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Were 'involved' at Riccarton too..for a while..but the 'involvement' became much too stressful for management and staff...!

Thanks RR it's going ok. Undeniably there are no barriers to talking horses within different breeds. It does usually take some specialist training however. Based on my research thus far, it is clearly evident that the thoroughbreds more often have at least bilingual skills moreso than their standardbred counterparts. Now the dishlickers are useless. Never heard of, nor would I ever care for a talking greyhound. That lot should all be banned, no greyhound racing at all, don't even get me started. The only talking dog I ever cared for was Scooby Doo. I specialize in the harness code, but have a rough enough knowledge of the gallops. But I must agree with you that Mr Appleby is definitely a top international trainer. Any one that can train different languages into a horse is certainly a remarkable talent indeed. One thing that I have noticed however is that in the harness game, there is bugger all talking from the horses at the moment. No trainer has come out via the media lately and said "he'll tell us when he is ready..." Not sure why this is. Perhaps the latest events that have transpired (police raids etc), have put the wind up a lot of standardbreds. I was hovering about the stables area a few weeks ago and the horses were all very quiet. Then as I was climbing up the grandstand stairs at Addington, I realised why.....

Strap yourself in Iriklis

I suppose in Monty Python's world or having passed through the looking glass with Alice, the excellence of a nz record driving year for Mr Orange and the professional excellemce of Mark Purdon and Natalee Rasmusson and also Robt and John Dunn goes unnoticed. Must not even be mentioned. let alone rewarded . No pure coincidence.. What an insult to poss themost talented Trainers and drivers Canterbury ever seen. SHAME

Surgery to stabilize her spine went very well so the surgeon said. He has protected the spinal cord form any more damage. Bit early for a result, but we are hoping for some more improvements in her movement

Just lookin up results and watchin video of Trials from Tues down south, returnin Allstars guns fired off nicely loads to look forward to there Machete looked solid yep yep yep, cant wait to seem all fightin fit and in the flesh again...... Cheers Iraklis

Agree with the positive comments. Mark is a complete professional and has a great work ethic. These are a couple of the reasons Royce Dowling supported Mark when he originally came out here. He will be missed in NZ, but completely understand if he decides to stay in Queensland. I will miss the money he donates to me at golf, but it is what it is.

Nada wurries JL yeh I noticed that too re the Lasix, I think twas more a 'typo' than anything, I am goin to hold to 'The Wonder From Down Under' we must stay positive.....I scan as many sites as I can for info since Lazzies trainers website is so far out of date, his last listed item under news is 2014 huh?! I know one of his owners was somewhat disappointed with The Champs last run but Takter and Yannick were quite happy, so here's hopin Laz has come thru that virus etc and is ready to rock......GOOOOOO!!! THE CHAMP!!!!!!! I'm with you and your thoughts JL 'GET MARK OVER THERE' hehehe I mean there was talk of Mark goin over there bit later for his bigger races, sod that get him there now I say..... Cheers Iraklis

He will because he has a great work ethic, never stops trying and does not listen to the knockers,wish him well there he is a really good guy and a very decent rider.

Oh those grandstand riders...they always ride better than the real jocks...

Zabeel / Sir Tristram blood. My current project. Clouds first barrier.mp4

He's on his way? Are you his manager or just having a laugh? A win strike rate of 13.4 in Brisbane Metro this season - and that's off the back of two average NZ seasons with SR's of 11.64 and 9.37 respectively. If he continues to ride as he did today 7 rides for a couple of 3rds, and a piss poor effort on SORNJA in the last in Bris: 3 wide the trip, in the last 3 of the field - the only thing he'll be on his way to, is back home to NZ

Think you are on the wrong page...the curator that came to manukau was from Melbourne and is still the head curator over there...his recommendations were not implemented at all.....it went back to the same old thing.....it was one reason I got of the committee at auckland......dosnt matter what the committee decides robers and Robert's do what they want....the camber changed back to what it was when the track was built...nothing to do with any abandonment...

Amazing now the tracks ready and you can trial friday?????so will it be the same mutton heads that decided the track carnt ne fixed that now decide after 2days it's all good.....unbelievable

Clearly he was still down on his best last start. The thing with viruses is that a horse can seem perfectly normal and it is only when the pressure really goes on at the business end of a race that you find out if they are still suffering from the effects of the illness. If he turns up in the form he was in when he won the Dan Patch he should be winning this.

crusty Sir Mainlander was a bay gelding bred in 1994 by Vision Quest out of Ichiban. He raced 20 times in NZ for 3 wins 4 seconds 1 third 1 fourth and 2 fifths and Stakes of $30,900. He won his first two starts both at Waipa on 3/6/98 and 4/7/98. He then ran second at Te Rapa and then won his fourth start at Ellerslie on the 15/8/98.

