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The three codes used to be paid an agreed percentage of Australian turnover on New Zealand racing but from now their shares of Australian turnover will be decided by their percentage of that turnover.
With thoroughbred racing by far the strongest code and turnover on NZ greyhound racing increasing, HRNZ bosses are keen to boost their profile and ultimately turnover in Australia.
https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/art...uch-at-stakes/
A good example of why socialism doesnt work. Why werent they boosting profile before!Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
Harness racing in this country will change forever next year with a radical new racing calendar that will turn the code on its head.
https://harnesslink.com/new-zealand/...cing-calendar/
NZ Cup at 3.50 AEDST today
Mick Guerin explains that Self Assured will have to break the trend
https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/art...of-a-champion/
The Cup will be behind closed doors except for owners and sponsors
Looking at Worldmeters NZ has an incredible Covid record with only 32 total deaths so far (there is no country of its size with less)
The field
https://infohorse.hrnz.co.nz/datahrs...621-race-11-dl
The South Island has been Covid free for over a year but remains at alert level 2 due to alert level 3 clusters mainly in Auckland, some cases in the Waikato and upper Northland. The latter moves from level 3 to level 2 at midnight Thursday. Christchurch is more than 1,000 kms south to put things into perspective. When the current lockdown was first announced after positive cases were found in Auckland even Invercargill - 1,600 kms away - was put out of business. Despite claims NZ has successfully managed the pandemic it, like a couple of lockem out Aussie states, has dragged the chain when it comes to vaccinations.
Despite this, it's been a great day of racing at Addington. The only thing that will stop Self Assured is that, sooner or later, Mark Purdon will lose a race. He has driven 5 of the first 7 winners and has Franco Indie in the Sires before the Cup! Self Assured IS the best horse and has enjoyed a perfect preparation, much better than last year when he blew them away. We could be witnessing history today.
Guerin was right, to think the lead was so important in a 2 mile race
https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/art...-takes-nz-cup/
Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
Nice win, but such a boring race.
And I don't think Mick expected Self Assured to be checked like it was when working forward at the bell. Interesting to note the stewards report states "Driver G. O'Reilly (Laver) will be spoken to regarding the manner in which he shifted ground near the 1400 metres". The fav almost broke and lost momentum. The desperate manner in which Gerard drove the winner of the next race suggests he is expecting something more than an on the spot fine for failing to indicate when doing a right turn!Quote:
Originally Posted by Adaptor
The race was won at the first turn. Self Assured began like a bullet from the second row but he became stuck in traffic when the brakes were slammed on soon after Classie Brigade found the front and immediately handed up to Copy That. A dawdling first lap meant it was always going to be a sprint home, 1:54.3 last mile, 54.4 half, 27.5 quarter. A great run the winner but the two placegetters also outstanding given those times and where they were in the field.
NZ FFA on Friday, 1980 metres for $200,000 but only 9 starters. Copy That and Classie Brigade non-acceptors with Krug, barrier 4, the only inclusion. South Coast Arden (2) and Self Assured (3) will ensure it is a great race. A tough ask for the 3 year old Krug but given he actually turned 4 last week, maybe not too tough!
I still don't understand the rationale behind HRA's decision to change the dates of the racing season, which NZ then had to follow. If there was any consultation prior to the announcement I must have slept through it!
PP is suggesting something untoward has taken place in the last on Cup Day and reviewing No Time Like Now's previous starts you might wonder.
His 3rd Q coming from 5 lengths off the leader had to be in the 26's
However the fact that he was a $46 pop does not suggest the stable expected it
https://harness.hrnz.co.nz/gws/ws/r/...rSite&Arg=TRUE
No Time Like Now's dam is a half-sister to three time NZ Trotting Cup winner Terror To Love. Perhaps it just rose to the occasion of the day; it was certainly driven with a confidence rarely seen.
