundred from a SS. Any race he starts in he is odds on. He has only had 13 starts in the last 28 months in 3 different countries due to various issues so to write him off as you do is unfair and lacking in judgement. Will he show his true worth in Australia. Jurys out. But what isnt in doubt is the respect he has in NZ for what he has already achieved. Its not often I agree with Mark Purdon but his often repeated quote that Auckland Reactor is best horse he has trained or driven sums him up beautifully.

[Maorisidol]

Viv said, "I have been lucky enough to have seen Mr Feelgood race in North America, Australia and NZ and know what an outstanding racehorse he is. His abject failure in NZ doesnt fit the ability of the horse ive seen race overseas"
this is the kind of point i was trying to use as an example with ITMQ's recent Melbourne form Old Frank,
we all know ITMQ is better than that we know he has more ability than that but on the day the "animal" had issues.
In Qld Reactor had issues, simple, why would Purdon make such a statement about him and embarrass himself if he didnt think the horse had the ability.
and again 13 starts in the last 2 years 4 months? An unfortunate waste of time to USA (mind you he did run 4th i think personally running 1:49 i believe!) which took such a long time off the track in NZ or Oz where he could have WOULD have continued on with his NZ FFA and Auckland Cup form...
For the record this "fine horse" has raced Monkey King 11 times in his career and Reactor has beaten that Champion 7 times including a win running a last 400 in 53.8. Yep, i said 53.8 its on hrnz.co.nz if you wish to check out Reactors record.
Now for me thats no Fine horse.
Yes he hasnt produced that here in Oz in his 4-5 races but he has proved he can do amazing things, fact.

i agree he has been hyped like crazy but i do believe he is certainly better than a "fine horse", Decorated Jasper is my definition of a fine horse and hes won $350K. Not many fine horses win 1.5 Million dollars as Reactor has or beaten Champs like the Monkey who has won 3.3 Million, 63% of the time they race.

Regards the Hunter Cup i have reservations he will win because even tho the Ballarat track record from the death seat in his first race in many many months was great, he needs to be even better than that to be the "best" he can be as he was pre USA in NZ.
Anyway ill be in the stand cheering him on in Melton looking forward to a spectacular race night, Derby, Trotters ID Final and Consolation, Hunter Cup, Angelique Cup for mares, 4YO Bonanza, and a FFA with some horse called Smoken Up, gotta be Australia's best night at the trots doesnt it?

[Old Frank]

Viv said, "I have been lucky enough to have seen Mr Feelgood race in North America, Australia and NZ and know what an outstanding racehorse he is. His abject failure in NZ doesnt fit the ability of the horse ive seen race overseas"

this is the kind of point i was trying to use as an example with ITMQ's recent Melbourne form Old Frank, we all know ITMQ is better than that we know he has more ability than that but on the day the "animal" had issues.

In Qld Reactor had issues, simple, why would Purdon make such a statement about him and embarrass himself if he didnt think the horse had the ability.

and again 13 starts in the last 2 years 4 months? An unfortunate waste of time to USA (mind you he did run 4th i think personally running 1:49 i believe!) which took such a long time off the track in NZ or Oz where he could have WOULD have continued on with his NZ FFA and Auckland Cup form...

For the record this "fine horse" has raced Monkey King 11 times in his career and Reactor has beaten that Champion 7 times including a win running a last 400 in 53.8. Yep, i said 53.8 its on hrnz.co.nz if you wish to check out Reactors record.

Now for me thats no Fine horse.

Yes he hasnt produced that here in Oz in his 4-5 races but he has proved he can do amazing things, fact.

i agree he has been hyped like crazy but i do believe he is certainly better than a "fine horse", Decorated Jasper is my definition of a fine horse and hes won $350K. Not many fine horses win 1.5 Million dollars as Reactor has or beaten Champs like the Monkey who has won 3.3 Million, 63% of the time they race.

Regards the Hunter Cup i have reservations he will win because even tho the Ballarat track record from the death seat in his first race in many many months was great, he needs to be even better than that to be the "best" he can be as he was pre USA in NZ.
Anyway ill be in the stand cheering him on in Melton looking forward to a spectacular race night, Derby, Trotters ID Final and Consolation, Hunter Cup, Angelique Cup for mares, 4YO Bonanza, and a FFA with some horse called Smoken Up, gotta be Australia's best night at the trots doesnt it?



Great night's racing this Saturday night and very envious not being there myself.

Maori's - when summarising, are you saying Reactor's better because he's beaten Monkey 63% of the time they have raced? No probs with me my friend, but I'll take the Monkey with his 37% of the time, but complimented by the fact that he has a double and sum superior prize money balance, not to mention far superior race quality winning CV any day of the week.

At the end of the day, my criteria I thought I clearly pointed out was judging the animal on the quality of races won and again, if your being fair dinkum, any of the horses I named have far superior race records than Reactor on quality races won.

As for saying he's a fine horse, well fact is, he is. What do you want me to do, go all giddy at the knees like you and laud him a champion, a legend, what would you like me to call him to satisfy you? On my judging criteria, I don't rate him a champion and I'm probably a hard marker to be fair as I've been very fortunate to be around some great horseflesh, however that's not to say I'm right because we all judge a horse and his/her status differently.

If Reactor win's a Hunter Cup and ID, I'd most certainly call him a champion as he would have well earned the title, but up to this point, he's a fine horse, but apologies if I'm not starstruck and lauding over him as you and others appear to do. No probs either, if he's a champion in your eyes, happy days and certainly no issue with me you calling him whatever you please.

In relation to ITMQ, you've missed my point, yes he recently had issues in his Melbourne campaign, but fact is, he went to NZ and did the business and has run's on the board, the point Reactor has failed to do here.

Take a look at the attached link with story from Chris Barsby posted today online, even he describes Reactor as an "enigmatic star", does that constitute him being a knocker?

http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=95453

Part of the opening paragraph from the said article -

"The enigmatic star is lauded in his homeland as a champion but Australian enthusiasts see him in a totally different light with only two victories from five starts in this country..."

[Old Frank]

Mr Feelgood has had 11 starts in NZ for NO wins. Using your lodgic he is just an over hyped horse of moderate ability going by his NZ record. However his overall record says otherwise.Outside of NZ he has a fantastic record but the fact remains in NZ his record is terrible. You cant ignore it but you dont let it cloud your thinking either. I have been lucky enough to have seen Mr Feelgood race in North America, Australia and NZ and know what an outstanding racehorse he is. His abject failure in NZ doesnt fit the ability of the horse ive seen race overseas. And that is the problem I see with your analysis of Auckland Reactor. His NZ record is outstanding. He has won 26 of 33 here which includes 3 races where he lost a hundred from a SS. Any race he starts in he is odds on. He has only had 13 starts in the last 28 months in 3 different countries due to various issues so to write him off as you do is unfair and lacking in judgement. Will he show his true worth in Australia. Jurys out. But what isnt in doubt is the respect he has in NZ for what he has already achieved. Its not often I agree with Mark Purdon but his often repeated quote that Auckland Reactor is best horse he has trained or driven sums him up beautifully.

