Austrotforum

"TROT TACTICS" ...14/05/2011...

Nice day? Head out to Marburg mid-morning and catch the trot program at the Showgrounds.If you get there by 11.00am you can look for a future winner with six trials to be decided before the non Tab five race meeting commences at 12.45pm.The Marburg motto is "a Bet,a Beer,a Burger,and the Best of country harness" on the 700metre circuit.You've got bookies who will bet up if you will and it's fresh air and excitement..just get there..

Exciting news from the northern rivers area of NSW with the return of Show racing there this week.Last night and tonight the Grafton Show Society hosts the first show trots since 2003.The satins and sulkies return with a four event card each evening with C0 fronts and varying backmarks on three classes and a Free For All to top the bill.Let's hope it's an upward trend.Maybe,just maybe,someone with power will recognise that show racing was one of the best promotional tools that light harness ever had.This writer,quite a few years back,asked former star Ipswich reinsman,Des Weeks,if his win with Scientific for trainer John Stariha in a heat of the Inter-Dominion was his biggest moment in trotting.Weeks replied that it was far from it,and was pale compared with any race at the "Ekka"."Just think about it",said Weeks."Twenty thousand people screaming encouragement for their picks and just about close enough to touch.The excitement was incredible".

Harness Racing Australia has called for tenders to supply across the board insurance cover for the sport in Australia.In a medium risk activity such as training and driving light harness horses,it is important that any insurance policy adopted is in very plain english so that any documents circulated to participants are easily understood.In this mad world of ours,where no one seems to be required to exercise any common sense,or be held responsible in any way for their actions,fine print and ambiguous phrasing will just have to go.While HRA are at it they can get the requirements for a resumption of Show racing written back into any cover accepted.It puts our sport out in front of a lot of people..

Iron ore and coal giant,Clive Palmer,might have found a gold nugget in yankee-bred colt Native Mountain,which won at his first start at Albion Park last Tuesday.Trained and driven by Murray Sullivan,the son of Allamerican Native and 1-50.8 mare,Verisimilitude,was coming off a qualifying trial 2nd beaten half a length in 2-03.4 at Gold Coast the previous Thursday.The colt came from last of the bunch at the 500metre mark but ran greenly in the straight,swapping the lead twice in the final stages with Emma Montana (Darrel Graham).Native Mountain got the nod in the last two strides,running out the mile in 1-59.5.He is in a heat of the Nursery Pace on Monday,running from barrier 2.He's got the gait,He's got the ability and experience will come..Just follow this one!!

Menangle Premiership leader,David Thorn is looking at a Queensland campaign.Thorn is tossing up whether to head north or down to Melbourne with his new 3yo filly talent,Jennas Highview.Oaks Classics are on the menu and Queensland might just win out with Gold Coast and Redcliffe features to complement the big one at Albion Park.Add that to a bit of a family tradition started by his father,the late Ian Thorn,of racing a few in Brisbane in the colder months..Winning too.

Resultsville..Gold Coast 06/05..Melton Sotera (Pete for John McMullen)..Supper Waltz Wilson (Steven Doherty for Frances Weston)..Overcam (Gary Whitaker for Bill Crosby)...Albion Park 07/05..Western Mail (Gary Whitaker for Bill Crosby)..Fox Valley Appeal (Gary Whitaker for Denis Smith)...Albion Park 09/05..Melton Maxbye (Pete for John McMullen)..Westburn Barney (Michael Liyou)..Vinnies Adventure (Cassie Saunders for Al Barnes)..Big Of Hurry (Chris Petroff for Brett Cargill)...Albion Park 10/05..Native Mountain (Murray Sullivan)..Gladys Emanuel (Scott Neaves for Graham Harriott)..Connor Patrick (Darrel Graham)..Viniboy (Al Barnes)...Redcliffe 11/05..Truckies Art (Lola Weideman for Jay Edmunds)...Gold Coast 12/05..Highstead (Chris Petroff for Phil Mitchell)..Rusty Sailor (Pete for John McMullen)...

Selections for Albion Park tonight...R 1: Quinella 1-8: Arma Fake (R.Law) and General George (G.Dixon)..R 2: E/w 10: Slick Chandon (G.Dixon)..R 3: E/w 3: Pub Blitz (J.Wanless)..R 4: E/w 2: Rumsron (N.Rasmussen)..R 5: First four 1-7-8-9: Baileys Magic (S.Graham)--Karter Brown (G.Dixon)--Kenmore Atya (R.Law)--Abbey Tiara (N.Rasmussen)..R 6: Box trifecta 1-2-5: Hanky Panky (K.Belford)--Slipperyville (G.Whitaker)--Rose Of Jeremy (E.Bailey)..R 7: Quinella 1-4: Ark De Jeanne (G.Dixon) and Goodness (T.Dawson)..R 8: E/w 6: Less Dramatic (D.Graham)..R 9: E/w 1: Play The Line (J.Cremin)..R 10: Quinella 7-8: Willie Lightfoot (G.Dixon) and Head Over Heals (S.Graham)...

Selections for Marburg today...R 1: E/w 1: Are Four Seven (A.Millard)...R 2: E/w 4: Miracle Maestro (D.Chalk)...R 3: Dealt The Ace (D.Chalk)...R 4: E/w 3: Franco Henry (P.McMullen)...R 5: E/w 2: Miss Falcon (T.McGuire)...

Thanks folks..regards,Denis..