** Official Cricketweb Horseracing thread **

[Smudge]

I think the connections of Coniston Bluebird might be in for a shock come Derby day. In saying that, of course, I've set myself up to be massively embarrassed if he wins.

 

[_Ed_]

And I am. But less of my comments than of the quality of our horses. FFS, that was a disgrace.

This horse ran 5th in a 6-horse Rating 80 field in his last Australian start. Yep, looks like a Derby winner to me.

 

[_Ed_]

Watching the race again, I excuse Tell A Tale from my tirade against the quality of NZ horses. Although the track improved during the day it was still pretty wet, and he didn't really handle it but still ran a huge and brave race. IMO he would have pissed in on a dry track.

 

[_Ed_]

So Troy Harris gets 3 months for cannabis use.

Now, I'm no fan of cannabis (can't stand the stuff), and it sounds like he was pretty stupid, but is it really as serious as the time Darryl Bradley got the same penalty for calling the sponsors of the 'triple crown' bonus Fritzy Boy was going for to ask what was in it for him if he ensured the horse was beaten?

That changed by opinion of Darryl Bradley forever, this won't change my opinion of Harris.

 

[Smudge]

Since I wrote most of this myself, I have no problems pinching it. Although I won't quote the source...

New Zealand will have high hopes for the 2009 Watpac Interdominion Pacing Championship, which starts with four heats at Parklands Raceway on the Gold Coast, Australia this Saturday.

Kiwi horses competing in the heats include Auckland Cup champion Auckland Reactor, New Zealand Cup champion Changeover as well as Mr Feelgood, Awesome Armbro, Gotta Go Cullen, Zenad and Report for Duty.

The first heat of the Interdominons (R5, 11.00pm) will feature star Kiwi pacer Changeover, who has drawn well at 5 (on the front line). However, he will have to get in front of Decorated Jasper (1) who has plenty of gate speed. He’ll also need to keep an eye on Mister Swinger (7) who has a good burst of speed. Changeover is paying Fixed Odds of $1.90 to win his heat. For the latest odds for this heat click here

The second heat (Race 6, 11.30pm) features Mr Feelgood, the former open-class American pacer who is now owned by Australians but trained by Canterbury's Tim Butt. He'll have Tim's brother Anthony driving him but the big problem for him is his draw of 7 (the outside of the front line). Pace in the early stages will come from I Am Sam (2), Smoken Up (4) and Iron Hudge (3). Mr Feelgood is paying Fixed Odds of $4.60 to win his heat behind Smoken Up ($2.10), Iron Hodge ($3.60), and I Am Sam ($4.40). For the latest odds for this heat click here

Three-time Interdominion champion Blacks A Fake is in the third heat (Race 7, midnight) but he has drawn badly at one on the second line (8) and if he stayed there, could be three or four-back on the pegs which isn't ideal over the short one-mile (1609m) journey.

New Zealand’s hopes rest with Awesome Armbro (renamed Our Awesome Armbro in Australia due to another horse already being registered under that name) who is in barrier 4, but he will need to cross the former Kiwi pacer Washakie (3) to ensure a slightly easier trip. Blacks a Fake is paying Fixed Odds of $1.60 to win his heat and Our Awesome Ambro, Fixed Odds of $4.00. For the latest odds for this heat click here

The final heat (Race 8, 12.30am) should be Auckland Reactor's for the taking. He's drawn 4 and even if he can't get the lead, he should be able to sit outside any of this field, which includes Kiwi horses Report For Duty (2) and Gotta Go Cullen (7). It should be the easiest heat. Another former Kiwi, Power of Tara (6) couldn't win in Victoria last weekend, so shouldn't pose a great threat.

Auckland Reactor is red-hot favourite with the New Zealand TAB to win his heat, paying Fixed Odds of $1.10. His nearest rival is Zenad, paying $9.00. Gotta Go Cullen and Report for Duty are paying $21.00 each. For the latest odds for this heat click here

NB: Odds are as at 5pm, Thursday 12 March.