Yes the grandam has been a super producer of 16 foals now
https://harness.hrnz.co.nz/gws/ws/r/...rSite&Arg=TRUE
Akuta kicked off his 3yo season with a 1.51.8 win in a Free For All
No surprise for anyone who saw his 2yo Jewels win
Worth another look
https://harness.hrnz.co.nz/gws/ws/r/...rSite&Arg=TRUE
Alexandra Park hosts the inaugural juvenile race for 2022 on Friday, race 7. See www.hrnz.co.nz and select Fields.
Three runners are from the Ray Green stable, two from Tony Herlihy's. Herlihy's pair, drawn 1 and 7, have been impressive at the trials with #7 (Seve, a colt by Vincent) having beaten 3 year olds in the Pukekohe workouts while technically a yearling. He did all the work rating 2:00.1 in a trial last Saturday and appears well advanced.
The race name could well prove ominous for the Ballarat Cup Saturday night.
Self Assured resumes in the last race and should be far too good for the other five runners. He will be staying home this season thanks to NZs heavy handed restrictions on humans re-entering the country.
Seve gives first season sire Vincent bragging rights as the first 2yo winner for the new season. Self Assured as impressive as ever winning the last at Alexandra Park coming home in 54.5 in the death untouched with his ears pricked.
Our forum 'Users Online' numbers have to be rubbish
Right now it says 219 online (but I am the only member)
34 on the New Zealand board
the NZ board last had a post a year ago and that was just a Harnesslink News link
The last actual Member post was 4 years ago
I hope the 34 are enjoying themselves LOL
I am about to watch the replays of last night's Harness Millions night at Alexandra Park
I was alerted to what I missed by reading in PP's blog (albeit too late) that that is what we should have been watching last night if we were sports lovers
I have to say I have cheated and looked at the results to see what I missed
On face value only 6 races with one a 3 horse field and another a 5 horse field with five of the races containing a < $1.30 fav doesn't seem to match "this is harness racing at its absolute best"
but maybe that is what you get when the very best are going around (two were beaten mind you)
https://infohorse.hrnz.co.nz/datahrs...s/021202rs.htm
It was a great battle between Bolt and Sundees in R1. I don't think it is fair to suggest it was a 14 length form reversal by Sundees (PP). Vastly different draws/starts, different track, different distance, different way of going. PP has a thing about Robert Dunn, suggesting he gains some sort of 'magic' training down at Woodend Beach
Vincent's Seve was the run of the race in the 2yo, only beaten ˝ a length after missing the start by 5 lengths. I wonder what he would cost? The owner/breeders have sold all the dams other progeny
Bettors trifectas the 3yo Colts Millions with the 100/1 pop getting up in a 4 way finish (he also sired the winner of the fillies)
And what a great sprint Self Assured has, even on a wet and windy night
Seve looks an outstanding prospect. The brother's in law B Purdon and A G Herlihy both believe they have the best 2yo. I don't think Seve will be coming here, Merlin is part owned by Montana Park (Dean Shannon).
I've always rated BFB the most exciting trotter in NZ, always had to do it on its own. In the sprint they ran home in 26.6 yet Self Assured peeled off their backs at the top of the straight and gave the leaders windburn. It's a rare thing to see horses in open company sprint that quick given the speed they were going. A six year old with only 36 starts under his belt, 22 wins is even more impressive when you add 10 seconds and three thirds to his record. He has clearly regained his title as NZ's best pacer.
The colts and geldings Harness Millions was a boilover and casts doubt over Akuta's perceived dominance. Interestingly, True Fantasy won the fillies race in a jog yet her overall time was 2.9 seconds quicker than the boys! One start into the new season and she has already earned in excess of $360k! After 13 race starts she has a record of 8 wins and 5 placings, superior to Amazing Dream at the same stage of their careers. The Queen may have gone to the US but a new princess is wearing her old tiara.
Certainly we saw some great horses in action last night.
