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Bring your mare to TOWN and he will do the REST!

Posted by dlsmith at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"TROT TACTICS"..24/09/2011..

Where have all the horses gone?When racing Queensland axed the Monday meeting at Albion Park and set a maximum of 8 races at all other TAB meetings, a large number of owners and trainers were alarmed at the loss of racing opportunity and the potential for a drop in overall turnover figures.At the end of this month we will have completed a full three months of the new prizemoney structure based on the 8 race program format.One of the reasons for adopting this format was to ensure that the races would attract full fields.Something has gone terribly wrong here as we are now in the position of extending nominations for almost every meeting programmed,and we still end up with 7 races and several short fields at the end of the day.This week alone we have lost $18,000 by failing to fill the program at Albion Park Tuesday,Redcliffe Wednesday,and Gold Coast Thursday and Friday night,and four betting opportunities have been lost to such punters as we have left.There is a belief growing that some stables are just too strong to beat so why try.Owners and trainers must realise that 2nd,3rd and 4th prizemoney are there to keep them in the game until the roll of the dice goes their way,as it surely will.Leaving horses at home that can be racing for good money is a self fuelling defeatist policy which can only lead to a 7 race program and eventually put us out of business.We have "free" racing and drivers are paid from the prize,owners and trainers just have to get the horse there.First money may be very hard to get,but to stay at home is a certain result of dollars zero!!

It's not only fast horses that come out of Ipswich.This week saw the passing of Charlie Truloff at the ripe old age of 92 years.Charlie was very likeable bloke who loved his light harness racing and was a great suporter of George and Jan Crone's stable at Glamorganvale.He was Great Uncle to current trainers Gavin and Daryl Crone(Vic).A lot has been written about the longevity of the pacer as a racing animal,citing horses which have raced viably to the age of 15/16 years but they pale when compared to the sprinting ability of Charlie.His last public appearance was in a sprint at a Marburg fun day some 18 years ago when he handed out a flogging to a field of runners,most of whom were at least 50 years younger than Charlie.A great guy who could run like hell and made it look easy.

We have a few on the sick list this week,with Ernie and Glenda Anforth of Rocket Harness fame both in Ipswich General hospital recovering from serious illnesses.Ernie has every intention of resuming harness production when his health improves but asks his regular customers to exercise a bit of patience for the time being as the couple have enough on their plates just now..Ernie is on the 6th floor and would love some vistors for a yarn.

Mt Walker based trainer/driver,Maxine Jenson would be cursing her lack of luck when returning to the sulky in a trial at Albion Park on Tuesday to find herself in a serous fall when a front line horse fell directly in front of Maxine's pacer just after the start.Heavy bruising was the end result which will see Maxine sidelined for the best part of a month.Ever the realist,and a searcher for positive outcomes,Maxine thought that the handicappers might keep the less experienced horses to the outside and second row draws when assembling trial fields.This might lead to the adoption of a one line only policy in low grade trials.If it means running an extra trial or two,so what!Anything is preferable to a fall..Maxine'll be back,sooner rather than later.

They cut the following paragraph and advised me to run it for next Saturday.(space apparently).... You can have the full harness experience next weekend with Marburg's non-TAB race meeting on Saturday afternoon October 1st and then journey to Oakey on Sunday October 2nd for the Egmont Park Broodmare and Yearling reduction sale.Back some winners on Saturday and re-invest in a "value for money" broodmare and free service package to breed yourself a better than average winner.Burgers,Bets,Beers and viable Broodmares sounds like a winning combo to me..

Resultsville...Gold Coast 16/09..Hitemup (Darrel graham)..Destiny Cloud (Pete McMullen for John Davis)..Cheval De Triomphe (Ray Cross)...Albion Park 17/09 Go Boom (Brad Cowen for Shane Sanderson0...Redcliffe 17/09..Party In Paris (Ron Sallis)...Albion Park 20/09..Priceless Art (Lola Weidemann for Ricky Gordon)...Redcliffe 21/09..Mallee Boy (Ron Sallis for Brendan Sheehy)...Gold Coast 22/09..Montana Pablo (Darrel Graham)..Brother Ken (Robbie Martin for Kevin Annetts)...