This really is a fascinating Inter Dom series with the only disappointment being the withdrawal of Melpark Major and Divisive. While Divisive is a horse that can only really profit with the one run at them, Melpark Major would have turned things into a three-way battle between him (the son of the much despised sire Iraklis, whose other progeny are barely capable of a two-minute mile), three-time I'Dom champ Blacks A Fake and the new star Auckland Reactor.

 

[headhunter]

Made a killing at Cheltenham on Kauto Best 3mile chaser ever?

 

[Smudge]

Canterbury's race commentator Darren Tyquin died in a car crash this morning - covered both the gallops and trots so he'll leave a pretty big hole in the industry.

 

[_Ed_]

Very sad news. He was one of the nicer guys to work with at Radio Trackside, and I always rated him highly as a gallops caller.

 

[_Ed_]

Culminate has restored my faith in the quality of our thoroughbreds.

She's a very honest and consistent performer over here, who has at times this season been outclassed - particularly by Ruud Van Slaats. But she ran a heroic race at G1 level in Sydney, and the 5kg weight difference could have been the difference between 1st and 2nd.

 

[Smudge]

Still didn't win.

 

[cover drive man]

Todays picks were;

2:10 Huntingdon: Horseford hill 11/8, came in a place at 3 which means you wouldnt profit on a single but on a multiple it could prove good.

4:10 Huntingdon: Gizmondo 7/2

4:40 Huntingdon: General ledger 4/1

5:00 Wincanton: Well green 6/1

 

[cover drive man]

Nothing yesterday.

Today;

Plumpton

2:30-Know the law (£1 Win) 11/8
3:05-Bugsy's boy (Win) 6/5
3:40-She's humble (Each way) 7/1
4:15-Mucho loco (Each way) 4/1
4:50-Roisin's prince (Each way) 14/1
5:20-Pavarottis brother (Each way) 18/1
5:50-Annie confidential (Each way) 8/1

Kempton

2:10-You're the top (Win) 4/9
2:40-Balthazar king (Win) 6/4
3:15-Tarotino (Win) 2/1
3:50-Pepsyrock (Win) 5/6
4:25-Patsy Finnegan (Win) 11/8
5:00-Power king (Win) 10/11
5:30-Flirtatious (Win) EVS

Wolverhampton

1:50-Ninth house (each way) 14/1
2:20-Cap St Jean (each way) 4/1
2:50-Mrs Bun (Win) 3/1
3:25-Bridgewaterboys (Win) 6/4
4:00-Trip switch (Win) 2/1
4:35-Romantic Verse (Win) 10/3
5:10-Kiyari (Win) 10/3
5:40-Harty boy (Each way) 9/1

 

[_Ed_]

Still didn't win.

I don't think that matters. She earnt respect on the other side of the Tasman, from people who were scoffing at the fact that she couldn't even beat Sir Slick in the Thorndon.

She didn't win, but she doesn't win that often over here either - I think she's only won three times this season, and it wasn't until New Year's Day this year that she won her first stakes race after countless minor placings.

It took a special performance from an unbeaten horse (who had a big weight advantage) that some are now calling a freak to beat her, and several highly-rated fillies and mares were left in her dust.

With the substantial boost to her value as a broodmare that performance brings, I don't think the owners have anything to be unhappy about.

 

[Smudge]

I think it does - aside from Nom De Jeu last year, it's been eons since a NZ horse went across and won a Group One, let alone dominated. I'm sick of horses finishing second in Aussie - make the step up.

Then again, when the likes of Auckland Reactor get the visitors' draw, you do wonder about the level playing field...


(kidding - his connections had the first pick of the draw)

 

[_Ed_]

Yeah, that's true.

We can probably still claim Alamosa (who won the G1 Toorak in October), though. He's still NZ-owned. And I have high hopes for Mufhasa in the Doncaster - Mufhasa > Culminate by at least a couple of lengths.