No actually Viv, I never said any such logic basing either Feelgood or Reactor as moderate class horses. I clearly stated Reactor was a fine horse (on numerous occassions did I state this). I actually stated that in my opinion, Reactor's record / cv wasn't worth the hype in which he is revered and then when compared to 5-6 other Kiwi horses, his CV nowhere near stacked up when judged on quality races won.

Will Reactor show his true worth in Australia, yes only time will tell and on Saturday obviously he get's a great chance too.

Mark Purdon can say what he wishes. I've lost count at trainers saying that "this horse is the best thing I've ever sat behind". In saying that, I'll give Mark respect as an experienced horseman and yes, Reactor could full well be the best horse he's sat behind/trained. Shame though his race record, especially in Australia which is where I was predominantly saying he lacks doesn't justify the statement.

Nothing would be better for harness racing that a winning Reactor showcasing all these so-called wonder horse attributes the Kiwi's keep spruiking about but until this point, really on the grand stage (Grand Circuit stage, not age racing), we've only seen spurts/glimpses of.

Take a look at the attached link with story from Chris Barsby posted today online, even he describes Reactor as an "enigmatic star", does that constitute him being a knocker?

http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=95453

Part of the opening paragraph from the said article -

"The enigmatic star is lauded in his homeland as a champion but Australian enthusiasts see him in a totally different light with only two victories from five starts in this country..."

[Harold Parker]

I got to see him to see him in the flesh ... in the States. He's no Cardigan Bay that's for sure.

I watched a few of his bigger wins in NZ, the majority of them appear to be a Half Mile sprints to the wire off soft halves after being gifted the front by a mate or a mate of a mate. Is there a race I missed over a trip where he's worked on the clock and dug deep ? don't say last week : )

[Viv Strangman]

I got to see him to see him in the flesh ... in the States. He's no Cardigan Bay that's for sure.

I watched a few of his bigger wins in NZ, the majority of them appear to be a Half Mile sprints to the wire off soft halves after being gifted the front by a mate or a mate of a mate. Is there a race I missed over a trip where he's worked on the clock and dug deep ? don't say last week : )
Not a hard one Harold. Either of his wins in the Auckland Cup or NZffa would fit the bill. Drew the outside of the gate in the Auckland Cup, dropped out to last, looped them midrace and brained them . Note the two getting the soft runs (Monkey King, Changeover) who after getting great trips cant get close. But Im more interested in these soft wins in the big races Harold. Please tell me what races you are referring too because I have been on track for most of them and for the life of me cant figure which races you are referring to

[Old Frank]

Not a hard one Harold. Either of his wins in the Auckland Cup or NZffa would fit the bill. Drew the outside of the gate in the Auckland Cup, dropped out to last, looped them midrace and brained them . Note the two getting the soft runs (Monkey King, Changeover) who after getting great trips cant get close. But Im more interested in these soft wins in the big races Harold. Please tell me what races you are referring too because I have been on track for most of them and for the life of me cant figure which races you are referring to



Hey Viv, I like how you threw in that your beloved Reactor beat Monkey and Changeover (getting soft runs) but the facts still stand which your unable to accept, their records winning the right races (the big GC events) which how horses getting really judged on this side of the ditch isn't as good.

With your logic, because Reactor beat Monkey and Changeover, he's obviously the best NZ has produced, yet last time I looked, Monkey and Changeover came over here and beat our best, so we Aussies would have to accept that Monkey and Changeover must be better than Blacks a Fake, Smoken Up and the like? Is that the case you'd like us to accept?

Monkey and Changeover beat our best, as well as beating your best in Kiwi land, a feat your bloke hasn't up to this point done over here, or in your part of the world done on a consistent basis over there.

Every race consititutes a different set of circumstances, records are what horses are judged by and whilst I know it eats at you compared to how you judge the horse, the Kiwi horses I named all have superior 'real' racing records than Reactor, end of. Actually I was guilty of also leaving out Iraklis who was a fantastic horse also who won the big races on both sides of the ditch.

If Reactor wins a Hunter Cup, or an ID (may well win both, but I think he has more chance in the Hunter than the ID due to the tight GP track), then he'll get his due respect here. His reputation goes through the roof should he stay settled and a NZ Cup or Miracle Mile come his way later in the year.

In my opinion, this has to be his season as again, only my opinion but I think Smoken Up is well on the back end of his career, Mr Feelgood certainly won't get any better and age will tell with him, ITMQ has one good season left in him, so this has to be Reactor's next 12 months before horses like Sushi Sushi, Fanco Jamar and the younger brigade start to dominate just due to natural evolvement.

Reactor has a an over-hyped reputation for what his record shows, however again as per my last post, I actually hope he wins a big one over here as Harness Racing overall, as well as importantly the horse enjoy a far greater profile and presence with the likes of him winning big ones.

If you could have a fully wound up Reactor vs. Sushi Sushi later this year, you'd have to salivate as a fan wouldn't you? Any Harness Racing club on either side of the ditch would want that race on their card!

[Maorisidol]

Nathan, i love the Reactor and think he still is an untapped entity who has shown undoubtedly he can race against and beat the best going around.
Now yes he has beaten Monkey 7 out of 11 but i still dont personally claim he will go down in history YET as a better horse AS FAR AS HIS CV GOES.
His CV is still being added to.
The horses you mention have all retired (maybe not Monkey yet?) and completed their careers, his is an unfinished book at this point, so i dont believe we can say he is a better horse as far as HISTORY will assess him cos he aint finished yet, and therefore unfair to compare CAREERS when he is still adding to his.
Again my point is he has showed more "talent" when racing against the Monkey although i agree Nathan the Monkeys CV is totally better on paper.
And yes mate he has done jack in Australia in the big league so far. However he has racked up an ID heat while not even at his best.
You dont seem to acknowledge apart from saying he is "fine" that he has loads of talent (53.8 last quarter winning, how many horses can do that?)
I dont say he is the best horse in NZ or Aus currently and i dont claim he is better than Monkey, Elsu etc etc etc, YET...
You seem to not be getting my ITMQ example regardless of running well in NZ or bad in Melbourne, point is they are all animals and sometimes run good sometimes run bad, thats all... You seem to excuse ITMQ for his underpar runs here but dont cut Reactor slack on his Qld runs when he went a bit psycho on Gavin kicking his cart, is he not allowed excuses?
Hence just cos Reactor ran "bad" in the ID series doesnt mean he cant run good this time, we had good signs at Ballarat (notice even a track record i still dont say great signs) so hopefully this week being fitter settling in even more he may go to another level up.