Posted by dlsmith at 09:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last I heard the TAB revenue had increased following news of the investigations. And so it should. Punters have been quick to note various form reversals and are betting, It would appear, with more confidence.Of one thing I am absolutely certain; anytime you have the combination of men, money and horses, you will get a tendency toward corruption. Left unchecked, EVERY such "sport" will be corrupt sooner rather than later. The measure of the "cleanliness" of any equine sport is the level of prosecutions, warnings off, fines, or other publicly visible controls of corrupt or wayward participants. The greater the number of prosecutions etc, the cleaner the sport. Nobody is fooled by administrators who sweep corruption under the carpet, or who fail to prosecute known instances of corruption in their ranks.That is why I fully support the present actions of HRNSW, and I believe that those actions will enhance the public standing of the sport, now and into the future...Jim Walsh.

Resultsville..Gold Coast 09/09..Able Jasper (Ricky Gordon)..Cheval De Triomphe (Ray Cross)...Albion Park 10/09..Maywyn Tonz (Michael Formosa for Shane Sanderson)..Marlos (Al Barnes)..Greenmans Valley (Michael Formosa) for Shane Sanderson)..Redcliffe 10/09..Scenic Rim (Pete McMullen for Jenny Halliday)..Brother Ken (Trent Hodges for Kevin Annetts)..Melton Little Don)...Albion Park 13/09..nil...Redcliffe 14/09..Mirfak Prince (Barty Cockburn for Shane Sanderson)..Bettor Be Magic (Barty Cockburn for Shane Sanderson)..Gemma Khan (Lola Weidemann for Ricky Gordon)..Marlos (Al Barnes)...Gold Coast 15/09..Gladys Emanuel (Lola Weidemann for Graham Harriott)..Jack In Flight (Darrel Graham for Brett Cargill)..Melton Sobers (Pete for John McMullen)..Melton Maxbye (Pete for John McMullen)...

MARBURG AGM MONDAY NIGHT 19/09/2011..

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foto courtesy of Redac Newstrot.

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Photo courtesy of Newstrot Redac..

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"TROT TACTICS"..10/09/2011..

The "lucky country" syndrome was to the fore again when we toted up the performances of trotting folk in the greater Ipswich area in the 2010/2011 racing season which finished on August 31. There were quite a few spectacular efforts but all but two of these fell within a 10 kilometre radius of Glamorganvale.There is of course a logical explanation,we just don't know what it is.

Starting with the trainers,four of Queensland's top ten came from the hollow,John McMullen(Glamorganvale),113 winners,Darrel Graham (Fernvale) 73,Ricky Gordon (Haigslea) 66, Shane Sanderson (Gatton) 65 and Tony Turpin (Haigslea) 47..

Francis Weston (Marburg)took out all bar one of the trotters awards with the still improving and aptly named mare Cheque Again,Chantal Turpin(Haigslea) proving to be the winningest "trot" driver for yet another term.

Moving to the senior drivers,we have Pete McMullen(Glamorganvale) a staggering 191.This also gave Pete the Junior Title,setting a figure which will likely stand for a great many years to come.Gary Whitaker(Brightview) 86,Lola Weidemann(Haigslea) 76,and Chantal Turpin (Haigslea...Junior) 73..

Again the most favoured destination provided four of the of the top ten Juniors,Pete McMullen,Chantal Turpin,Kelli Dawson (Wanora) 53,and Ray Law (Wanora) 26..Kelli Dawson also gained the Chairman's Scholarship,a $4,000 award to extend her knowledge and experience in the light harness sport..

Last,but definitely not least,Owner Of The Year...Bill Crosby (Haigslea)..Some effort folks!!