 

[cover drive man]

Yesterdays result: -£4.77

Todays selections;

Southwell

2:10-Peter Pole (£1 Win) 2/7
2:40-Killard Point (win) 11/10
3:10-Van Ness (50p Eachway 1/5 1,2,3) 9/2
3:40-Dais Return (Win) 6/4
4:10-Valiant Shadow(Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 7/4
4:40-Prophete De Guye (each way 1/4 1,2,3,4) 4/1
5:10-No Super (Each way 1/4 1,2,3) 11/4

Sedgefield

2:30-Presque Perdre (Win) 4/6,
3:00-Deadline ( Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 7/2
3:30-Master Nimbus (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 5/2
4:00-Sycho Fred (Each way 1/4 1,2,3) 9/2
4:30-Classic Act (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 6/1
5:00-Jimmys Duky (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 6/1

Lingfield

2:20-Why Nee Amy (Each Way 1/5 1,2,3) 4/1
2:50-Muraweg (Win) 8/15
3:20-Moon Crystal (Each Way 1/5 1,2,3) 9/4
3:50-Green Velvet (Each way 1/4 1,2,3) 7/4
4:20-Bajan Tryst (Win) 4/6
4:50-Bavarica (Each way 1/4 1,2) 9/2

 

[steds]

Yesterdays result: -£4.77

Nice to know I'm not the only one who can't pick 'em. Sticking to betting on ball games these days, with not much more success.

 

[cover drive man]

Yesterdays result: -£0.48
Total:-£5.25

Todays selections

Towcester
2:10-Tara taylor (50p Each way 1/4 1,2,3,4) 8/1
2:40-Just Standeese (Each way 1/4 1,2,3,4) 10/1
3:10-Pagano (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 10/3
3:40-Matcho pierji (£1 win) 6/4
4:10-Speed Bonnie Boat (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 15/8
4:40-Caveman (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 9/2

Lingfield
2:20-Failiyanne (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 13/2
2:50-The magic blanket (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 7/4
3:20-Sehoy (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 4/1
3:50-Dicoh (Win) 10/11
4:20-Bobski (Each way 1/4 1,2,3) 11/1
4:50-Perfect class (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 11/4
5:20-Shaded edge (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 3/1
5:50-Eastern aria (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 10/3

Taunton

2:30-King's alchemists (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 3/1
3:00-Schindler's son (Win) 5/2
3:30-Peter pole (Win) 1/4
4:00-Spanish conquest (Win) 4/7
4:30-Floradorado (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 9/2
5:00-The pious prince (Each way 1/4 1,2)
5:30-Alfie spinner (Win) 8/11

Kempton
6:50-Hakima (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 2/1
7:20-Highly regal (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 13/8
7:50-Pedasus (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 13/8
8:20-Phoenix flight (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 7/4
8:50-Spring quartet (Each way 1/4 1,2,3) 5/1
9:20-Super frank (Each way 1/5 1,2,3) 7/2

 

[Smudge]

Unfortunately, I don't think Auckland Reactor can win from 13 (well, 12 once Awesome Armbro is scratched) tomorrow night. Stupid situation holding the Inter Doms on a ****ing saucer of a track.

 

[Smudge]

Something I wrote for another forum:

Here is everything you need to know about the 2009 Watpac Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final to be held at Parklands Raceway on the Gold Coast tomorrow night (12.05am NZ time). I'll have to hope someone (read: anyone) replies.

The build-up to the series, let alone the final itself, has been fascinating. On one hand, we have Blacks A Fake - the three-times winner of this series, hunting for four straight series wins (unprecedented, with Our Sir Vancelot the only Kiwi to manage three wins). "Blackie" as he's affectionately known, had a bit of luck leading into the series - firstly, the 2009 and 2010 series were switched after the 2009 series was meant to be held in NSW, but due to the new NSW track Menangle opening last year, the HRNSW officials wanted another year to sort out their facilities. This means the series is literally in Blackie's backyard, as he's trained and driven by the Queensland-based Natalie Rasmussen.

On the other, we have Auckland Reactor, dubbed the "unbeatable, unbelievable" by the late Darren Tyquin, the Addington racecaller who tragically died in a car accident 8 days ago. The Mach Three entire has already captured the mainstream media's attention - firstly thanks to his brilliant wins as a 3-year-old, and then the sale of the horse from his breeders, Tony and Anne Parker, to a group of owners from around the world, who will eventually take him to the States before he hits the breeding paddock. Prior to the series, Auckland Reactor had gone down just the once - after losing 70 metres from a standing start at Cambridge, he went down by half a length or so to All Tiger back in January - and is justifiably considered the next big thing in the world (and I mean world) of harness racing.