[aussiebreno]

Nathan, i love the Reactor and think he still is an untapped entity who has shown undoubtedly he can race against and beat the best going around.
Now yes he has beaten Monkey 7 out of 11 but i still dont personally claim he will go down in history YET as a better horse AS FAR AS HIS CV GOES.
His CV is still being added to.
The horses you mention have all retired (maybe not Monkey yet?) and completed their careers, his is an unfinished book at this point, so i dont believe we can say he is a better horse as far as HISTORY will assess him cos he aint finished yet, and therefore unfair to compare CAREERS when he is still adding to his.
Again my point is he has showed more "talent" when racing against the Monkey although i agree Nathan the Monkeys CV is totally better on paper.
And yes mate he has done jack in Australia in the big league so far. However he has racked up an ID heat while not even at his best.
You dont seem to acknowledge apart from saying he is "fine" that he has loads of talent (53.8 last quarter winning, how many horses can do that?)
I dont say he is the best horse in NZ or Aus currently and i dont claim he is better than Monkey, Elsu etc etc etc, YET...
You seem to not be getting my ITMQ example regardless of running well in NZ or bad in Melbourne, point is they are all animals and sometimes run good sometimes run bad, thats all... You seem to excuse ITMQ for his underpar runs here but dont cut Reactor slack on his Qld runs when he went a bit psycho on Gavin kicking his cart, is he not allowed excuses?
Hence just cos Reactor ran "bad" in the ID series doesnt mean he cant run good this time, we had good signs at Ballarat (notice even a track record i still dont say great signs) so hopefully this week being fitter settling in even more he may go to another level up.
Most horses could run that quarter but I doubt many of them would win when running it!!!

[Harold Parker]

"Drew the outside of the gate in the Auckland Cup, dropped out to last, looped them midrace and brained them."

Last at the 1200m, in front at the 1000m. He was gifted the front with minimal effort and sprinted 300m. The NZ FFA where he copped a little heat, hardly blistering sectionals and caved in soon after straightening, how about that one ? : )

The great ones climb off the canvas, win when really they shouldn't and I can't find one example of it. I have seen quite a few times though when he's had the opportunity to do that and punctured ... and always an excuse or three.

They take no prisoners in WA, that's going to be interesting...

[Viv Strangman]

"Drew the outside of the gate in the Auckland Cup, dropped out to last, looped them midrace and brained them."

Last at the 1200m, in front at the 1000m. He was gifted the front with minimal effort and sprinted 300m. The NZ FFA where he copped a little heat, hardly blistering sectionals and caved in soon after straightening, how about that one ? : )

The great ones climb off the canvas, win when really they shouldn't and I can't find one example of it. I have seen quite a few times though when he's had the opportunity to do that and punctured ... and always an excuse or three.

They take no prisoners in WA, that's going to be interesting...

The win at Auckland was a NZ record until broken by Smoken Up during the inters. 1:58:2 MR over 2700 metres. Or sitting parked outside Changeover in the NZFFAand bolting clear in 1:54MR for 2000 metres. But I get back to your original quote of him winning big races with soft trips. Please tell me which races you are referring to. I am keen to have a look at these races. Just atip. Try to avoid races where he sets NZ records.

[Maorisidol]

"Drew the outside of the gate in the Auckland Cup, dropped out to last, looped them midrace and brained them."

Last at the 1200m, in front at the 1000m. He was gifted the front with minimal effort and sprinted 300m. The NZ FFA where he copped a little heat, hardly blistering sectionals and caved in soon after straightening, how about that one ? : )

The great ones climb off the canvas, win when really they shouldn't and I can't find one example of it. I have seen quite a few times though when he's had the opportunity to do that and punctured ... and always an excuse or three.

They take no prisoners in WA, that's going to be interesting...

Harold, re the FFA where he "copped a little heat" from the renowned sit sprinter Awesome Ambro, stablemate of Monkey King who sat quietly one out 2 back appreciating the hot pace up front, do you recall that Awesome Ambros driver underwent a pretty thorough very public drilling by stewards and subsequently got a pretty good holiday for i believe not giving his horse the best opportunity to win???
The race caller on the day during the race actually said "they are setting this up for Monkey King" because it was SO out of character for AA to put pressure on when racing in the death. It was only about a 7 horse field and AA could have been snagged back to 1/3 or about 3 pegs.
Monkey subsequently pinged down the outside and won, AA finished about 60 odd metres or so last after galloping under pressure on the home turn.

[Maorisidol]

Most horses could run that quarter but I doubt many of them would win when running it!!!

My bad, 53.8 last HALF...
And i dont think MOST horses could do that at all...not outside the top 10 FFA horses in NZ/AUS combined, especially under race conditions.

[aussiebreno]

My bad, 53.8 last HALF...
And i dont think MOST horses could do that at all...not outside the top 10 FFA horses in NZ/AUS combined, especially under race conditions.
Lol I know.
I think the horse is definitely top 10 in Australasia.

What got me though back when he was a 3yo and a 4yo wasn't the horses fault, but if you believed everything you read this bloke was 10 lengths better than Courage Under Fire and Christian Cullen - this wasn't long after the Kiwis tried to tell us the 4yo mare Mainland Banner was better than her sire as well!
I was very critical of the Reactor back then, he would run 1.54 going halves in 60 and 54 and beat up on no names. What makes a good horse, imo, is running 1.54 by going 58 and 56 and he couldn't do that back then. What he has done since returning from America I'm a fan (I use that term loosely, I could never cheer for a NZer :D ) now the relentless media beat up and 'picket fence' bandwagoners have dropped off.

[Old Frank]

Harold, re the FFA where he "copped a little heat" from the renowned sit sprinter Awesome Ambro, stablemate of Monkey King who sat quietly one out 2 back appreciating the hot pace up front, do you recall that Awesome Ambros driver underwent a pretty thorough very public drilling by stewards and subsequently got a pretty good holiday for i believe not giving his horse the best opportunity to win???

The race caller on the day during the race actually said "they are setting this up for Monkey King" because it was SO out of character for AA to put pressure on when racing in the death. It was only about a 7 horse field and AA could have been snagged back to 1/3 or about 3 pegs.

Monkey subsequently pinged down the outside and won, AA finished about 60 odd metres or so last after galloping under pressure on the home turn.



Maori's, c'mon mate, your nuthugging for this horse has gone too far and your not even making correct statements.

The FFA I assume your referring was the 2009 edition (I was there)

Awesome Armbro WAS NOT a stablemate of Monkey King, it was in fact a stablemate of Changeover. Both were driven by the brothers, Butcher (David and Phillip) and both were trained by Geoff Small.

The caller did say at the 600mtrs that the race was being set up for Monkey (1 out/2back) however he was stating in the context due to such a hot speed which in turn would suit a horse like Monkey (coming off his NZ Cup win a couple of days prior).

It was quite clearly obvious that Small and the Butchers were working to bring Reactor undone for Changeover (1 out/1 back) however Monkey didn't follow their script and wrote his own and raced pass the lot of them.

If your going to charge in here defending Reactor and trying to bag Monkey, at least have your facts right as you look the right dick making clear accusations yet you can't even quote the right horse or stable!

Final Placings / Driver / Trainer -

Monkey King - R.May / B.Hill
Nearea Franco - C D Thornley / S.M. McRae
Changeover - D Butcher / G C Small
Mr Feelgood - A Butt / Butt & Anderson
Auckland Reactor - M Purdon / M Purdon & G R Payne
Awesome Armbro - P A Butcher / G C Small

[Old Frank]

Lol I know.

I think the horse is definitely top 10 in Australasia.