The large scale investigation into the current doping/betting allegations in the South gathered further momentum this week with the announcement by Harness Racing NSW Chair,Graeme Campbell that he will appoint his investigatory panel very soon.Once co-ordination of timeframes can be achieved,a retired judge,an ex-steward and a legal expert will hear charges and supporting information from HRNSW's integrity officer,former Brisbane chief gallops Steward,Reid Sanders.The as yet un-named panel will hear Sanders' submissions on the matters to hand and determine what penalties,if any,will be applied.It is reported that some 40 participants have been given letters by HRNSW,but the latest action has involved former Brisbane driver,Robbie Byrnes,who has been warned off for failing to supply phone records by a particular date.When it is all cleaned up in NSW,maybe we can go back to calling it a sport and maybe we can get a public following again..Maybe,but it will take all our best efforts.

The Battle of the Studs has begun in earnest with Egmont Park at Oakey putting on a reduction sale of quality broodmares with the runs on the board both on the track and in the breeding barn.The sale comprises 18 broodmares and 7 yearlings.The mares come with a great offer of a "sweetener' which should open the minds and purses of anyone with any inclination to breed at all.Paul Burns can be contacted on..0427 515 258...and the the catalogue can be seen at... austrotforum.com ..It's on on Sunday,October 2nd and it's well worth a look..

Resultsville...Albion Park 02/09..Glengarry Sunrise (Chantal for Tony Turpin)...Albion Park 03/09..White Eye Markei (Darrel Graham)..Goodaz Promised (Pete for John McMullen)..Badge Of Honour (Gary Whitaker for Shane Sanderson)...Marburg 03/09..Say Again (Ron Sallis for Brendan Sheehy)..Franco Henry (Pete McMullen for John Davis)..Secret Ruby (Ron Sallis)...Albion Park 06/09..Melton Maxbye (Pete for John McMullen)...Redcliffe 07/09..Marlos (Al Barnes)..Hitemup (Darrel Graham)..Signowar (Barty Cockburn for Shane Sanderson)...Gold Coast 08/09..Jack In Flight (Darrel Graham for Brett Cargill)..

Posted by dlsmith at 01:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

."Fogging" is a method of spraying various crops which are grown in wide spaced permanent rows and which include grapes,citrus and stone fruits.The compound being used can be insecticide or antifungal and is sprayed through fine nozzles into the intake of a high volume fan which further aerates the mixture into a "fog" which settles on all plant surfaces in a short space of time.I believe that this process has a practical application in the three racing codes to minimise the incidence of contagious viral and bacterial respiratory diseases.Most of the afore-mentioned bacteria are very easily destroyed by a simple disinfectant compound,(bleach,domestos etc) and this is effective at very dilute levels in water.

The suggestion is that Race Clubs and registered training venues be required to "fog' the stable area on a DAILY basis,either after a racemeeting or at the close of training hours.Suitable equipment is readily available and a setup that would fit on the carryall of a small tractor would be adequate.As to timeframe,it would probably take as long for the operator to put on and remove his protective clothing and mask as it would to perform the task..

We cotinue to lose to many horses from the racing pool to these diseases.They are not life-threatening but but they cost all sectors of the sport a great deal of money.We must do more than we are doing at the present

Posted by dlsmith at 02:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BURNS BLOODSTOCK BROODMARE AND YEARLING REDUCTION SALE

BROODMARES

*AARTIKA – In foal to Jeremy’s Gambit (due 24/10). Vanston Hanover mare, dam of 5 winners (4 in 2 minutes) including Frost Rama (13 wins) and Staartika (8 wins). Progeny earnings over $100,000. Progeny have sold to $11,500

*ALBERTA JEWEL – In foal to Jeremy’s Gambit (due 13/9). Albert Albert mare whose first foal to race, Ponder Over Me has been placed 3 times as a 2yo.

*BROLGA DANCE – In foal to Jeremy’s Gambit (due 22/9). Vanston Hanover mare who won 18 races and $50,000. First 2 foals to race were both sub 2 minute winners, Left Dancing (15 wins $47,000) and Sambuca On Ice (8 wins, $23,000). Progeny have sold to $14,000.

*FALCON LADY – In foal to Jeremy’s Gambit (11/11). Falcon Seelster mare who won 5 races and paced 1.57.7. She is the dam of Mister Muscle (6 wins, 1.57.7).

