Smolda simply breathtaking

Take the time to watch the replay of Smolda winning the Emerald Final at Cambridge yesterday, especially the contempt he showed for the opposition from the home corner.
Breathtaking!!!

http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=98058

Hard to believe it's the same Solda that was run down by Scandalman at Newcastle !

Geez Lenny your a bit harsh. Smolda sat in the death for most of that trip over 2550, they ran about 1:58 and Scandalman sat last off the speed, launched and got the one/one at a crucial stage before finally beating Smolda by about a metre. One of those races where it all just fell into place for one of them while the other did all the work. In the years to come I think you will see just how superior Smolda will be to Scandalman. (And I was on Smolda at Newcastle)

I think not.On Saturday he didn't just sit parked,he absolutely smashed a Group 1 field,treating them with utter contempt ,broke the heart of a derby winner in the process,in NZ record time and won running away.

Call me a cynic but NSW has the toughest drug testing in harness racing in this part of the world doesn't it?

Don't have a go at me for being negative - the results of increased testing speaks for itself. Industry shoots itself in the foot far better than a nobody like me could do.

Having said that.....nobody can argue with Mark Purdon's eye for horseflesh.....bought 4 horses from the APG sale in 2010 and 3 of them turn out to be Mr Nickel, Fly Like An Eagle, and Smolda. Unbelievable.

I hope you guys read the paper...

...better than the way in which you read a race.
That was won and lost at the start when McFarlane held with Ideal Scott and the sectionals once again tell the story. The closer they got to the wire the slower they became. In a 1:52 & a piece NZ Record the closing Q. went by in 29 & a bit. Doesn't that tell you fellas anything at all? That's not winning by running away Lenny, that was winning by the rest of the field dropping off. There is a difference.
Superb drive by Purdon, he sent Smolda down the road & gave him his chance to be the Jewels Champion. The horse is a high speed stayer & he was driven accordingly. It's very poor form for anyone to suggest there was anything nefarious involved. That was a good old fashioned knock 'em down, drag 'em out front end battle, plain and simple. I'd have loved to have seen JD's horse win it but that aside, a terrific spectacle. Handlebars down, pin the ears back and away we go.

Thanks Jaimie for spelling it out as I too saw it or how it actually was.

Quote:

Originally Posted by little fish

Call me a cynic but NSW has the toughest drug testing in harness racing in this part of the world doesn't it?

Don't have a go at me for being negative - the results of increased testing speaks for itself. Industry shoots itself in the foot far better than a nobody like me could do.

Having said that.....nobody can argue with Mark Purdon's eye for horseflesh.....bought 4 horses from the APG sale in 2010 and 3 of them turn out to be Mr Nickel, Fly Like An Eagle, and Smolda. Unbelievable.

Let me be generous by not reading between the lines of this posting.
Suffice to say that NSW has a very long way to go to match the drug testing regime of the NZ RIU and especially on big days like this.
All hands on deck to supervise...
Pre race blood testing ALL Runners.
Post race blood testing selected random runners.
Post race swabs of first 2 home all races.
That comes after out of competition testing all runners often more than once in the weeks leading up to the event.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenem

I think not.On Saturday he didn't just sit parked,he absolutely smashed a Group 1 field,treating them with utter contempt ,broke the heart of a derby winner in the process,in NZ record time and won running away.

So surely you agree Lenny, it was a super performance. They weren't slouches that he crushed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple V

...better than the way in which you read a race.
That was won and lost at the start when McFarlane held with Ideal Scott and the sectionals once again tell the story. The closer they got to the wire the slower they became. In a 1:52 & a piece NZ Record the closing Q. went by in 29 & a bit. Doesn't that tell you fellas anything at all? That's not winning by running away Lenny, that was winning by the rest of the field dropping off. There is a difference.
Superb drive by Purdon, he sent Smolda down the road & gave him his chance to be the Jewels Champion. The horse is a high speed stayer & he was driven accordingly. It's very poor form for anyone to suggest there was anything nefarious involved. That was a good old fashioned knock 'em down, drag 'em out front end battle, plain and simple. I'd have loved to

have seen JD's horse win it but that aside, a terrific spectacle. Handlebars down, pin the ears back and away we go.

Never for a moment suggested anything untoward.To imply that Smolda's win was because the others were stopping quicker is to not understand the essence of racing.Horses (or athletes for that matter) win because they run faster for longer than their opponents.You win "running away" even if you finish off in 32 so long as your opposition is finishing in 32.5.

Quote:

Originally Posted by teecee

Let me be generous by not reading between the lines of this posting.
Suffice to say that NSW has a very long way to go to match the drug testing regime of the NZ RIU and especially on big days like this.
All hands on deck to supervise...
Pre race blood testing ALL Runners.
Post race blood testing selected random runners.
Post race swabs of first 2 home all races.
That comes after out of competition testing all runners often more than once in the weeks leading up to the event.

