Happy Sunrise

I would have been all over it if it had a half decent draw.

So owners pay to enter? This may seem like a great idea but with the domination of one stable it may not work. Why fund Self Assured or SCA? Country Cups with a 100K final at Addington will disadvantage the grass trackers.

Who pays for this? It is different isn't it.

I will get the ball rolling... Race 7 Young George (9ff and 3ff) Swapped trainers from Clark Barron to Craig Ferguson earlier in the year and ran a slashing second in April first up for him. Has had a few workouts and trials to prepare him where he has been getting better with each run. Will probably draw 5 after scratchings and showed a bit of gate speed in a trial. Robbie Close has been booked which is a big bonus. He must be due for some luck 😂 Craig Ferguson has brought two horses up from the deep south to Methven in recent times (that is a long long way to travel) who were RK Finn which ran a place and New York Man who won at this meeting last year - and that was one of the best winning performance in recent times at Methven. He must think it is worth the trip with this horse. As for the opposition, ok without being startling. 9s is good value.

I wouldn't read into that much. Krug is pretty good, how good compared to the top liners I am unsure. He will be in the big races in time.

Dear trainers, I am available to drive a horse in the Cup. 3 and 4 wide a long way from home guaranteed. PM me at Raceplace with your offer. HS

The bets will all be on favourites and dressed in All Stars colours.

Because the front row is evenly lined up at a standstill behind the tape therefore the second row is perfectly aligned behind them and the unruly is just back a wee bit in a line too. All drivers adhere to instructions and do not seek an advantage. Hence, only one tape is required but even that could be dispensed with at any stage due to full compliance of horse and driver these days. Note to self: submit reply April 1st

Cheap shot, LB. 😂

Field Commander, you come from an excellent stable, congratulations.

I think the TAB's way of giving back is to have guaranteed 10 000 first fours on Sunday. They don't trust harness enough on a Sunday meeting to give bonus bets. To be honest, I can't blame them. I would like rather see quaddie injections for harness than first fours but that is just my preference.

I won't be following harness for much longer if crap like yesterrday is allowed to continue. Harness followers deserve more.

277 for Kaikoura. Whatever happened to the Boss of ATC and his spreadsheet of horses available to run each month? He did this last year after the first lockdown ended I believe. Maybe, he needs to resurrect the spreadsheet to see if Auckland harness can itself be resurrected.

And no one in the South is fearful of Copy That after running 3rd at Auckland.

Which then begs the question, where was the market assessment by Robbie Close?

Can someone tell me what a 'market assessment' means for a driver in a race.

Good point. Another good point. I keep thinking back to Tim Williams at Auckland when he got hammered for the same thing. Precedents don't exist in harness like they do the law. An information was lodged alleging that Driver T. Williams was in breach of Rule 868(2) in that he failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures between 1400 metres and 1100 metres to ensure that HAVE FAITH IN ME was given full opportunity to win the race or to obtain the best possible position and/or finishing place by failing to shift out from the marker line before being covered by BETTOR DREAM. After hearing the relative evidence and viewing the replays the J.C.A. upheld the charge and imposed a suspension of Mr William's driver's licence up to and including 31st December 2011 But then again, the recent form of Crystal Daytom 🤣

I didn't bet in the race so noticed a bit more than normal. I was surprised she didn't go forward with the rest of them but I can see her reasoning for thinking she might be left posted 3 wide a long way out, her assessment just turned out to be wrong, that is all. Everyone tells me don't bet on amateurs, don't bet on juniors so I suppose that rang true here. American Pride went an enormous race. The All Stars are going to have a great Cup Week. Good luck anyone stopping them. As for Mark Purdon not driving the horse, since his drive on Self Assured was in Race 7 I bet he didn't want to wait around until Race 10 to drive it so gifted it to Olivia. He would have been at home on the couch watching NEON like Karrots by the time it was run. He is not the ultimate pro for nothing😂

Seriously, what does it mean?

And on a different note but possibly related to Crystal Daytom. AMERICAN PRIDE - Stewards questioned Junior driver O Thornley regarding the manner in which she drove her gelding when she chose not to follow ANDY HALL passing the 1200 metres. Miss Thornley explained that due to that horse's recent performance and market assessment she believed there was a chance she would be left to race three wide and without cover from that point so instead held her position in the two wide line. Miss Thornley was then questioned regarding the manner in which she drove at the 1000 metres when she lost contact with the back of DOFF YOUR CAP causing her to be shifted to a four wide position and then restraining. After considering her explanation she was spoken to advisedly regarding demonstrating better positional awareness when in similar circumstances in future. What is a market assessment? Never read that before.

CRYSTAL DAYTOM - paced roughly after 150 metres and had to be steadied. Held up throughout the run home. Stewards questioned driver R Close as to whether he had given consideration to shifting outwards racing past the 1100 metres to race in the parked position. Mr Close advised that on the mare's recent form it would have proved detrimental to his chances had he raced parked this far from home and so instead maintained his position close to the pylons hoping the opportunity to obtain clear running would become available at a later stage however this did not eventuate with the mare going to the line untested. Mr Close also advised a sulky tyre had deflated during the running and he had not activated the removable deafeners. A punted $2 shot held up throughout the run home, has a flat tyre and the deafeners are not activated, but to defend his drive he uses the horse's recent form. I really like the driving of Robbie Close and I know there is logic in his statement but really. At least say it is a sit sprinter or something. Question, if a trainer is able to add lengths (and I mean lengths) to a very limited horse, why do owners not drop their current battling trainer and go to one who can give them value for money, better performances on race day and more stake money? Shouldn't there be a stampede?

Nothing is fair in harness racing. Not even the things that can be controlled such as starts and application of rules.

That was a walking start again. I suppose you praise Purdon and Dunn for picking the start but I still maintain on the big day they will be made to stand because one horse will cause disruption and the rest will have to pause, that will test Self Assured as Mark P seems determined not to actually have him at a standstill. I wouldn't read into Self Assured nearly being beaten. The sprint home levelled things out. Would enjoy Laver somehow getting into the Cup. He would make it a race. How will the Cup start, with a full field, be managed? That is the most intriguing thing for me 🙄

Strange things happen in harness these days so no surprise. At least Tetrick came off for them. He is a hack now, must have been too tired after that run to continue on.

Good question.