What got me though back when he was a 3yo and a 4yo wasn't the horses fault, but if you believed everything you read this bloke was 10 lengths better than Courage Under Fire and Christian Cullen - this wasn't long after the Kiwis tried to tell us the 4yo mare Mainland Banner was better than her sire as well!

I was very critical of the Reactor back then, he would run 1.54 going halves in 60 and 54 and beat up on no names. What makes a good horse, imo, is running 1.54 by going 58 and 56 and he couldn't do that back then. What he has done since returning from America I'm a fan (I use that term loosely, I could never cheer for a NZer :D ) now the relentless media beat up and 'picket fence' bandwagoners have dropped off.



Well some common sense!

Well said.

For all the hyperbole about Reactor since day one, his CV is still inferior to at least 5-6 Kiwi horses of the last 15years. He may well full turn out to be better than the lot and dominate over the next 18months, but up to this point it just doesn't stack.

Reactor's supporters though want us to believe he's the best horse ever to grace a track

[Old Frank]

Nathan, i love the Reactor and think he still is an untapped entity who has shown undoubtedly he can race against and beat the best going around.
Now yes he has beaten Monkey 7 out of 11 but i still dont personally claim he will go down in history YET as a better horse AS FAR AS HIS CV GOES.
His CV is still being added to.

The horses you mention have all retired (maybe not Monkey yet?) and completed their careers, his is an unfinished book at this point, so i dont believe we can say he is a better horse as far as HISTORY will assess him cos he aint finished yet, and therefore unfair to compare CAREERS when he is still adding to his.

Again my point is he has showed more "talent" when racing against the Monkey although i agree Nathan the Monkeys CV is totally better on paper.

And yes mate he has done jack in Australia in the big league so far. However he has racked up an ID heat while not even at his best.

You dont seem to acknowledge apart from saying he is "fine" that he has loads of talent (53.8 last quarter winning, how many horses can do that?)
I dont say he is the best horse in NZ or Aus currently and i dont claim he is better than Monkey, Elsu etc etc etc, YET...

You seem to not be getting my ITMQ example regardless of running well in NZ or bad in Melbourne, point is they are all animals and sometimes run good sometimes run bad, thats all... You seem to excuse ITMQ for his underpar runs here but dont cut Reactor slack on his Qld runs when he went a bit psycho on Gavin kicking his cart, is he not allowed excuses?

Hence just cos Reactor ran "bad" in the ID series doesnt mean he cant run good this time, we had good signs at Ballarat (notice even a track record i still dont say great signs) so hopefully this week being fitter settling in even more he may go to another level up.



Edit - Found the said race Maori's was noting.

53.8 for his half around Ashburton - 24.10.11.

[2minuteman]

This is going to turn into a meeting behind the toilets at little lunch I reckon.

[aussiebreno]

This is going to turn into a meeting behind the toilets at little lunch I reckon.
Are you posting in this thread as part of your love of harness racing or part of your Dr Phil researching :D

[Maorisidol]

Lol I know.
I think the horse is definitely top 10 in Australasia.

What got me though back when he was a 3yo and a 4yo wasn't the horses fault, but if you believed everything you read this bloke was 10 lengths better than Courage Under Fire and Christian Cullen - this wasn't long after the Kiwis tried to tell us the 4yo mare Mainland Banner was better than her sire as well!
I was very critical of the Reactor back then, he would run 1.54 going halves in 60 and 54 and beat up on no names. What makes a good horse, imo, is running 1.54 by going 58 and 56 and he couldn't do that back then. What he has done since returning from America I'm a fan (I use that term loosely, I could never cheer for a NZer :D ) now the relentless media beat up and 'picket fence' bandwagoners have dropped off.

Brenno, you don't have to run 58 and 56 when u simply don't have to, or need to...if your opposition are not up to it or their drivers too intimidated, u can get away with it, simple.
So its not necessarily that he couldn't do it back then, against other aged horses he had not so much competition. If u check his 3yo races on hrnz u will see ITMQ placed behind him several times but never beat him, not that I could see anyway.

[Maorisidol]

Maori's, c'mon mate, your nuthugging for this horse has gone too far and your not even making correct statements.

The FFA I assume your referring was the 2009 edition (I was there)

Awesome Armbro WAS NOT a stablemate of Monkey King, it was in fact a stablemate of Changeover. Both were driven by the brothers, Butcher (David and Phillip) and both were trained by Geoff Small.

The caller did say at the 600mtrs that the race was being set up for Monkey (1 out/2back) however he was stating in the context due to such a hot speed which in turn would suit a horse like Monkey (coming off his NZ Cup win a couple of days prior).

It was quite clearly obvious that Small and the Butchers were working to bring Reactor undone for Changeover (1 out/1 back) however Monkey didn't follow their script and wrote his own and raced pass the lot of them.

If your going to charge in here defending Reactor and trying to bag Monkey, at least have your facts right as you look the right dick making clear accusations yet you can't even quote the right horse or stable!

Final Placings / Driver / Trainer -

Monkey King - R.May / B.Hill
Nearea Franco - C D Thornley / S.M. McRae
Changeover - D Butcher / G C Small
Mr Feelgood - A Butt / Butt & Anderson
Auckland Reactor - M Purdon / M Purdon & G R Payne
Awesome Armbro - P A Butcher / G C Small

Yeah I rightly buggered that up don't have a problem with publicly admitting when I make a mistake.
Was somewhat rushing to reply to Harold re that race and when I was writing something seemed not quite right but I knew the essence of my story was correct re team driving trying to bring down the Reactor. No big deal for me Nate.

And by the way I did not "charge in here" defending Reactor, I'm participating in a forum so settle down on the dramatics.

And lastly I haven't attempted to "bag" Monkey in any statement, I have simply pointed out the 7/11 winning stat Reactor has over him. That's a stat Nathan not an opinion. My opinion of the Monkey is that he is a Champ. He's done fantastic things no doubt, u can't deny facts of what he has done.
Shame u can't accept Reactor is better than what u give him credit for. But we are all welcome to our opinions and that's what this forum is all about.
Who cares how much the media pumped him up years ago, personally Nathan I make my own opinion of how good a horse is by what I see them do on the track, I don't make my decision by what I read in the paper, so I don't understand why people get upset with the HORSE, get upset with the over exaggerating over hyping media.

[aussiebreno]

Brenno, you don't have to run 58 and 56 when u simply don't have to, or need to...if your opposition are not up to it or their drivers too intimidated, u can get away with it, simple.
So its not necessarily that he couldn't do it back then, against other aged horses he had not so much competition. If u check his 3yo races on hrnz u will see ITMQ placed behind him several times but never beat him, not that I could see anyway.
Had a bigger post ready to get but submitted it and the internet failed so will summarise what I had written.

I don't have any issues with the horse.
He was clearly NZs best 3yo and arguably their best aged pacer.
I don't have an issue with the mass publicity from Harnesslink etc (Somebeachsomewhere V Reactor poll, own website, arrogance of American campaign) he was given as this was great for the sport in NZ.
I have an issue with those who wanted to say he was better than CUF and CC and also condemned one for thinking otherwisee (when the test of time has proved me right - the expectations placed on this horse just weren't achievable no matter what he did). So really back then I was trying to keep a lid on how over-rated he was. Some may ask wtf am I on about but everywhere I looked it was Auckland Reactor this, Auckland Reactor that etc

I see you have since written "personally Nathan I make my own opinion of how good a horse is by what I see them do on the track, I don't make my decision by what I read in the paper, so I don't understand why people get upset with the HORSE, get upset with the over exaggerating over hyping media."

