Could someone please ask the question!!!

[broncobrad]

If Michael Formosa gets done six months for tapping on the gig and not improving his horses position when the opportunity arose can someone pleeaase tell me what Michael Hardy was doing on Chinghi in the fourth at Young today from the one gate?

Vision http://www.trotstv.com.au/?mc=YU011112&rn=4

In the first score up the horse galloped and was left hopeless until another horse broke and forced a false start. Take two and the fav although a bit rough in its gear just hands up, ends up 3 pegs and that was where he was going to stay, even though the horse didn't want to be there.

If the drive doesn't figure in the stewards report, then I will say here and now that Michael Formosa has no case to answer.

[Danno]

G'day Brad,
I didn't see the live action..only the replay you provided the link for..and on that replay alone, I can't agree that it was a crook drive mate..the horse was very iffy out of the gate and indeed almost throught the entire first corner, the only opportunity Hardy has to leave the rails early in the race was just as he has finished wrestling the horse into it's gait, and then the opportunity disappears until its all over! There was not one single opportunity for Hardy to even contemplate using a bit of shoulder to gain a run...and yes I agree with you wholeheartedly...the horse wasn't happy about it either!!

Cheers,
Dan

[broncobrad]

On the intermediate (I am calling it that because I don't know what else to call it) stewards report issued in conjunction with the race result, looks like the stewards are going to see it the same way as you Dan. Depends on what we see and what our personal expectations are on how we read into a race. Then we see how the stewards reported on the event.

http://www.harness.org.au/meeting-re...sw#YUC01111201 The report said the horse showed gate speed, surely this is a typo or they are just not watching the start. What gate speed?

Dan, I agree with you that the horse was a handful and Hardy did a great job to get the horse around the first corner without causing mayhem. But if you are on the fav over 1700 at Young, wouldn't you think when that opportunity to get off the pegs into the back straight presented, putting the horse into the race instead of wrestling the animal and anchoring 3 back would be the reasonable expectation of an observer of the race. Hindsights a bitch but look at the 2nd qtr and you will see 'grand larceny sic' is taking place by the leader with a 34 something. Last start Chinghi lead from the SECOND row at Canberra 22/10/12 for an easy win. Before that he was racing some smart horses at the Eugowra carnival where he went extra well. I think any punter who has supported the horse has every right to expect a more positive drive from Hardy especially going into the back the first time.

[Greg Hando]

RACE 4 – TABCORP PARK MENANGLE WHERE HORSES FLY SERIES HEAT – 1700 METRES
Pre race swab samples were taken from FIRST CLASS ACT.
A warning was placed on the record of CHINGHI which galloped free of interference at the first attempt of the score up.
A warning was placed on the racing record of AUNTY DAWN which galloped free of interference in the score up causing a false start.
CHINGHI made the first turn awkwardly inconveniencing PADDY CARMODY.
CHINGHI was inclined to over race during the middle stages.
FOUR JOKERS was obliged to race very wide rounding the home turn.
Stewards report Race 4
Rounding the home turn MCARDLES CHANCE hung out and contacted the sulky of ROCKET SEAL and galloped. A warning was placed on the record of MCARDLES CHANCE.
CHINGHI was held up for clear running in the home straight.
FIRST CLASS ACT was held up for clear running in the early stages of the home straight.
When questioned regarding the performance of AUNTY DAWN driver A Frisby explained that the mare hung out briefly on straightening for the run home making contact with the sulky of PADDY CARMODY. He said from this point AUNTY DAWN did not finish the race off as expected however he felt this was due to the inconvenience suffered in the incident.
Post race swab samples were taken from FORTY SEVEN GEMS.

Personally i looked at it different than the stewards as well. I believe he should have got off the fence when entering the back straight the first time and let it race freely as the horse has previously led and also raced in the death at previous runs and when your on the fav more should be expected IMO.

[Danno]

Brad and Greg,
I hear what you are both saying but the opportunity to get off the fence only appeared for a very short time, less than 2 or 3 seconds I'd reckon, sure he's on the fav but the horse has just given him a big surprise by blowing the first start and then going like a crippled crab for the first 300 metres, so speaking from a driver's perspective he wants to get the horse safely balanced up before he can even contemplate getting off the pegs and by that time the door shuts and does so for the rest of the event.