PP has his doubts about some of NZ's participants and I must admit I am not convinced about the drive on Will He Rock in R7 at Timaru yesterday
They still list him as starting favourite but PP's pic suggests the winner No.1 was backed right in to fav
You have to wonder why WHR went back to the fence when looking like he was going to finish on despite having gone to the death at the bell
Look closely at the driver to see if he even wanted 3rd which he also managed to lose
https://harness.hrnz.co.nz/gws/ws/r/...rSite&Arg=TRUE
I happened to watch this one early this morning and made a mental note that it was a red hot drive. Naturally, the stewards said the horse hung in in the home straight! If it did it was from the driver hanging on to its head! Dunn had the full length of the straight to pull out and have a crack but chose to drop down to the fence, not use the whip or even chase the horse up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
I note PP shows the all-important betting fluctuations. The winner shortened from $5.50 to $2.20, Dunn's horse blew from $2.10 to $2.70. Go figure.
Self Assured stamped his authority in the Gp 3 Founders Cup Free For All at Alexandra Park last night. On a slushy track and in driving rain there was no nose to nose battle with South Coast Arden last night. He just went whoosh! Check it out:
https://harness.hrnz.co.nz/gws/ws/r/...rSite&Arg=TRUE
He has a remarkably consistent record, 38 starts, 23 wins, 11 seconds and 3 thirds for around $1,088,000 in stakes. His only unplaced run was when he refused to go away and trailed the field in the lead-up to the 2020 NZ Cup (which he easily won).
PP is asking how it is that the only 2 pacers struggling with dust issues / a respiratory problem in the North Island are both in the Purdon stable and yet they are the only two in the stable. He suggests stewards should be doing more probing and that vet certificates should be required for Spankem and True Fantasy before they race
He is barking up the wrong tree although my gut tells me there may be a bigger issue with Spankem. True Fantasy was scoped on track after her listless last start, which revealed inflammation of the throat. Other horses have been having issues adapting to conditions vastly different to the green grasses of Canterbury.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
Bettors Delight trifectaed the Northern Oaks. Fav True Fantasy won after a dream run but Lady Of The Light made it interesting
Bettors could only quinella the Derby with Akuta, Bollinger, Beach Ball providing a good finish
https://infohorse.hrnz.co.nz/datahrs...s/032502rs.htm
There are emerging sires but old Bettors is still king. I wouldn't say True Fantasy had a "dream" run; she was crossed at the start, then went to the front, was challenged and crossed by Dance Till Dawn, then had to chase hard when that filly ran 28.3 down the back. Considering her throat issue had made her chances of starting problematic she was a very courageous run. After just 3 starts for the new season her record reads 15 starts, 9 wins, 4 seconds and a third for $445,467.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
Runner-up Lady Of The Light is a very good filly who will improve. She was saved for one sprint last night while Cover Girl and First Rose were good runs and they would be competitive anywhere.
Akuta won the Derby as predicted but it wasn't easy. The leader, Beach Ball, was tough and brave and hung on well for third while the runner-up Bollinger rattled home. He has improved every start this time in and has probably deposed Franco Indie as the Allstars number two 3 year old colt. He will only get better.
Forever Me, a daughter of Adore Me, was excellent in her maiden win in the Delightful Lady. We are yet to see many 2yo fillies debut in NZ. Merlin has proven the best colt so far and remains unbeaten after leading and having an easy first half. He held off Beckham (by Bettors) who was outstanding in facing the breeze at only his second start. He only qualified three and a half weeks ago so expect him to be near the best of his year later in the season.
A terrific night's racing but small fields in Auckland indicate trouble in the North.
Had another look Trev, still a dream run IMO, did not contest lead off the gate then able to take it ever so easily, then did not resist challenge to lob in the sit again, then as the caller said "has the lovely drag in the trail".
