Mattie Craven left his run too late with Fides - final contenders announced - https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/art...ady-to-rumble/
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Mattie Craven left his run too late with Fides - final contenders announced - https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/art...ady-to-rumble/
Bolt For Brilliance draws 1, Majestuoso draws 2 = Blessed
Better Eclipse 1 in his heat while Act Now 7 in his heat could be tricky
NSW's biggest contenders Expensive Ego, Spirit Of St Louis, Majestic Cruiser and I Cast No Shadow all had little luck
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...s/?mc=BA261122
Black Princes movements will be crucial to Act Nows succuss
While not really a slight on Moran, Quinlan or Pitt because all good drivers I can't help but think Nathan Jack going into the series currently without a drive could be detrimental to the Stewart stables chances. Noting K Gath has Tango Tara Jack is probably next cab off the rank, I wonder if he gets a drive in the first round of heats somewhere.
There are several with speed inside of Act Now, I wonder whether they will consider driving for a sit - the trouble with that is, he may end up last
Barrier stats are interesting for Ballarat
These are of course for No Sprint Lane whereas there will be on Saturday
1 No advantage
2 Incredibly poor
Mona Mia now gets a start!
Has not won for a year but better credentialled than last years winner and some of the trotters
HRV bullied into 3x trotters heats due to 'depth of trotters' but only two horses in each heat are single figures.
I think you might be right Brendan
We could almost have got away with 2 heats of pacers
Heat 1.
He wouldn't be crossed if he wants to lead, but of some minor concern would be something gassing him early in order for him to hold that lead. Regardless Pitt should be able to adjust to any challenges. Focus Stride and Wolf Stride will need some tarmac at some stage but aren't without a hope of picking up place points however the place points should be going to Act Now who hopefully doesn't experience too tough a run and Expensive Ego. I don't think you could back anything though unless its an interest bet on the Stride horses.
Heat 2.
Tango Tara should do enough to hold out Bettor Call Me who I think once doesn't find the pegs will find it hard. BBTB isn't known for gate speed so Zuess Bromac should get across easy enough. Whether thats to cross Tango Tara, or to let Alta Orlando go and then cross won't matter, Zuess Bromac should end up getting an easy lead and from there he's going to be mighty tough to run down and is probably the win bet of the heats. Majestic Cruiser could end up in a precarious spot from that draw (especially if Stewards warn drivers and take appropriate action about blatant cheating) while Spirit of St Louis is probably a little suspect with that draw. Trifectas mainly around Zuess and Honolua and neglecting Cruiser/Louis could be a play here.
Heat 3
Better Eclipse has great gate speed so should hold up. Like a Wildfire improved last start but before that hadn't been at his best since the Brisbane trip so prepared to risk here. Torrid Saint has shown enough that leaders back he will run a place. May be a little hard to get into the race but I Cast No Shadow and Narutac Prince (underrated horse) place hopes.
How are we going to get West Aussies to come if we always give them the visitors draw
You are right Kev as everyone knows I've been on about these rigged barrier draws for years particularly when it comes to WA horses it proves to be more than a coincidence time and time again.
I'd advise all WA trainers to bypass Victoria Harness Racing in future.
I'm surprised To Fast To Serious is lining up the horse is not good enough for an away ID series.
Rod, the trainer said it is as much about experience for him and the horse, as anything else
We could have a problem if another front line horse is scratched from R6
I am thinking that the emergencies start from 13,14,15 not the position of the scratched horse
With 2 out of R6 already we now have 7 off the second line - it cannot/is not supposed to take 8, so if there was another front line scratching!?
Damn, I had a little nibble at Bettor Call Me the place on the basis of this not looking like they did
Act Now just continues to shorten. Into $11 6th favourite.
How is this for a cross-section of the driving population
R3 the 2nd heat of the Trotters
We have:
Two 20 somethings
Three 30 somethings
One 40
One 50 something
Two 60's
One 78
One 82
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...22#BAM26112210
https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/art...in-the-making/
I Should have gone to HRA's Stewards News first or read Vic's scratching report on Tango
As a consequence of the scratching of Tango Tara NZ, in accordance with the following condition of the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship:
22 (b) Emergencies that are declared in the First Round of Qualifying Heats (only) will be allocated the outside barrier positions. Any emergency gaining a start will take the barrier position of the first scratched horse but retain its allocated saddlecloth number, unless the emergency is declared by the Stewards ODM, RODM, EOD.