But the first issue was whether he'd go to the series. At first, his co-trainer and driver Mark Purdon wasn't keen and he wasn't nominated, as there were no direct flights to the Gold Coast, and such an arduous journey was a big ask for a 4-year-old. But once he got beaten, I think the owners relaxed a bit and thought "why not?".

So up he rocked - but that's where the fun really started. The series consists of two rounds of heats and the final (there were also other points up for grabs earlier in the season, but that's not too relevant) and the Reactor got drawn in a relatively easy heat in the first round on March 14. The problem begun when Purdon pulled him back off the gate at the start of the mile race (ie, he didn't try and go to the lead from the start of the race). The tight-turning Parklands track then caught Purdon out - the three-wide train (horses moving up on the outside) came very early and all of a sudden, the horse and driver found themselves a long way off the leader, Karloo Mick, with 400m to go. I've been talking to one of the media guys over there quite regularly, and he said he has NEVER seen a pacer travel as quickly as AR did over the last 200 metres.

But I digress, because he lost. And punters were NOT happy, considering he went out as a $1.04 favourite. So Purdon gets dragged into the stewards' room, grilled over his drive and - eventually on the Wednesday - gets suspended for six weeks. Last Saturday, they got the master reinsman Tony Herlihy to drive, and he ground a field including I Am Sam, Washakie and Iron Hudge into the dust. The problem there was Herlihy also drove a great in another heat behind the horse he trains, Gotta Go Cullen, thus forcing AG Herlihy to drive Gotta Go Cullen in the final (due to the rules).

So after much debate, the great Aussie driver Gavin Lang got the drive. But this was after the barrier draw was completed and - would you believe it - Blacks A Fake drew 1 (inside of the front line), while AR drew 13 (out wide on the second line). While the final is over 2609m rather than the heats (which were 1609m on the first Saturday and 2100m last Saturday), the Reactor still has his work well and truly cut out if he is going to be one of the few four-year-olds to claim the series.

So what's going to happen? Obviously, Blacks A Fake will be driven hard from the start of the race to ensure he holds the lead, although I don't see him leading the whole way as he was run down last week by Changeover. Who else will go hard from the start? Maybe Karloo Mick, maybe Washakie, and maybe the NZ-owned, driven and trained Changeover. Then again, I see David Butcher only semi-forcing the issue early and he should be able to cop a nice sit throughout the running.

Again though, the three-wide train I mentioned earlier comes into play. When does the Reactor move? It HAS to be sooner rather than later, or he'll be caught three-wide for a massive duration of the journey. The other fly in the ointment comes from the presence in the final of I Am Sam, a stablemate of Blacks A Fake. While you couldn't call it illegal team driving, there's little doubt he will sit parked right outside Blacks A Fake, thus forcing anyone making a move to stay three-wide.

If Auckland Reactor does win, every accolade that comes his way will not suffice - it will be the most brilliant of brilliant wins and he will be well on the way to joining the likes of Cardigan Bay and Lyell Creek as one of the greats of the sport. But unfortunately, I think the challenge on such a frustrating track (which has next to no camber on the bends), combined with the other factors at play (his draw, Blacks A Fake's draw, and I Am Sam featuring as a difficult obstacle) will be too much of an ask. If he runs in the top three, that's fantastic.

So who wins? My each-way money will actually be going on Changeover. He sat in behind Blacks A Fake last weekend and took him easily when he was let go up the sprint lane (and if you see the replay, David Butcher barely had to tap the reins over the rump), and while he won't lead, he should get an easy sit. Blacks A Fake isn't QUITE the horse he was a year ago, and I don't think Rasmussen has sounded terribly confident in her press comments. The other dark-ish horse is the former American pacer (now trained by Kiwi supremo Tim Butt) Mr Feelgood, who could have the last say if he gets a soft drag into the race (he is drawn 12, so will need it).

My top three? This is an incredibly tough race to pick, but I'm going to go with:

1st - Changeover
2nd - Mr Feelgood
3rd - Auckland Reactor.

In saying that, Blacks A Fake may win and I might look a bit stupid. But that'd hardly be the first time, would it?