Hawera alive and well

[Nelli 432]

2 hours ago, tasman man said:

My earlier list of current Northern trotters overlooked She Reigns who is now rated 94 having won 14 races and 9 seconds from 52 starts for $131 k.

Her connections took a different approach.

After winning 5 races at Auckland over first 2 x seasons she mainly concentrated on Cambridge and between August 2020 and October 2021 she won 9 x races all at Cambridge.In the extended season of 17 months she won 9 x races from 28 races for $68 k.

She often raced off marks , winning at least 3 x times off 50m ,and once off 60m. She raced and won over all distances and from mobiles !

As to wet days at the trots few would match the the lead up days to the 2019 Harness Jewels at Addington. The track was amazing after a flood of water , the banking meaning the puddles moved to inside the markers.The ashphalt carparks had 2 x inches of water filling one's shoes.

I think She Reigns is a good example of how handicapping makes it tough when earnings aren't taken into account. Following her last win at Auckland on 13 Dec 19 she had 1 further Auckland start in 2019 and another 15 in 2020, for only two seconds. She ran top races off hcps for 4ths and 5ths so little change in rating and pretty tough on both the mare and pocket.  Finally in August she started dropping into cheap races at Cambridge where she was clearly superior. But these wins gave her horrendous hcps at Auckland (30-40 m in Nov & Dec 2020) so eventually her connections gave up on Auckland. Which was great for Cambridge in 2021. It was thrilling watching her race and win off those big 50-60 m hcps at Cambridge - a real buzz in the crowd. Perhaps Auckland could think of that when deciding discretionary hcps for in-form R100+ horses and their less successful lower rated opposition.

[Barry Lichter 179]

Hi Nelli,

Auckland has programmed just such a race on February 25. Whereas She Reigns cops a 55 metre handicap at Cambridge on Friday in the $30,000 Breeders' Stakes (2700m), the $30,000 Northern Breeders' Stakes (2700m) has a maximum back mark of 40 metres.

[Blue 1,095]

Last race at Cambridge this week another example. Non-winners off the front, one win horses off 30m.

By comparison Cup class trotters certainly get off light. Im' still young (?) enough to remember great trotter Battle Cry winning of 108 yard handicap and also beating the pacers. Cardigan Bay another of that ilk. The top horses were handicapped as such because they earned it Them were the days.

[john legend 743]

true Blue, trouble was putting Cardigan Bay off 78 yards in theAuckland Cup (1963) didnt stop him winning. Pos the greatest race ever . 

[eljay 1,719]

Second day rescheduled for Wednesday 23rd Feb, I believe,

[john legend 743]

Yes eljay it is correct Wednesday 23 feb. replacement day for abandoned day. well done to the Club/HRNZ and anyone else who has worked a miracle. many thanks. eg TAB and Racing Authority. 

[tasman man 742]

21 hours ago, john legend said:

Yes eljay it is correct Wednesday 23 feb. replacement day for abandoned day. well done to the Club/HRNZ and anyone else who has worked a miracle. many thanks. eg TAB and Racing Authority. 

With the current rain about , the forecast , the expected Cyclone ,slips , power outages and floods etc the most sensible thing could be to move the upcoming meetings including Manawatu all to Cambridge !

[chevy86 2,704]

17 minutes ago, tasman man said:

With the current rain about , the forecast , the expected Cyclone ,slips , power outages and floods etc the most sensible thing could be to move the upcoming meetings including Manawatu all to Cambridge !

And make that the synthetic for a bit of interest!