In Aust Rules Football (AFL) Ben Cousins was regularly tested, never failed a drug test, but was actually a drug addict who was using the whole time.

Explain that?

I fail to see the relevance of what testing AFL has here.
The point I make is that HRNSW has a long way to go to be anywhere near the toughest drugs testing regime in Harness Racing.
I backed my view with the testing regime on Jewels day. Such is not uncommon in NZ.
drugs testing on small rated tracks at small meetings is tougher than what I can deduce from some meetings at Menangle.
There has been plenty of comment opposing the idea of spending some of the riches on integrity at the expense of stakes in NSW last year.
As I said I have responded directly to a statement rather than READ BETWEEN the LINES...!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by teecee

I fail to see the relevance of what testing AFL has here.
The point I make is that HRNSW has a long way to go to be anywhere near the toughest drugs testing regime in Harness Racing.
I backed my view with the testing regime on Jewels day. Such is not uncommon in NZ.
drugs testing on small rated tracks at small meetings is tougher than what I can deduce from some meetings at Menangle.
There has been plenty of comment opposing the idea of spending some of the riches on integrity at the expense of stakes in NSW last year.
As I said I have responded directly to a statement rather than READ BETWEEN the LINES...!!

Not drawing into the Smolda debate here but I thought 'little fish's' point was pretty straighforward, you can be using but go undetected.

Please let us all in on what drugs you can use and not be detected. I am intrigued as to what drugs you are referring to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viv Strangman

Please let us all in on what drugs you can use and not be detected. I am intrigued as to what drugs you are referring to.

Not telling you or the stewards will be on my door and I won't get as many winners.......

Ok, no seriously...

Number one case can be the blue magic scandal (I didn't choose this because Mark Purdon was involved, just because it was the first to pop in my head)....they could detect something was wrong but didn't know what it was for a while. So while people were using blue magic they weren't getting positives because nobody knew what it was and what tests to do.
Number two case being the time spent between realising EPO was occuring and the time spent figuring out a test for it. In any form of cheating, the cheats are always one step ahead of the police. When a substance has a test made for it the cheats move onto a new substance. The time in leui in creating a test can means horses/athletes don't return positives.

Also, from just 7 or how many it is viles of blood they take plus 1 cup of urine. Do you think they can test for a bucketload of substances with just those small samples?

Also, I must comment on the threads purpose. Awesome performance from Smolda.

Let's start with ITTP? I'm no chemist but I'm sure if this one has recently become detectable it won't be long before something else comes along.

Quote:

http://www.breedingracing.com/news/2...ast-drug-ittp/

Stewards On "High Alert For Go-Fast Drug ITTP"

Thursday, 31st May 2012
The "go-fast drug ITTP, described by one vet as a high-octane milkshake in a syringe, has arrived in Australia" reported The Herald-Sun. Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy said the drug (formulated in France & until recently undetectable) has arrived in Australia & when "asked if it was being administered" he replied: "If you ask me has it landed on our shores, it certainly has. Whether in thoroughbred racing it has been used, what I would say if it hasn't been used, I would suspect it would not take too long to change." Murrihy described ITTP (a drug that causes the haemoglobin in blood to release oxygen in amounts substantially greater than normal, instantly enhancing physical performance) as a "real nasty". Murrihy confirmed this month's national stewards' conference had "discussed the development of testing for New Age substances such as ITTP & strategies on how to stop it entering the country". He emphasised: "These are the sort of substances that can change the playing field, the integrity of racing. We have established good channels with some entities around Australia to keep an eye on these substances being imported. Stewards are well aware that there are plenty of websites that advertise these products." Murrihy also noted that "swab samples from every Gr1 winner at the Sydney Autumn Carnival had been frozen".

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiebreno

Also, I must comment on the threads purpose. Awesome performance from Smolda.

Hey Breno

I was trackside and it was an amazing performance, everyone was on there feet cheering the horse home. The whole Jewels day was amazing and i will be going again for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mango

Hey Breno

I was trackside and it was an amazing performance, everyone was on there feet cheering the horse home. The whole Jewels day was amazing and i will be going again for sure.

You really do live the life mango and know how to rub it in!

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiebreno

Also, I must comment on the threads purpose. Awesome performance from Smolda.

Thanks for bringing the thread back to what it was intended. To recognise a brilliant performance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by little fish

Let's start with ITTP? I'm no chemist but I'm sure if this one has recently become detectable it won't be long before something else comes along.

At least Mr. Murrihy didn't say anything ridiculous about ITPP containing Arsenic.
He must have paid attention in High School Chemistry...which is more than can be said for his VIC counterpart, Terry Bailey. Back in October last year it was Tezza if you're tuned in. During the Melb. Cup Carnival. Read the quotes in the Press. Not one of your best mate, not one of your best. :rolleyes: