THE EXPAT

Can we get this thread back on track,regarding your preferences for noms & winners,of each category.Ending in your pick for GOTY? If at all you wish to continue with any other topics,start another thread & take it somewhere else please.

Yes I agree entirely Dusty,it's what defines a forum! Everyone's entitled to there opinion,for the last few weeks now there's been much discussion over here in each state about contenders,for individual awards as there season has just finished here also. They've just started there national series heats & finals in each state as well..culminating in the Australian National Sprint & Distance Championships being held in Perth WA this month. But most of the chatter taking place is who'll win the Australian GOTY,hence the reasoning why I created this post a few weeks back hoping we could also be proud of our product as well. So let's rid ourselves of the tunnel vision & allow people to post there thoughts,without being shot down in flames!

By the way it's a ballroom,having lived here in Oz now for 16mths,I've seen so many kiwi bred animals being claimed as there own over here.I've now decided on a different approach to imports into NZ when I arrive home. I don't care if there coming in from Alaska! Once there paws hit kiwi soil & are trained here,eat our feed & earn prize money,I'll consider them to be NZ greyhounds! Just as they do over here,may I suggest by taking this approach,it's not causing prejudice to any dog who's performed admirably throughout the year in NZ! And by the way if one does happen to turn up from Alaska,it won't be getting any of my hard earned let me tell you!!!

I find it hard to disagree,Lochinvar Brando finished the season off in grand style. As for Piggy Back,I pose the question has he done enough throughout the season,albeit he had his fair share of problems? Before I left for Oz he was clearly the best dog going around in NZ for mine. This is what I'm insinuating,it's not cut & dry by any means,try adding four noms to each distance,then throw in GOTY. It's enough to drive a man to drink.

Well everybody it's that time of the year,13/14 season has concluded with many outstanding individuals having a great year. Unlike most seasons in the past where we've had a standout,I think the judges this year will earn there place on the voting panel. Some of the judges may have preferred the old points system was still in vogue,for some of the categories as it's very hard. Jibberer are you still sticking to your guns,in your previous post? Will the judges stick to the norm,four noms per category & then select a winner for sprinter middle & distance? Does anybody have a feeling for an outsider,that could cause a sensation. For me declaring GOTY is by far the hardest! I'll be posting my noms & winners Wednesday week.Come on Dusty I regard you as a good judge,have a crack! Alltheway!!! I'm calling on you as well please. Let's make these so called good judges earn there place on the voting panel!!

She's had a great season this bitch,but she to went off the boil like Sozin's Comet Bright Star Dixie Lee just to name a few.Only hers was much earlier in the season,where she put in a half dozen ordinary runs,she'll go around again if she's fit & sound. And why not they can't win races sitting in kennels! Besides she's in great hands they wouldn't take any risks with her.she's a valuable breeding commodity this one! Anything that continuously runs fast will always place pressure on there body parts. She's another I like watching race,she's as game as they come..good luck to connections on a fine season.

Henery I concur with you entirely,as I wrote in my post yesterday this dogs record speaks for itself! His first race ever in NZ took place in a heat of the Galaxy which he won beating top sprinters.He buttered up a week later & according to his form finished third in his semi.He then took his spot in the ballot for the final which he never gained a start.Going by the dates he gave everybody a three month start to the NZ season & remarkably has finished on top of both standings & sprint titles,he's a deserved winner of the best sprinter in the land! Even if you do disagree with McInerney's ethics.Nothing can be taken away from the dog. I'm tipping my favourite dog racing in NZ at the minute Dream Collector,will be in the same position as Sozin's Comet by this time next year! And that's a leading contender amongst all the awards,yes he to has issues but he's got the right man in his corner,to iron out anything that stands in this dogs way!

Please accept my apology gary 1 for any inaccuracies I've written, I assure you it's not my intension to steal anyone's thunder. It's just one of the many pitfalls I suffer living away from home,very little coverage of NZ greyhound racing in Oz,other than my own research by way of the internet,on what's taking place at home.

Trainers will always take advantage,of rules that aren't set in stone! Granted it's not a good look,but that's always going to happen with a weak governing body? This will continue until a precedent is made,until then trainers will keep shifting the goal posts! Who can blame them It's not the trainers who are at fault,they have to eat too.Until something prevails all & sundry should be given the benefit of the doubt? Besides this thread has taken away some of the gloss from a sensational win today by Sozin's Comet. Obviously he's been going through some issues of late,but the real flying machine turned up there today! When this dogs fit & healthy & on song,as was evident today with a first time run there of 18.30 (for this time of the year simply low flying) recording the fastest time there for 2014.I'm sure most enthusiasts of our industry would agree,a worthy candidate for NZ Sprinter Of The Year! His record speaks for itself,he's raced & beaten the best on both Isle's,throw in a Group 2 unbeaten during the series culminating in ten wins in a row.But then again I maybe at fault?As that governing body couldn't be wrong again,after all there must be doubt if you don't win Greyhound Of The Month? It's my opinion! Our industry needs some leadership from the top down,at the end of the day the buck stops with the NZGRA!