The second (2nd) emergency Jilliby Nitro has gained a start and is to wear saddlecloth number 14 and commence from barrier one (1) in Race 6 at Ballarat on Saturday, 26 November 2022.
https://www.harness.org.au/media-roo...?news_id=59018
I see JB also failed to read the media releases
BETTOR CALL ME (2) who will relish the suck run he seems certain to receive from what will now be the pole marking draw.
I had hoped the nice weather we have finally got, may have held up for Ballarat tonight but the change/showers is just about at Halls Gap and we are only 1˝hrs from Ballarat so they may need a bit of luck
Serious rain here but we are the Gap
Looking at the empty outdoor areas as JB wanders around on TrotsVision, I am worried that that downpour could not have come at a worse time for determining whether many locals decide to come tonight
I reckon it is a goer as Halls Gap has had blue skys and sunshine for the last half hour
Well thank god that travesty of a sport is over. 3x gallopers first 100m of first heat, false start 2nd heat, $2 fave gallops 3rd heat. Large 20m+ margins to most horses when they were still 3.5seconds outside track record.
Highlights were Bolt for Brilliance put in a ripper, first two across the line in first heat lived up to hype and Brittany Graham snagging leaders back and Herbertson showing initiative after the fave galloped were good drives in the third heat. Not sure how many horses have went from last in a NR70-100 to winning a ID heat! Hopefully a thing of signs to come this series for Jodi Quinlan !
Act now!!!!!!!!!
We could have got $8 Breno!
They are raving about Expensive Ego BUT why not consider that Act Now could beat him again if he had his back or the lead
They were referencing Louis back row draw and Hamilton alluded McCarthys driving will be fine...too bad Lukes not driving him...
They also consistently bag Honolua Bay. Think that will backfire at some stage
Backfired straight away. Can we get two worse form analysts offering their opinion?
Sure did
But they are good presenters. Last time/Vic Cup they had JB in studio with them doing the analysis
The Stewart stable in the background tonight and yet 2/2 heats - can Wildfire or Narutac make it three
Looking at the drone shots they are showing us of the parade ring and the public area in front of it - last time I was at Ballarat for a big night (Derby heats a couple of years back?), this alfresco area was packed with people but I cannot see anyone in those drone shots
and congratulations to Anne on an Inter heat win!
How weak is the 2nd heat on Tuesday!
Unlucky for Act Now - if he draws front over the short distance he simply wins
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...22#SPM29112201
Heat 4 looks a pretty simple Tri but the market has found them. Mach Dan should be crossing, I Cast No Shadow and Luke will be happy to death seat with Ego. Which order they finish in who knows. Act Now has drawn horrible and will find a plethora of horses such as Black Prince, Wolf Stride, Like a Wildfire and Zuess Bromac hard to get past over the sprint trip from back there so the win night 1 was crucial. Ego the place $1.54 looks well overs on last nights run but how much trust he has given a few past flops in past 12 months to invest a worthwhile amount I don't know.
Heat 5 Tactically interesting, and probably weakest, heat here. If I was BBTB I would be trying to lead. Showed some gate speed last night and if he hands up he risks landing too far back on the marker line because I think the first horse to greet him will be Nuratac who they like to drive with a sit. Spirit of St Louis should be able to work across to the chair, and it usually takes a good one to beat him home if he's close to the action but I think these are probably the 2nd raters, so this is his heat for the taking. $2.80 currently available. $4.84 place for BBTB.
Heat 6
On first glance it looks like Better Eclipse leads, Honolua Bay sits outside him. But then you said Alta Orlando on the front line. Better Eclipse may actually be one horse that can still hold him out though. Majestic Cruiser a shocker of a draw, Cam Hart has some thinking to do but should still pick up enough handy points. Think I'll sit out of this heat.
Ego, Mach Dan, Honolua Bay, Better Eclipse and even Naruatac Prince should cement their place in the final field here.
Act Now, Majestic Cruiser, Spirit of St Louis, I Cast No Shadow should get themselves very close.
Zuess Bromac, Black Prince, Alta Orlando could be right on the periphery as well but a few others could join them.