"THE WEEK THAT WAS..THE IPSWICH QUEENSLAND PERSPECTIVE...24/07/2011..
The richest pacer in the world,and certainly Queenslands best known harness horse,Blacks A Fake seems set to have his final race start in the Sunshine State in tonight's Group One feature,the SEW Eurodrive Winter Cup.Blessed with the number three alley from the mobile it seems that a repeat performance of the Sunshine Sprint will be the the result.If it all pans out,the "Black Superman" will have earned $4,575,438,from 105 starts..A staggering $43,575 per outing.I think he is like the "one in 50 years" flood.It will be a while before we see another horse like him."Blackie"will be there on Sky Racing of course when his trainer,Natalie Rasmussen, produces him at Menangle or Melton in pursuit of the big bucks.For Brisbane,it's "thanks for the memories"..
Blacks A Fake is part of a small high quality team of pacers which Natalie Rasmussen will train from Brian Hancock's "Teeny Lodge" at yet another Albion Park,this time on the south coast of New South Wales.Leading New Zealand trainer,Mark Purdon,will also base his elite team at Hancock's property to mount a serious assault on Menangle.Purdon will also send 25 horses to Victoria under the care of Scott Phelan,due to a decision to cut drastically his NZ numbers.Purdon cited a lack of prizemoney in the shaky isles for the move.There will be a second sign on the gate at "Teeny Lodge"..Trainers in residence,,"Mr Inter-Dominion...Ms Inter-Dominion..and Mr New Zealand..Somehow,the concept makes me slightly uneasy..
Crunch time has come.Broodmare owners must decide whether the future of Queensland harness racing is bright enough to breed another crop of foals in the hope of producing another champion,or at least a horse that breaks even and provides a few thrills along the way.In the next six weeks we will discuss the pros and cons of what has become a high cost and high risk venture..
Resultsville.Gold Coast 15/07..Montana Flyer (Chantal for Tony Turpin)..Le Brique (Gary Whitaker for Bill Crosby)..Supper Waltz Wilson (Steven Doherty for Francis Weston)..Albion Park 16/07..Melton Sotera (Pete for John McMullen)...Albion Park 19/07..Gallymont Cruz (Kelli for Geoff Dawson)..Goddaz Promised (Pete for John McMullen)..I Am Terror (Lola Weidemann for Ricky Gordon)...Redcliffe 20/07..Maximus Extremis (Trevor Lambourn)..Gold Coast 21/07..Crackerofaparty (Ann Manwaring)..Deadly Smile (Pete McMullen for Shane Sanderson)..Yul Brynner (Brad Cowen for Shane Sanderson)...