Lightning Blue

Here's a treat for you then Globe. quick fire revenge and you may of got a quid this day hopefully? Tony Herlihy , as cool as ice, running down my All time favourite BLUE by a nose just 3 days after that Cup in the NZ FFA on Showday with the great Luxury Liner. Luxury Liner with his white neck strap , and Lightning Blue with the lugging poll. If you look closely you can see a little head in-between them of FRANGELICO (1/2 head back 3rd) , catch driven by the great DENIS NYHAN for Richard Brosnan, who sadly passed away last month . Denis The trainer driver of Robalan and Lordship to win 3 NZ Cups between them.

LIGHTNING BLUE was quite a character . To mix it up and not be in the gig everyday, you could play tag with him at the old Chrysler Valiant window , as you're driving/jogging along he would try and 'bite in through the window' now and then , while feeling good , or kick up the heels and bang the panels of the car to keep you from dozing off at the wheel. A very fine horse, not-thick set like your usual stallion. more like a gelding. The photo with young lady (sadly passed away young with cancer) on one of his many Interstate successful raids, shows Blue a very gentle stallion around people and other horses. And try His Guts out in Every race, like you'll Never See from 99% of track racehorses. Here is is winning Interdominion at Addington from Paleface Bubble and Sunset Candios , and that 'head shot' after that win says it all. Gave it everything !!! even the great Lightning Blue was thinking let's sleep in for a few days after that one. Popped back to Addington to win NZ Cup later that year too.

Well just a battling 4th for Alicia Harrison with that one. But some good news that impressive winner is a SWEET LOU Karrots. should of picked that for you. winner 'MO SZYSLAK' gave them a 'shillacking' alright .

Karrots is firing up today. Maybe some 'omen' horses will fire up at her local Cambridge harness shortly for Karrots too.? Here's a tip the program Karrots theme. Alicia Harrison is a Karrots favourite so hopefully win some. R1 MmSunshine, R2 WatchandLearn R3 I'llHaveaBubbles R4 GossipGirl R5 SheReigns R6 ClassyOperator R7 HighonLove R8 BadMedicine R9 MarathonMan

A very unusual situation. The start was delayed a few minutes , as they had set-up the starting point at the incorrect point for the start of the race. ( so horses run the advertised distance) Starter and assistants quickly rushed up the track to the correct distance point , and the commentator Definitely noticed there was no 10m strand put across. He even said one of the assistants appeared to be looking for it in the wagon , but to no avail. (possibly left it at the wrong start point) So away they went without it , Commentator declaring the advantage to VINTAGE CHEDDAR all the while. Wonder why driver didn't 'fess-up' to starter and yell to him as were lining up ?, about where was his barrier strand? Starter and crew would of been under the pump from the prior start point error .

With the handicaps removed from the Cup allowing Monkey King and Lazarus and Terror to love to win more than one over past 10 -11 years , can't see how they can beat this horse ''Self Assured' Off the Front mark, again. If had 10m behind handicap, would of made it interesting. Self Assured blazing to victory in 3.55 by some lengths last Cup last year . Only a very few can ever go that fast. ......Adore Me , The Fixer and Lazarus did in past few years. No-one else can go sub 3.55 to beat him this year? , that is well 'Lazarus-like' speed.

G'day Globe , yes have my Lightning Blue 'hat' or 'skull cap') on for the great race coming up soon. To get in the winning zone!!!! Blue with an Interdominion Grand final win as well as a big NZ Cup win at Addington in times gone by , alas Gammalite had a few cracks (6 starts without a Win at Addington, but did manage an Interdominion win and Auckland Cup win up at Alex Park) Shame about the crowds situation as the best day of year's trots enjoyed by many on NZ Cup day, is to be reduced it seems. that is harsh. Think they just said 10,000 people double jabbed can attend at Melbourne Cup soon, after no-one got to go last year. (and normally near 100,000 go. )

Some great racing at Bendigo last night. The 2 greats of Amazing Dream and King of Swing driven aggressively and dipping out on this occasion. 3rd and 4th. Triple Eight nearly doing the job for the kiwis but unlucky in the barrier draw as well . A very good 2nd in the big race the Vic Cup. Emma Stewart proving to be a fantastic trainer taking both the Group 1 Derby and Oaks (trifecta in that one) and the trifecta in 100k 2 year old fillies feature too. narrow 2nd in the 2 year old boys only just stopped the 'Age-group' Clean sweep on the program. Supreme training performance.

Thank you Happy Sunrise ! A great time of year to enjoy the harness racing with the NZ Cup and FFA on soon. Lightning Blue is a NZ Cup winner too (same year as that Interdom win) and just missed in FFA , have a brilliant pic to show you of that later on. So should do well this year picking the next winner 2021 version, all going well . Neat you have started Cup thread already. Karrots will be impressed.

There's been No time to mend either for you Happy .. Since Lightning Blue took that Interdominion there have been 2 more Interdom's at Addington. 1995 Grand final win to Golden Reign (Chris Alford) from Victoria , and 2003 Grand Final Quinella to Aussie with Baltic Eagle (Prentice from WA) and Mont Denver Gold (Alford ) Vic Three in a row at Addington . last kiwi win in Chch was RONDEL and Wolfie more than 40 years ago in 1979. Hope the Dagger is not still around?

A sweet Lou has won the 3rd in Brisbane for you Karrots. 'Double or Nothing' winning easily just now to get you a Lous Winner chicken Dinner.

A great tough win at good double figure odds. Great selection there Rusty . What a real tryer that horse is.

That is the idea , a head to head challenge. We both can win with the Quinella anyway. I took 4 x $5.00 quinellas on our selections in those 4 races with some Probabeel Winnings. That way if you do 'Pip me at the post ' in those feature races tonight , I'm still a chance to get a collect on 2nd. Bring it home Amazing Dream girl . follow in the Probabeel footsteps for the day. Lightning strikes twice !!!

A tip top selection of horses there Mike. I will take that multi , and also will raise you this one through the same races. R3 Horse 10 He's Charlies Angel at $2.25 R6 Vic Derby H3 Act Now at $2.25 R7 Vic Oaks H3 Beach Music at $2.60 R8 Vic Cup H5 Amazing Dream at $3.50 Multi at $46.06 so we have 8 great horses going for $2.00 tonight. May the best (and luckiest) horses and punters win.