APG Heats

[buster]

fly like an eagle will win the final and mr nickel will run second

theres my prediction

[Zipper]

All,

I agree with Buster and am tipping Fly Like an Eagle as I feel he is a more mature horse at this stage and has proven himself already. I do think however that this time next year gamechanger will be the horse everyone is talking about. Both horses are good for harness racing regardless....

[triplev123]

You may well be right Buster.
Perhaps Auckland Reactor has just made me a little suspicious of the credentials of Kiwi trained sons of Mach Three that get very soft mid race fractions all alone on a gifted lead.
C'mon now Mightymo, that's gotta get your blood pumping surely.

[Termite]

Can anyone shed any light on the beaten brigade from the heats won by the two horses. ie, Did Fly Like An Eagle or Gamechanger beat anyone who has shown a bit thus far?

[triplev123]

G'day Termite,
The APG Heats are seeded so the good ones get spread out/ parachuted into each race. Often, unless they've met previously somewhere else, that makes it very hard to get a clear line on them. I can't speak for the VIC line-up because I haven't watched them that closely at all to date however the horse that finished 2nd to Gamechanger at Menangle the other night is going to be pretty smart. He might not be right up to them at the moment but his time will come. He won quite well first up at Menangle at a weekday meeting but in much slower time (low 58s I think). A good colt though just the same. He is a half brother to Magic Operative.

[Termite]

Thanks Triple,
I didn't realise that the horses were seeded in this series, but now you point that out it certainly makes sense, especially when places in the final are so scarce. I will be interested to see how many interstaters travel to Melton to have a shot at the second round of points.

[triplev123]

G'day Termite,
I have long thought the practice of seeding the noms then spreading out the good ones through the Heats is disgraceful.
If there are, for example, 30 noms for any Heat & Final race that are needing to be broken down to 10 in each Heat...then there should be 3 completely random draws of 10 horses each from that initial Pool of 30...with the chips falling where they may...then barriers should be drawn within those 10 set for each Heat. If that means that 2 or 3 of the hot pots draw into the same Heat and they have to go at it from the jump to make the Final then so be it.
This seeding rotuine it is not only applicable to the APG but also the ABC Heats & so on & there are no doubt many other events that are similarly conducted so few if any are without shame in this regard. The current system of Grandfathering certain horses into the Final by way of ensuring that they face lesser initial opposition in the Heats should be dispensed with immediately. It is an anti-competitive practice IMO.

[Greg Hando]

G'day Termite,
I have long thought the practice of seeding the noms then spreading out the good ones through the Heats is disgraceful.
If there are, for example, 30 noms for any Heat & Final race that are needing to be broken down to 10 in each Heat...then there should be 3 completely random draws of 10 horses each from that initial Pool of 30...with the chips falling where they may...then barriers should be drawn within those 10 set for each Heat. If that means that 2 or 3 of the hot pots draw into the same Heat and they have to go at it from the jump to make the Final then so be it.
This seeding rotuine it is not only applicable to the APG but also the ABC Heats & so on & there are no doubt many other events that are similarly conducted so few if any are without shame in this regard. The current system of Grandfathering certain horses into the Final by way of ensuring that they face lesser initial opposition in the Heats should be dispensed with immediately. It is an anti-competitive practice IMO.

Very well said Triple couldn't agree more i think you will find most races of any class are seeded even in country areas for co heats and finals etc

[buster]

G'day Termite,
I have long thought the practice of seeding the noms then spreading out the good ones through the Heats is disgraceful.
If there are, for example, 30 noms for any Heat & Final race that are needing to be broken down to 10 in each Heat...then there should be 3 completely random draws of 10 horses each from that initial Pool of 30...with the chips falling where they may...then barriers should be drawn within those 10 set for each Heat. If that means that 2 or 3 of the hot pots draw into the same Heat and they have to go at it from the jump to make the Final then so be it.
This seeding rotuine it is not only applicable to the APG but also the ABC Heats & so on & there are no doubt many other events that are similarly conducted so few if any are without shame in this regard. The current system of Grandfathering certain horses into the Final by way of ensuring that they face lesser initial opposition in the Heats should be dispensed with immediately. It is an anti-competitive practice IMO.

if they don't seed them, then i just nominate with m purdon as my driver and they then put you in a different heat to purdons horses

[Termite]

Cunning plan Buster! I hope you use such genius for good and not evil! This whole subject of seeding does present a few inequities. As does the clause allowing owners and trainers to avoid their own horses. I suppose the only fair way is to throw them all in the hat and let them fall as they will. The APG and the industry administrators obviously see the need to facilitate a blockbuster final where possible...