Iraklis

I think it's more than that JJ, but I agree his driving at Addington is poor.  Williamson, R. & J Dunn and Telfers are buying all the top lots at the sales recent years. Many are from former top All Stars fillies and mares. Despite, these three having most of the well-bred horses, they cannot get them to the level that All Stars and Purdon/Phelan can. That's why All Stars still dominate in  south Island Group races. Just my opinion of course. 

Rubira is a tough horse, he did the most work but held them all off. Good to see the All Stars winning.
I think team driving the major factor in the 2yo and Oaks. Built For Glory showed its breeding. He is out of tough All Stars trained mare Fight For Glory, what a top race mare she was. Looks like Built For Glory has inherited his mother's ability. 

I had a read of that yesterday. Who is going to be held accountable for this shambles of an investigation?

I get your point, but you say all business needs income and I fully agree, but that's the problem. This industry doesn't and never has generated income, it's continually relied on someone or something to dig them out of the crap and buy them some more time to do nothing about it. Why ? .. because your biggest resource being quality people has never emerged, momentum is non existent and when the money runs out and it will, well before the 5 years we will be in a bigger hole.
Unless you get some quality people across the Country. Just look at Ellerslie as one example.

https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/350240869/how-unprecedented-investigation-harness-racing-corruption-collapsed
Here's hoping. 

I see Mick G seems to suggest Merlin is Barry Purdons first millionaire horse.  He seems to have forgotten about Holmes DG or Chokin.   Also there seems to be some confusion as to whether HRNZ put any money into the slot races.  Greg O Connor says they didn’t but I thought I remember them putting some amount in so as to get the stake to $1m

Perhaps she sponsors him........       🤩    

There was an update in last week's Harness Xpress.

Couldn't shake this Covid bug in time 😆 gunna try an drown it with alcohol....
 
Cheers Iraklis

That Ozzie commentator was bloody awesome, really polished professional...👏
 
Cheers Iraklis

Idol mate OTRoad can get off the gate if asked, Zac did so with him few times 🤗 but he is most potent when followin a good helmet, pingin off them he's got serious speed when applied right....but Merlin OMG he's next level that boy, I'm so pleased for ZacB OTRoad tried to do it for him last year, but Merlin got it done and what a way to go onya ZacB 👏 awesome drive.....great to see TonyH drive Midnight Dash run home best of the Kiwis, he beat home MMountain and Oscar 😄 not bad goin that....
 
Cheers Iraklis

That Ozzie commentator was bloody awesome, really polished professional...👏
 
Cheers Iraklis

On a quiet Sunday racing and betting at Addington do we really need a choice of 45 meetings ? (including Korea/Japan?/usa?/every Aus state.) just asking .... am only right bout 50%of time😂

I am not saying he should have pinged out and take on Don't Stop Dreaming  &  merlin but it was obvious those two would try for lead. If Old Town been pushed a bit harder he could have got one-one with little effort. From there he's a prime chance to win race, like Merlin did from that spot.
The chances of him getting the last run is almost zero at Cambridge, where you have to be handy, due to tight home bend and short straight. Alexandra Park is the same. Addington or Menangle it's possible to come from last to first but he doesn't race at those tracks often. I think the horse must be driven more aggressively to get handy or he will keep on flashing home for fourth or fifth in G1. just my opinion of course.

That Ozzie commentator was bloody awesome, really polished professional...👏
 
Cheers Iraklis

That Ozzie commentator was bloody awesome, really polished professional...👏
 
Cheers Iraklis

Idol mate OTRoad can get off the gate if asked, Zac did so with him few times 🤗 but he is most potent when followin a good helmet, pingin off them he's got serious speed when applied right....but Merlin OMG he's next level that boy, I'm so pleased for ZacB OTRoad tried to do it for him last year, but Merlin got it done and what a way to go onya ZacB 👏 awesome drive.....great to see TonyH drive Midnight Dash run home best of the Kiwis, he beat home MMountain and Oscar 😄 not bad goin that....
 
Cheers Iraklis

That Ozzie commentator was bloody awesome, really polished professional...👏
 
Cheers Iraklis

That Ozzie commentator was bloody awesome, really polished professional...👏
 
Cheers Iraklis

OTR runs his best races when saved for one run at them, so I expect had he of tried to take on DSD and Merlin at the start he'd have had a tough run and finished up much further back than he did. That's only my opinion of course. I also hope Better Eclipse wins a race here on this trip. It looks like we're going to see more Aussie horseflesh at Alexandra Park that we've seen in years. Both First Fours were pretty easy actually, as when the horses are that good and that equal, a good  barrier draw means everything. In the two main races, Merlin, from barrier 5, was the widest draw to grab a Top 4 finish (3, 4, 1, 2 and 5, 2, 1, 3).  

Just be thankful they haven't sold sponsorship on the inside, centre track and down the outside as well. At least now we can have a close finish where "they wide apart" without having to slip in a couple more sponsored pieces of track 🤣

I thought he was very good,  No magic men, no dressed up with nowhere to go, just called it as he saw it. And didn't try to mention that stupid passing lane name 6 times.

Yes, both races good.
I think Merlin can thank a brave Tell The Truth for his win. Geez the Aussie stuck on after getting the hardest run in the race and gave Merlin a drag almost to the turn before the naturally started to tire. Top runs from Merlin and Don't Stop Dreaming. Huge runs from Better Eclipse and Old Town Rd. Old Town Rd doesn't seem to have any gate speed, Iraklis mate? I am not sure why he was so far back? He drew three so should have got handy early, probably the one/one. Instead he is at the rear and no show from there. It was a strange drive I thought?

Yeh Janitor mate, I thought MMountain would've run home better than that he justdidn't seem to fire at all, what about mighty Merlin 🤗 has he turned into a beast of a horse or what? damn that was some run, geez I wish me OTRoad could've got clear sooner, but I thought it looked like a great night....
 
Cheers Iraklis

Covid cure, Iraklis mate. A shot of Benedictine, make it two shots, followed by two shots of Chartreuse. Medicinal purposes. I have never had Covid and this is my medicine my old mate.
Cheers! 
Go Oscar!