And still too good. Won on heart more than fitness.
and Jean was only 1˝nks off three Gp winsQuote:
Originally Posted by Showgrounds
I wrote this in a Breeding thread yesterday:
I have been thinking about how out of skew the 2 countries are (in regards to horses earning a million) and it would be interesting how many $A are in the NZer millionaires totals
It cannot have done the Australian industry any good to have NZers like Allstars pillage our biggest races
Then there is all the horses we buy from them
And yet we are told that their industry is struggling too
Maybe they are selling too many to us and the USA to grow their racing product
Maybe it is the Ozzie story repeated - what are punters betting on
Sorry, starting to ramble
I must have been anticipating this interesting article by Peter Wharton
https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/art...-to-australia/
There has been an upward trend in the number of NZ imports to Australia annually for the last three years. In 2019-20 there were 405 horses cleared from NZ to Australia, while last season there were 430.
The highest tally of NZ imports to Australia was 827 in the 2010-11 season. Other leading years were 2011-12 (778), 1998-99 (775), 2009-10 (726) and 1999-2000 (705).
Another concern for NZ administrators and clubs is the downward spiral in foals born over the last decade.
In 2009-10 there were 2888 foals born in NZ. This figure dropped to 1522 in 2020-21, an alarming decrease of 47 percent.
In the same period the number of mares served in the Dominion dropped from 4024 to 2316 – a 42 per cent decrease.
The higher numbers of horses being exported from NZ to North America and Australia and the dwindling foal numbers is having an effect on club programmes, particularly in New Zealand’s North Island.
All The Race posts have been moved to their own thread as it obviously deserved its own
http://www.harnessracingforum.com/sh...07-The-Race-NZ
Majestic Cruiser wins the Messenger
Had the visitors draw and settled last
They went hard and he came late but was pushed 4 wide, however he out-toughed them in a time that was not far outside Christen Me's NZ record for 2700m
https://infohorse.hrnz.co.nz/datahrs...9128-race-7-dl
Christen Me's record was 3:13.8 set winning the 2015 Auckland Cup. Majestic Cruiser went 3:13.1, 1:55.1 mile rate, last night. The placegetters Self Assured and AGs Whitesocks were also well inside the old record. A great spectacle ruined by Sky Channel.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
Thanks Trevor, I must have had bleary eyes when I read the times last night
A quote from PP today:
"I have been kicking around trots tracks far too long to ever believe that old half-busted claimers who have had 90 starts (Majestic Cruiser) or 70 starts (Boncel Benjamin) can be sent to a new trainer and suddenly be turned into world beaters."
If you look at a NZ Stewards Report you will see this near the top
No details so you have no way of knowing how diligent they are
The 2yo Gp2 just run at Addington
Mark Purdon stable has 6 of the 8 runners
Fav leads = you can be sure this is going to be one of the most boring races you will ever see
I didn't think much of how Mark Purdon on Cyrus in the Listed 3yo crossed down to the pegs when not really clear - bully boy stuff "you had better ease or I am going to collect your horses legs"
I'd like to know what you think of the fourteen day suspension he copped in the same race for "using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home". This comes after copping a similar suspension for his winning drive on Self Assured in The Race last month. I reckon the stewards must imagine Purdon is the modern incarnation of Vinnie Knight. My wife, a pretty good judge, reckons she has never seen a driver resort to using the whip than Purdon.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
There should me a long queue of wannabe drivers for Self Assured in the Auckland Cup in a fortnight. A. G. Herlihy would be heading the running.
Missing word here is all importantQuote:
Originally Posted by Showgrounds
ps I don't think MP's whip action is anything other than the norm in that race. Mind you I am a fan of getting rid of whips, starting with next seasons 2yo races and hopefully all races by 2025
Yes, I left out the word "less"; late night mistake with the cat wanting to jump on my lap. You may be a fan of banning whips but they are still legal. Without personal preference clouding your judgement, how fair is this suspension? It seems to me the RIB is focusing on aesthetics rather than animal welfare, the latter should be the focus of any or all rules.