I really think it was a case of the horse doing what horses are good at....being a bit unpredictable and then paying for it because he has drawn the pole.

cheers,
Dan

[broncobrad]

Dan, my experience behind them is restricted to driving a few around on a tight training track probably getting on to 20 years ago now. Remember working an unraced 3yr old trailing two others. How I kept it out of the cart in front that day I will never know, reefing, head up legs all over the place, got a bit of a fright that day. Needless to say that was as far as any further ambitions of driving went...brains before bravery, but I loved it all the same. So I get what you are saying too, the driver showing horsemanship to keep Chinghi balanced and upright. It is my 'unprofessional' opinion only, that I thought he had a an undeniable window of opportunity to put his horse into the race in a steady manner, that would not have inconvenienced any other runner and would given his horse every chance to finish in a more 'forward' position. And really, thats just what it is, an opinion...everybodys got one, depends from what perspective you look at it.

Triple used to say that 'in his opinion' harness had more pressing issues with punters, not because of any unseen doping issues, but moreso the in-your-face blatantly crooked drives that were there for all to see and harming harness racings image no end. I'm not saying this was a crook drive, I am saying IMO, punters who did their arse on something that looked over the line on form, have reason to feel agrieved that the stewards didn't even ask the question. I can cop a good excuse, but lets have someone ask the question first.

[2minuteman]

Watched the race as it was run and after missing the first score-up the horse was almost out of its gear on the turn in to the straight for the restart and then tossed head around for the first lap.At the time I thought the driver should have hopped off of the fence down the back (first time) and considering that the horse obviously resented being restrained was surprised when he didn't.Watching the replay this opinion was reinforced.
As for the drive,in the old days someone would have said he was probably,"in the bag" but we don't say that anymore,do we?

[broncobrad]

Have put this one under this topic because someone DID ask the question, but I can't say that I agree with it. Kevin Pizzuto again falls foul of the stewards, this time charged with an unacceptable drive on Leading Lavros over the mile at Menangle. My feeling is he has earnt the stewards wraith because his horse has finished 51m last after applying strong pressure to the leader and odds-on favourite which went under by a lip with broken gear to boot. Stewards must have a dickens of a time deciding on what is acceptable and unacceptable, because (apart from his horse finishing last) I thought he was entitled to force the issue for as long as he did to see what the leader was made of. In his last 3 starts he has been fired out of the gate and contested the lead. How many times have we seen leaders continually hand up to Luke McCarthy trained horses in exactly the same circumstances making these 1609m affairs predictable and boring and Americanised.

It shits me no end when someone has the audacity to drive outside the normal patterns that we have come to expect and be punished for actually turning the race into a race. If you think I am talking through my pocket you are wrong. I actually backed the fav that withstood all that pressure and just got bloused but got beat fair and square. If he chose to appeal this I think he could win it easily however that all becomes moot now because of his behaviour in the stewards room that night defending this charge. He will serve the charge concurrently with the new charges of misconduct for which he has previous form, in fact as a result of a suspended sentence for misconduct on the track at Bankstown if I recall correctly that extra time will now be served. Kevin is obviously a very passionate man and his will to succeed at all costs has landed him in hot water on numerous occassions to his own detriment. I can defend his drive but cannot condone the lack of respect he has shown for the stewards. No matter how frustrated he must feel at these times, he has got to show restraint and respect, and there are other forums to fight these charges without making matters worse for yourself.

Does anyone view his drive in the same light as the stewards?

The story...http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=102495

The stewards report...http://www.harness.org.au/stewards-r...fm?mc=ME081212 (Cannot access the inquiry, can anyone help?)

[mightymo]

Brad

I have to STRONGLY disagree. I thought the drive was absolutely woeful. Sure he has the right to come out of the gate and try get the lead, but it soon became apparent that was not going to happen. he persisted and persisted with his horse then compunding and being beaten 51m.

I think he got off incredibly lightly for his drive alone. if I had my way, drivers would be getting MONETARY penalties. Giving drivers like him 6 weeks means absolutely nothing. Give drivers a 5K or 10K fine and we will soon clean up this sort of behaviour.

I dont know Kevin at all, but he clearly is very passionate and knows how to train horses. However, he might be better suited having someone else drive them

PS - you should see the thought of the drive on other forums. Every single person thought it was disgraceful and worse still he is a repeat offender. They wanted him banned for life!

[Big Max]

I'm with you Harvey.I'm pretty sure that one of the rules is something along the lines of "give your horse all possible chance to win the race" i'm pretty confident that a 54.6 first half for a standard M0 does not give your horse all possible chance.Shame because he looks like a talented trainer.