Although not aimed at me, I think I made it clear in this post my gripes with how over-rated he was.
And on that note I will say I've come into this thread fighting a fight that wasn't there(about his over-ratedness for want of a better word) when the fight was about the horse! So for that I apologise.

[Old Frank]

Yeah I rightly buggered that up don't have a problem with publicly admitting when I make a mistake.

Was somewhat rushing to reply to Harold re that race and when I was writing something seemed not quite right but I knew the essence of my story was correct re team driving trying to bring down the Reactor. No big deal for me Nate.

And by the way I did not "charge in here" defending Reactor, I'm participating in a forum so settle down on the dramatics.

And lastly I haven't attempted to "bag" Monkey in any statement, I have simply pointed out the 7/11 winning stat Reactor has over him. That's a stat Nathan not an opinion. My opinion of the Monkey is that he is a Champ. He's done fantastic things no doubt, u can't deny facts of what he has done.

Shame u can't accept Reactor is better than what u give him credit for. But we are all welcome to our opinions and that's what this forum is all about.

Who cares how much the media pumped him up years ago, personally Nathan I make my own opinion of how good a horse is by what I see them do on the track, I don't make my decision by what I read in the paper, so I don't understand why people get upset with the HORSE, get upset with the over exaggerating over hyping media.



Maori's, I appreciate your opinion about Reactor, I actually stated this in other posts.

Let's be clear once and for all, I have said repeatedly that Reactor is a fine horse, I've further said he's got a great record with his age victories and two (2) GC victories, however what I did clearly state is that for the hype/boom, call it what you will, the horse has yet to deliver in Australia, nor for that matter consistently in his homeland in 'real' races - GC level.

He's always had excuses for not standing, being injured, not quite right, etc, etc and that why I said he's a fine horse, but not one I can say on the way I judge horses is he better than the 5-6 Kiwi horses of the last 15yrs I named who proved themselves on both sides of the ditch. You like to use the word 'fact' Maori's, well that's a fact, the horse hasn't done the business in on the biggest stage compared to his predecessors yet the Kiwi's, and yourself laud over him like he's the greatest horse to ever look through a bridle.

As for your comment about it 'being a shame', well no in actual fact, it's not a shame I don't see the horse the same as you, that's unfortunately called life and we are all different.

I do see the horse in a great light, he's obviously got amazing ability but he's yet to show it again on the big stage.

I will be the first to clap my hands should he win Hunter Cups, ID's, Miracle Mile's, NZ Cups etc, etc as they are the crown jewels of Harness Racing and one could say his potential and ability warrant one, but warranting one and winning one are two entirely different things and he has to go out and do the business.

Amazing halves of 53.8, yep on one hand fantastic. Fortunately (I've been very lucky) Maori's I've been to the Meadowlands and seen some of the best in North America do 53.8, mind you it was in front of another 53.8 so I suppose I don't get as emotional over it so times don't get to me as much on judging horses.

As I said to Viv Strangman in another post, each race constitutes a different set of circumstances so times can sometimes become misleading.

53.8 is no better in context than a horse having to go three-wide from say the 1,000m in a race when they go 56 home as him/her being out three-wide is chugging along a lot harder and quicker than 56 in order to win. That's toughness, willingness, etc, etc that I suppose I admire as having been involved in training horses, I love to seem them give you everything to win. It doesn't mean it's better than the 53.8, just different circumstances.

All the Kiwi horses I named earlier who have consistently done the business have all had to climb off the canvas at one point or another in a race, or do some amazing feat/sectional to win, and they have done it multiple times. Sometimes they've done the unimaginable in defeat so it can be both ways. Reactor has really yet to do any of that at the GC level, hence I don't get awash with emotion until he proves it.

We can go back and forth all day - please be clear with what I said earlier, we are different, we judge horses differently, yet that doesn't mean I don't admire the horse, I'm just luke warm unlike others to his achievements vs. reputation.

[Viv Strangman]

Nathan, you must have a twin brother or someone else has been writing your posts for you. In the not to distant past you stated that if Auckland Reactor was to race in FFAs in Victoria on a consistent basis he would only win once in every 3 or 4 starts. If your judgement is right he has no show at GC level this weekend. However in your last few posts you are suggesting he may win on the GC this season. Something not right here. And dont get so wound up about that 53:8 half. Everyone knows Auckland Reactor missed away, looped the field, sat parked the last lap and ran home in 53:8 with Mark Purdon sitting quietly in the cart. Highview Tommy and Terror To Love among the beaten horses. It is the fastest half ever run in a race in NZ and time is and always will be important in this breed. It has always been that way since the 1850s and still is today. It has always been the method used to assess the merits of a horse since the beginning of this breed.Hence the name of the breed. So I place a much bigger premium on time than you do going by your comments. One thing is certain. You and I will never agree on this issue but I would hope the next time Im in Australia we could have a beer and chew the fat on an industry that we both obviously have a great passion for

[Old Frank]

Nathan, you must have a twin brother or someone else has been writing your posts for you. In the not to distant past you stated that if Auckland Reactor was to race in FFAs in Victoria on a consistent basis he would only win once in every 3 or 4 starts.

If your judgement is right he has no show at GC level this weekend. However in your last few posts you are suggesting he may win on the GC this season. Something not right here. And dont get so wound up about that 53:8 half.

Everyone knows Auckland Reactor missed away, looped the field, sat parked the last lap and ran home in 53:8 with Mark Purdon sitting quietly in the cart. Highview Tommy and Terror To Love among the beaten horses. It is the fastest half ever run in a race in NZ and time is and always will be important in this breed. It has always been that way since the 1850s and still is today.

It has always been the method used to assess the merits of a horse since the beginning of this breed.Hence the name of the breed. So I place a much bigger premium on time than you do going by your comments. One thing is certain. You and I will never agree on this issue but I would hope the next time Im in Australia we could have a beer and chew the fat on an industry that we both obviously have a great passion for




Viv,

No actually it's me and I'm not about facing on my comments, I firmly believe on what AR has shown he's a 1 in 3-4 win FFA horse consistently in Victoria as drivers over here certainly won't let Mark or Reactor simply dictate every week as has been the case in NZ when Reactor's come through his grades.

Quite a few of Reactor's wins have been against some fairly moderate company to say the least, gift lead and then just roll along as he has liked.

He'd come over here with his reputation and 95% of our drivers would have no problems parking him, making him work, serve it up to him, etc, etc and wouldn't just let Mark roll around easy as you like. The casual nature of how you write about Mark's driving of Reactor I could swear he must be having jam and scones whilst he drives, shame it wouldn't be the case here.

The horse has got amazing ability. I did say this and IF, again that word, IF he puts it all together can do amazing things and I further said he warrants winning a big GC race, yet up to this point, he hasn't put it together consistently to do that. Warrant and doing so are two entirely different things.

