Auckland Reactor sets out on Inters mission

[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..."