yeah - those naughty Christchurch girls never could behave

Thanks for the post RR, loved reading that......in passing.....we were driving through Beckhampton, [as you do] and made a point of dropping into Roger Charlton's stables, unannounced, no appointment.[as you don't[ and didn't expect the world, only to have Roger's PA give us a guided tour. What an amazing stables, and the downs/heath across the road on which they worked their horses....simply amazing. We were lucky to see Al Khazeem and none other than Time Test!.....that was 2014, the following year we were over in the UK for business and went to the Rowley Mile and saw Time Test win the Joel Stakes. ......so lovely to see TT now at Little Avondale.....hope he gets plenty of nice mares, I just feel he'll do a great job being a son of Dubawi. and from Abdullah's great family.

yes and no gimme from 6 with mcwicked inside. He will need another 1.48 I pick to win andfrom last Sunday travel and race pretty hard task.like running a miracle mile every week ! To protect their millions invested they should get someone over from NZ real quick.(even if it costs $50 k.(who knows him and not doing much at the moment}

The AS barn will no doubt have another great season come what may. Try getting a horse in there for starters, there's plenty who will pay their fees without question but you have to have the right cattle. From what ive heard its 2yr old time very soon. Many will be tried and many wont get to Rolleston

JJ mate I couldn't give a rats patootie bout that other lot GOOOOOO!!!! The Mighty AllStars!!!! I say, and just cos there's crap goin on don't mean Mark and the crew can't keep on truckin as norms...... Cheers Iraklis

They sending him around again??? Geez they dont miss the poor guy...

Dont speak too loudly or positively about team AS or you will upset the non believers and conspiracy theorists who come for a peak from that other place

Seen this reported in Racing Post and had a quick look at website . Does show what innovation and free thinking a more open market gives. Tote monopoly does get a bit stale imho. Not sure this betconnect is worth the stress of fathoming out unless big time punter so not for likes of me but may make corporates push on more if it takes off.

In that case he will need to take his Ali Express pocket sized Hubble Space telescope if he ever gets a commentators gig for the Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket at Autumn time , literally miles away at the start , starts in Cambridgeshire and finishes in Suffolk and technically run on two racecourses. Newmarket a pure test of a horse and great viewing for final 600 metres the rest a moving dot on the landscape.

Democrats are in such deep trouble they are leading in almost every swing state. November will tell the story, not this bollocks.

True and most likely not interested in CC awards . (sponsored by Claytons this year)

Well, if you want to take this in it's context......Petone.

PS. Have no probs with award winners for their efforts,inc M House. Although I have asked that all races Manawatu this season are run for horses "north of Cook Straight" !

Hats off to those who give up their time to run such events. What I would like to see in the results is a reason why they won, it's all very well to spread the glory but with out a explanation as to why they won it leaves us all guessing.

I attended and found a really positive mood. Everyone I spoke to enjoyed themselves and the turnout was excellent. It was reassuring at this time to see so many people who are passionate about Harness Racing gathered in one room. Not sure what would have been achieved by a postponement. In a crisis and hard times I believe keep calm and carry on is the only to go. Well done to those who organised the event.

Hey John, might be worth looking at previous winners of these awards. The are, and as far as I can remember, always given to other people who don't win the premiership, but more those who have excelled above their norm in the season just gone. Don't look at this as those who organised it trying to run blind from what is going on - this is exactly what they do every single year.

Being in attendance the mood on the night was vibrant not subdued. The brief does not mean that leading, highest earner etc has to be the winner of any of awards. These awards are about rewarding not necessarily winners. Far from amateurish as lot of effort and time put in by people who give for free.

Would be interesting to know what would have been posted here if they had tried a droppie & MISSED, so ending the game.

Long Owner and Lee do not appear to have any knowledge or acceptance of Police operating procedures where warrants based on possible Drug usage and supply. are executed.

Rusty, iam a fan of Charlie Appleby based at Newmarket , a top international trainer. It appears when he educates his yearly intake of Darley bred youngsters and expensively purchased youngsters lessons in speech are an important part of the training process. Quorta a son of Dubawi headed over to the Curragh and won the group 1 National Stakes overnight NZ time.Mr Appleby is reported in the Racing Post when asked about future plans to have stated " he's an exciting horse, but he'll tell us where he's at". So there you go Rusty throughbreds when in the right learning environment can talk as well as a standardbreds. I hope the research is going well.

The AFL semi on Saturday was played after the AB's v Boks game, so you could have watched both. It wasn't a great game by any means. The Dee's v Hawks the previous evening was vastly superior.

She’s the best for sure, the best I’ve seen (incl KTown, Sunline, BC, Manikato etc, but - as for the “best performance” by a horse? I reckon 3 Melb Cup wins (in a row) by Makybe Diva, carrying 51kg, 55.5kg and 58kg, is the best achievement. It will never be done again - whilst it’s a Hcp race imho.

Well the NZ Nitball team got a new coach and captain ,bowing to public pressure and it didn't help them ! The rugby result probably worst for Kiwis living in Australia ,then Aussie loses to Argies when their best player Folau fails to make a simple pass ! The 3 x guys you bag are the "best evers" and most times make good decisions ,thats why the recent record are best-evers. Its kinda good for the game the odd loss.It gets boring when the Boks and Wallabies are consistently rissoled. What really matters these days is Women's Rugby and we keep winning at that !

I don't get it! how could they overlook Mark Purdon and the Allstars, the mind boggles.... Cheers Iraklis