Look at the Hunter Cup field this weekend, it's a weaker field than others (mainly due to ID being in Perth) and I did say I thought he was a chance of winning that more so I feel than an ID in Perth due to the tightness of their circuit. Only time will tell if that be the case.

Please don't patronise me and tell me to not get wound up over a 53.8 half. Read my comments again to Maori's, I'm far from wound up as I don't gush over it when I've seen it before at the Meadowlands, however with the afore mentioned half of similar ilk put in front of it. Times aren't my lone criteria for judging a horse, they maybe yours.

You and I massively disagree simply because I'm not all gaga over a horse who to be frank, again hasn't done a pinch on his CV at the GC level (real races) at least 5-6 Kiwi horses have done better in the last 15 years.

Until he consistently stamps his authority at that level, no sorry, I don't buy in on just 'hype'. I agree with Aussie Breno, remember all the drivel about Mainland Banner being better than her father! Please give us all a break.

You Kiwis are well known for 'hype'. You know how to hype one as it's how you've sold your horses for so long.

[2minuteman]

Just trying to lower the temp. a bit.The discussion is of interest because we have two opposing points of view and neither will be changed irrespective of the arguments put forward.Both sides will have supporters and the statistics used by both sides come from the same data.
To not sit on the fence I am with the opinion that AR is over-rated and that opinion will be justified (or not) in the next few weeks.
Gotta go now we are looking at overweight canaries for our next show.

Are you posting in this thread as part of your love of harness racing or part of your Dr Phil researching :D

[Viv Strangman]

Point you are missing is regardless of weather you consider time important that is what the whole industry judges racehorses and sires by exactly that: TIME. Has been that way for 150 years. In NZ Auckland Reactor has held 6 NZ records which is more than the five Kiwi horses you mentioned combined. Us yokels over here made him Horse of the Year twice. In both years Changeover and Monkey King were racing as well but for some reason us kiwis made Auckland Reactor Horse of the Year. Go figure.
As to your rationale with regards to Auckland Reactor only being able to win once every 3 or 4 starts in Victorian FFA class, that implies that he is not A GC grade horse even though he has won 2 of his 5 GC starts. More revelant is that having won last week he cant win this week or else your judgement that he can only win every 3rd to 4th start in a lower level than he is facing this week is looking suspect. I mean apart from his stablemate he is giving the rest of the field a 10metre start.
That 53:8 half has really got under your skin. To have to resort to comparing Australasian racing to the Meadowlands is getting a bit desperate. As I am sure you are aware the gigs used in North America are conseratively estimated to save up to 2 seconds over the mile so a touch disingenuious to compare the two racing hemispheres. What you can compare that time with is all the races held in Australasia in the last 100 years. Same type of gigs, same tracks ect . Its the fastest half ever in NZ . Goes with his records over a mile , on up to 2600 metres.
As in have previously said AR has nothing left to prove on this side of the Tasman, contrary to what any Australian might think. Multiple record holder, Twice horse of the Year, his standing is just fine over here.

[Old Frank]

Point you are missing is regardless of weather you consider time important that is what the whole industry judges racehorses and sires by exactly that: TIME. Has been that way for 150 years. In NZ Auckland Reactor has held 6 NZ records which is more than the five Kiwi horses you mentioned combined. Us yokels over here made him Horse of the Year twice. In both years Changeover and Monkey King were racing as well but for some reason us kiwis made Auckland Reactor Horse of the Year. Go figure.

As to your rationale with regards to Auckland Reactor only being able to win once every 3 or 4 starts in Victorian FFA class, that implies that he is not A GC grade horse even though he has won 2 of his 5 GC starts. More revelant is that having won last week he cant win this week or else your judgement that he can only win every 3rd to 4th start in a lower level than he is facing this week is looking suspect. I mean apart from his stablemate he is giving the rest of the field a 10metre start.

That 53:8 half has really got under your skin. To have to resort to comparing Australasian racing to the Meadowlands is getting a bit desperate. As I am sure you are aware the gigs used in North America are conseratively estimated to save up to 2 seconds over the mile so a touch disingenuious to compare the two racing hemispheres. What you can compare that time with is all the races held in Australasia in the last 100 years. Same type of gigs, same tracks ect . Its the fastest half ever in NZ . Goes with his records over a mile , on up to 2600 metres.

As in have previously said AR has nothing left to prove on this side of the Tasman, contrary to what any Australian might think. Multiple record holder, Twice horse of the Year, his standing is just fine over here.




Viv, Viv, Viv, still reaching!!!

I'm not missing any point about TIME. I said I don't get hung up about it as I had been very fortunate/lucky to be at The Meadowlands and witnessed spectacular times being run so time isn't my sole criteria for judging a horse. I made no comparison of racing at The Meadowlands to Australasian racing, I merely said I'd been witness to great times, but they weren't my be and all, end all of judging horses.

I have a question for you Viv, because Smoken Up has the Australasian 1.48.5 record, based on your TIME logic, is he a better horse than Blacks A Fake?

You reach in all of your posts by taking out bit parts and then convert with your spin but the one thing you continually breeze over is the part where I keep referring to your idol's record in GC (real racing) not being anywhere near the 5-6 Kiwi horses I named of the last 15yrs. It must eat at you that your media hype job just flat out doesn't stack up against Cullen and the like. Oh poor Viv, don't cry, Reactor might win a real major over here, or may win the NZ Cup if he ever decides to put his mind on the job.

My inference about winning in Victoria was clearly stated that Reactor wouldn't get the gift runs and easy hand ups he's gotten at home throughout the majority of his career. We Aussies wouldn't give a toss for Reactor's, or Purdon's reputation one iota and he would be treated as if another in the field. Half of Reactors wins were cake-walks due to the circumstances of the race and weak drivers gifting Purdon the top. Your man Purdon wouldn't be eating jam and scones over here week in-week out.

As for giving the field 10mtrs start this week, shows what the handicapper thinks considering Elsu came off 20mtrs to win his Hunter Cup. Oh no, there's something I'm sure you'll skip over Viv, Reactor's getting 10mtrs head start than a fellow Kiwi horse who won the race! Oh hang on a minute, by Viv's wonder logic, Reactor's got other track records in NZ, must make him better! Silly me for thinking otherwise.

Viv -

"As in have previously said AR has nothing left to prove on this side of the Tasman, contrary to what any Australian might think."

You might state he's got nothing left to prove on your side of the Tasman (I'll disagree as he hasn't won your NZ Cup) but guess what, he's got everything to prove on this side of the Tasman for the massive hyperbole you Kiwi's have on him.

I'll go right back to the start of the discussion to make it easy for you where I clearly said, he's totally unproven on this side of the Tasman for the hype that he comes along with. It seems I'm not the only one in the this thread who thinks the same.

At the moment, he's a ID heat winner, and a Ballarat FFA winner. Shame that doesn't light a candle to the likes of Cullen, Iraklis, Holmes DG, Monkey King, Elsu and their records over here or in your homeland where they've won the biggest also.

Again don't cry Viv, Reactor might get there one day and have a 'real racing' record like theirs one day...