I'm suggesting that it takes more than one view of this race,to actually grasp how big a run it was! This dog will always be under the pump,because of his inconsistent box manners,but take nothing away from the effort. At the point of impact,racing into the first corner it's not one,but two dogs that impede his momentum. It's not so much a check or a bump,but more so a shunt,it's where it takes place that costs him the race? The dogs obviously disorientated & loses sight of the lure,but when the penny drops he goes even wider still,to avoid anymore trouble. When watching the replay again,take note when he reaches the grader (parked in the back straight) how far off the leader he is? Please forgive me if I'm wrong..but I'd say a conservative ten lengths at least?..by the time DC reaches the leader & makes up all that ground "yes" he's out of gas! to be beaten a length & a tick would have to be considered a big run? After all this dog cuts & bleeds,just like every other dog going around,the last time I looked there was no motor attached? In anybody's language the run was huge!!.. But I agree connections have some problems on there hands,regarding his box manners.More so when they chase the riches in the new season, after all he wouldn't want to be standing up top flight dogs a start, more so on a tight track! It'll take all the genius of his trainer to get him jumping,but there's no better man to rectify the problem for mine.

Very kind of you Dusty,but no more than your good self! For me it's all about the sport,& those involved from the battler to our master trainers,who do the hard yards,& deserve much more credit than they're given.Because without there input we've got no industry! When something special comes along (Dream Collector) & hopefully many more hot on his tail,then I'm urging all to jump on board & talk up this great sport of ours.Thanks for the kind words Dusty.

This dog makes his own luck! His track sense is phenomenal,you'd swear there was a jockey on board? I'm sure all would agree this race,had some very handy dogs engaged. Once again he was last on settling from the squeeze,whacked on the afterburners & the rest is history! When we're privileged to watch a dog go around,with the desire to chase like Dream Collector.All goes well for NZ Greyhound Racing! To break 30secs so effortlessly was astounding! If he's running time in the midst of winter,what's he capable of later in the year?? Luck plays a huge part in dog racing I need no convincing of that,but Dream Collector makes his own,he's just that good! He's a revelation,a promoters dream is the collector! Congrats to all his connections,he's a super champ in the making.

Nothing excites more than reading of the exploits,of dogs back home.In this weeks edition of the NGF,there's a write up on Dream Collector's magnificent win at Addington,after he missed away badly then circumnavigated the field to win running away. At least he's getting the attention he so justly deserves over here in Oz! It's a pity Sky Channel's "The Catching Pen" is in recess at the minute,as I'm sure they would've had something regarding this amazing dog! There's also a write up on Greyhound Data that just adds to the hype. Good luck to connections tomorrow night,only bad luck can beat him for mine!

Sorry Jibberer I was just merely speculating,when I asked if a sprinter could win the title. Although your the one who eluded me to Sozin's Comet,& then Alltheway!! gave me the heads up to delve deeper into this dogs form. When you look at his race card,& stack it up against his competitors he's clearly the standout sprinter of 13/14 in my opinion! After giving them three months start to the season,his first race being a heat of the Galaxy which he won was a mighty effort. From there his form just escalated,his first two runs earned him a place in the Galaxy final,albeit as a reserve. I was hoping maybe one of my two favourite bitches,in Dixie Lee & Bright Star may've had the points on the board to secure the title! They've really kept the sprinting scene alive,for quite sometime now.I like many was hoping for that magical match race that sadly never eventuated.There connections wouldn't take them out of there comfort zone! Or is that to harsh of me saying that?? On the other hand Sozin's has won on three different tracks,including the clincher winning on both the north & south isle. His record speaks for itself 27/37 wins with 8 minors all in top grade.His form shows within a couple of months of racing,he brakes 17secs on 2 occasions,& to top things off he amasses 10 wins in a row & goes through the Railway Sprint GRP2 undefeated,winning what I think is the hardest sprint race in NZ to win! He's raced & beaten the best on offer on only one prep! The sealer for me he's not one dimensional,Sozin's is 3/4 over the 390mts at Ascot Park.But what baffles me why hasn't he been named greyhound of the month? Getting back to the middle distance dogs..isn't Really Clever coming home with a wet sail! I seen him win a couple of weeks ago on the box,he's got some savvy about him this dog! A big nights racing at Addington this week,maybe we'll get a winner for another category for GOY from this meeting?? One category down.two to go.And of course the biggie GOY! Come on all name your winners!!

Have you all decided on your choices for NZ GOY,or are you like me,waiting for the next lot of races coming up at Addington,before making a decision? I'm sure you'll agree it's not as easy as one thought originally. Although for mine Jibberer is very close to the mark! The only standout for me is in the sprinting ranks,that's done & dusted! It's the middle distance & the ultimate award I find most baffling? Has a sprinter done enough over the season,that could surprise us all & take home the big one? With only four weeks left,can you ever recall a more open season??? It's going down to the wire 13/14. Only the brave will make an early prediction.