[M.John]

Time is not everything. Blacks A Fake is the best horse we've seen in a long time but he never went out every start to break the clock, he only ever did what he had to. The night Smoken Up beat him in the Miracle Mile BAF went as quick as they can go because A HORSE WENT WITH HIM and he had the fight in him which any potential grand circuit horse needs. I am also of the opinion that yes Auckland Reactor can run super time but the majority of his best performances were when he walked a 62 half and than zipped home. 9 out of 10 FFA horses can do that. Real racing is when the race is run truly, none of this cheap 33,32 quarters and we see the best out of a horse when they run a race truly. Auckland Reactor has never to my memory put in one of those performances were he has dug deep and broke the clock. He has major, major ability however just has seemed to be plagued by problems. I would personally love to see him get to the lofty heights everyone believed he would early in his career. However at this stage he's just another exceptional age horse in the Captain Joy, Lombok Pocket Watch mould.

[aussiebreno]

However at this stage he's just another exceptional age horse in the Captain Joy, Lombok Pocket Watch mould.
It's one thing to say other people over-rate him (which I agree with) but you've severely under-rated him here imo.
Auckland Reactor has won on the grand circuit + an Inter heat and finished 2 lengths off in a Miracle Mile where no-one made ground the back. Heck, the race he won last week is on par with anything Captain Joy or Pocket Watch has won as an aged horse.

[Maorisidol]

Maori's, I appreciate your opinion about Reactor, I actually stated this in other posts.

Let's be clear once and for all, I have said repeatedly that Reactor is a fine horse, I've further said he's got a great record with his age victories and two (2) GC victories, however what I did clearly state is that for the hype/boom, call it what you will, the horse has yet to deliver in Australia, nor for that matter consistently in his homeland in 'real' races - GC level.

He's always had excuses for not standing, being injured, not quite right, etc, etc and that why I said he's a fine horse, but not one I can say on the way I judge horses is he better than the 5-6 Kiwi horses of the last 15yrs I named who proved themselves on both sides of the ditch. You like to use the word 'fact' Maori's, well that's a fact, the horse hasn't done the business in on the biggest stage compared to his predecessors yet the Kiwi's, i have stated this Nathan, "Now yes he has beaten Monkey 7 out of 11 but i still dont personally claim he will go down in history YET as a better horse AS FAR AS HIS CV GOES.
His CV is still being added to.
The horses you mention have all retired (maybe not Monkey yet?) and completed their careers, his is an unfinished book at this point, so i dont believe we can say he is a better horse as far as HISTORY will assess him cos he aint finished yet, and therefore unfair to compare CAREERS when he is still adding to his." and yourself laud over him like he's the greatest horse to ever look through a bridle.
please show me where i laud over him like hes the greatest...i have previously stated Nathan, "I dont say he is the best horse in NZ or Aus currently and i dont claim he is better than Monkey, Elsu etc etc etc, YET..." post 44...so please dont misquote me or put words in my mouth based on what you THINK i think.
I havent once claimed him to better than your5-6 Kiwis
i have certainly stated his 7/11 record over the Monkey merely to attempt to give you evidence of ability Nathan, ability not his CV mate...
i have also said how much i admire the Monkey, i dont disrespect him as u seem to think i think...again...

As for your comment about it 'being a shame', well no in actual fact, it's not a shame I don't see the horse the same as you, that's unfortunately called life and we are all different.

I do see the horse in a great light, he's obviously got amazing ability but he's yet to show it again on the big stage.

I will be the first to clap my hands should he win Hunter Cups, ID's, Miracle Mile's, NZ Cups etc, etc as they are the crown jewels of Harness Racing and one could say his potential and ability warrant one, but warranting one and winning one are two entirely different things and he has to go out and do the business.

Amazing halves of 53.8, yep on one hand fantastic. Fortunately (I've been very lucky) Maori's I've been to the Meadowlands and seen some of the best in North America do 53.8, mind you it was in front of another 53.8 so I suppose I don't get as emotional over it so times don't get to me as much on judging horses. i wasnt intending to compare Reactors 53.8 with the Meadowlands and open up the debate to all horses worldwide, i do believe we were debating/discussing NZ/AUS...so regardless of u experiencing such times in the USA and subsequently not being so impressed with those numbers, i dont see it relevant to bring up. Its like u are clutching at straws to water down the fact Reactor has done that and i dont believe any of the 5-6 u mention have.

As I said to Viv Strangman in another post, each race constitutes a different set of circumstances so times can sometimes become misleading.

53.8 is no better in context than a horse having to go three-wide from say the 1,000m in a race when they go 56 home as him/her being out three-wide is chugging along a lot harder and quicker than 56 in order to win. That's toughness, willingness, etc, etc that I suppose I admire as having been involved in training horses, I love to seem them give you everything to win. It doesn't mean it's better than the 53.8, just different circumstances.

All the Kiwi horses I named earlier who have consistently done the business have all had to climb off the canvas at one point or another in a race, or do some amazing feat/sectional to win, and they have done it multiple times. Sometimes they've done the unimaginable in defeat so it can be both ways. Reactor has really yet to do any of that at the GC level, hence I don't get awash with emotion until he proves it.

We can go back and forth all day - please be clear with what I said earlier, we are different, we judge horses differently, yet that doesn't mean I don't admire the horse, I'm just luke warm unlike others to his achievements vs. reputation.

anyway thats enough on the topic for me, but you can bet your bottom dollar if Reactor does win the Hunter we will get the excuse that it was a "weak" field.
btw i agree it is.

11:28pm Washakie, Lombo Pocket Watch and Has The Answers about to race in Perth...seeya.

[broncobrad]

And what a race. Washakie right on the line after looking a bit shakey down the back.

[Maorisidol]

And what a race. Washakie right on the line after looking a bit shakey down the back.

Yeah, Washakie in the close up slow mo replay was literally 2nd about 10 inches from the line
Top run in death 1:56MR

[p plater]

Rumour going around that Reactor booked to fly home to NZ on Sunday

[teecee]

There's hardly a need to listen to rumours about Purdon horses.
They have one of the most up to date websites around with all the upto date news on all horses running from the stables.

[aussiebreno]

Flight home for the yearlings Purdon purchased last night perhaps?

I don't really care too much or know but just putting an idea out there.

[teecee]

Highview Tommy did not go ahead with payments for the Inter Dominion series and only Auckland Reactor will represent the stable in Perth all going well.
Taken from ALL STARS website..!!!!

[remington]

pretty sure i just herd purdon say on skyracing that "perth trip is cemented

[Maorisidol]

Great run Reactor, another track record i believe i heard, better run than last week, definitely improved...
Smoken Up 1:51.1 amazing, awesome effort to Decorated Jasper too...
Perth ID is gettin better.

[broncobrad]

Found it hard to come up with an excuse for Reactor last night, he sat 3 wide probably a tad longer than he hoped to, but then got cover and an unimpeded run to the line after going at exactly the right time...maybe a fitness issue? Sets him up for Perth though. Choice Achiever would have been a tragedy beaten after being driven perfectly only to get smashed at the 120m, lose momentum and balance before being picked up by Butt and winning with authority. The standard may have been a bit down this year but what a finish with four of them going over the line together. Great Stuff...Even tho' I backed the Reactor!

[p plater]

Auckland Reactor has returned to New Zealand today but will go to Perth next weekend from NZ....strange but true

[mark diegutis]

One thing is for sure . It's better to have Auckland Reactor over here than not . This posting has seen some great debate and I agree with you Brad . The Hunter Cup was a great race and lived up to its history . At very least the horse will add a stack of interest to the race that I beleive is the ultimate harness racing event .

[Mister JayKO]

I read now he is only 50/50 for the Inters because he is tired! I am not into bagging horses in anyway shape or form, however given the hype and propaganda that has surrounded this horse from day dot, his inability to match it week in and week out with the best combined with the litany of excuses will prevent him from ever being put in the category that on raw ability he might belong. For me he will always be the villain who cost Blacks A Fake five conseucutive Inter Dominions in a row, because - in my opinion - without his uncontrollable pulling in the death, Mr Feelgood doesn't get the last shot at poor old Blackie.

[p plater]

If Auckland Reactor is tired now, how will the decision to return to NZ and increase his flying time to Perth help him recover

[teecee]

From website of ALL STAR STABLES
STABLE NEWS

** The connections of AUCKLAND REACTOR will make the final decision about his trip to the Inter Dominions in Perth next month. Mark Purdon recommended at the weekend that the horse give the series a miss. "But I have left it up to the owners to decide. I have only told them what I think'' he said.
Mark's recommendation was not so much because of what his Melbourne races took out of him but what was ahead of him in Perth. "He showed me in Melbourne he has really come right. He felt good and he put in right to the wire. While we have him like that I wouldn't like to see him go backward now. The racing in Perth won't really suit him and he will have several hard races close together. I think he would be better off staying at home this time'' said Mark before leaving Melbourne for Brisbane. He is back in Auckland on Thursday. Auckland Reactor flew back to Auckland this week.
The owners of the horse have usually followed Mark's advice since his return to New Zealand but a number of his owners are Australian based and may still want to
race in Perth.
"That is fair enough'' Mark said. "but from my point of view it is not the best option for him at the moment.''
Mark, who has major race committments across all grades here in the next few months, is unlikely to go to Perth even if the horse does.

[Viv Strangman]

Wasnt in Victoria last weekend but several friends who were have told me about how buddy- buddy Anthony Butt and John Curtin were at Melton. Now a photo of that is something I would pay to see. Common knowledge on this side of the Tasman that Mark didnt want to go to Perth but the connections did. Hence the Butt- Curtin meeting. Unless he has died in the meantime Auckland Reactor is definitely going to Perth. Anyone who was there get a photo of Butt-Curtin together. Due to there history, Im struggling to believe it happened.

[Triple V]

I think JC should fly Kelvin Harrison in from NJ
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/files/Kelvin-Harrison.jpg
and ask him to bring the Hyperbaric Chamber with him. :p

[teecee]

STABLE NEWS

LATEST FOM ALL STAR STABLES WEBSITE

** The decision has been made that AUCKLAND REACTOR will go to the Inter Dominions at Perth next month. Mark Purdon recommended at the weekend that the horse give the series a miss. "But I have left it up to the owners to decide. I have only told them what I think'' he said.
Mark's recommendation was not so much because of what his Melbourne races took out of him but what was ahead of him in Perth. "He showed me in Melbourne he has really come right. He felt good and he put in right to the wire. While we have him like that I wouldn't like to see him go backward now. The racing in Perth won't really suit him and he will have several hard races close together. I think he would be better off staying at home this time'' said Mark before leaving Melbourne for Brisbane. He is back in Auckland on Thursday. Auckland Reactor flew back to Auckland this week.
The owners of the horse have usually followed Mark's advice since his return to New Zealand but a number of his owners are Australian based and may still want to
race in Perth.
"That is fair enough'' Mark said. "but from my point of view it is not the best option for him at the moment.''
Mark, who has major race committments across all grades here in the next few months, is unlikely to go to Perth even if the horse does.

[teecee]

Wasnt in Victoria last weekend but several friends who were have told me about how buddy- buddy Anthony Butt and John Curtin were at Melton. Now a photo of that is something I would pay to see. Common knowledge on this side of the Tasman that Mark didnt want to go to Perth but the connections did. Hence the Butt- Curtin meeting. Unless he has died in the meantime Auckland Reactor is definitely going to Perth. Anyone who was there get a photo of Butt-Curtin together. Due to there history, Im struggling to believe it happened.

In today's Christchurch Press reports Ants has been booked for Auckland Reactor drive as Mark has commitments at home preparing a big team for the Auckland Cup meeting.
Mark MAY POSSIBLY go to Perth if both Raglan and Reactor make the final. Even then it is only a maybe.

[teecee]

Auckland Reactor has returned to New Zealand today but will go to Perth next weekend from NZ....strange but true

It was reported in the Christchurch Press today that he has been suffering from the heat in Melbourne. (as he did in America). Mark's main concern has been if that is so then what he will be up against in Perth. He has undergone numerous blood tests to ensure he is okay to go to Perth.

[Joy]

Very offensive and not one bit funny

[Lucky Camilla"s Lovechild]

Thought he'd be out from under that rock. Tosser!

[Toohard]

Totally agree Leigh. Saw the post earlier this morning before it rightly got removed.Typical of the constant negative attitude. From the posts on the other thread surprised he made no mention of Mr Feelgood given that Auckland Reactor beat him home:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Lenem]

I should have known there would have been an excuse for yet another dismal performance !
“He got beaten a whisker in the Hunter Cup when he was second-up since October and his form during the Inter Dominion was great, obviously he wasn't right in the final.

“His white-cell count was all out of whack which was most unfortunate, he was a different horse in the final compared to his heat form but at least we know what the problem is and that will be sorted.”

[broncobrad]

I should have known there would have been an excuse for yet another dismal performance
“He got beaten a whisker in the Hunter Cup when he was second-up since October and his form during the Inter Dominion was great, obviously he wasn't right in the final.

“His white-cell count was all out of whack which was most unfortunate, he was a different horse in the final compared to his heat form but at least we know what the problem is and that will be sorted.”


I take it that his WCC was lighting up like a Xmas tree after the final?, surely they wouldn't have knowingly run him in the final if all wasn't well.

On the upside, travel won't be an excuse on his next campaign.

[Maorisidol]

In The Gig reports Reactor arriving at Fitzgeralds stable for his next Aussie mission...

[aussiebreno]

In The Gig reports Reactor arriving at Fitzgeralds stable for his next Aussie mission...
Fitzpatrick will be devastated the horse has been taken off him before even getting a chance!

[broncobrad]

Who got him?

[aussiebreno]

Who got him?
Paul Fitzpatrick.

[Triple V]

In The Gig reports Reactor arriving at Fitzgeralds stable for his next Aussie mission...

[VVV] Good old Ella. All time great Jazz singer turned Harness Horse Trainer. :rolleyes:

[Maorisidol]

Fair dinkum,
I think I'm just getting old!!!

[Triple V]

Join the club.