*FLYING TORADO – In foal to Jeremy’s Gambit (15/10). Young Mystical Prince mare who won 4 races and paced 2.00 who is carrying just her 2nd foal.

*GLITZ – In foal to Jeremy’s Gambit (15/11). Sub 2 minute Armbro Aussie mare who won $66,000. She is the dam of 2 winners including Glitzy Miss (13 wins, $161,000). Progeny have sold to $11,000

*HUIA BEAUTY – In foal to Sir Galvinator (29/11). Vanston Hanover mare that won 15 races and $46,000. Dam of 4 winners including Graffiti (10 wins) and Rare Desire (4 wins).

*IVE SEEN ENOUGH – In foal to P B Bullville (27/11). Winning Lotsa Clout mare carrying 3rd foal.

*KATHY JAY – In foal to Marika (15/11). Sandman Hanover mare that won 17 races and $88,000 and paced 1.57.3. Already the dam of 2 winners including Exciteable Angel, 8 wins $30,000. Progeny have sold to $10,000

*MILWAULKIE JADE – In foal to Marika (11/9). Smooth Fella mare, dam of 2 sub 2.00 winners.

*MISS MCBEE – In foal to Sir Galvinator (5/12). Sub 2 minute Fake Left mare that won 10 races. Her first foal to race was a 2yo sub 2 minute winner Champagne Jack (1.58.4). First foal sold for $9,000.

*MISS ORIENT – In foal to Jeremy’s Gambit (22/11). Land Grant mare that has produced 4 winners of 50 races and over $180,000 in prizemoney including Sunzone (26 wins), Kind To Me (18 wins). Progeny have sold to $20,000

*PERFECT ANNIE – In foal to Marika (2/10). Sub 2 minute winning Perfect Art mare carrying 2nd foal.

*PRETTY MUCH – In foal to Jeremy’s Gambit (11/9). Sub 2 minute winning Stoneridge Scooter mare that won 14 races.

*RAQUE – Not in foal. Winning Sokys Atom mare that has only had one foal by Courage Under Fire that has been entered for the 2012 Brisbane APG Sale.

*VAN REGAL – Not in foal. Sub 2 minute winning Vanston Hanover mare that won 12 races and $50,000 that has already produced 2 winners.

*WATTSNWHATS – In foal to P B Bullville (15/11). Whats Next mare that has produced 4 winners including Prince Humperding 1.55.8, $103,000, 21 wins and Tooths A Flyin, 7 wins. Progeny have sold to $13,500.

*YASSI – Not in foal. Sub 2 minute winning In The Pocket mare that has produced 2 foals.

YEARLINGS

COLTS

JEREMY’S GAMBIT x MISS ORIENT – Born 18/11/10. Half brother to 4 winners including Sunzone (26 wins, $83,000, 1.57.2), Kind To Me (18 wins, $73,000, 1.56.7) and Dunalley (6 wins $25,000, 1.58.9).

MARIKA x PERFECT ANNIE – Born 28/9/10. First foal of a sub 2 minute winning Perfect Art mare.

MARIKA x HUIA BEAUTY – Born 4/11/10. Half brother to 4 winners including Graffiti, 10 wins and Rare Desire, 4 wins. Dam won 15 races and $46,000 in prize money.

P B BULLVILLE x SWEET SOVEREIGN – Born 21/12/10. Half brother to 5 winners of $180,000 including Vandalum, 18 wins, $71,000, 1.57.6, The Proxy, 13 wins, $68,000, 1.58.8, Unplaced, 8 wins and Perfect Sovereign, 1.56.8.

FILLIES

JEREMY’S GAMBIT x MISS BEGOTTEN – Born 10/11/10. 2nd foal of sub 2 minute winning daughter of Crouch.

SIR GALVINATOR x KATIES FRANCO – Born 28/12/10. Half sister to Valderama, 6 wins, 1.58.0 out of 6 time winning daughter of Talk About Class.

MARIKA x ALBERTA JEWEL – Born 10/9/10. Half sister to Ponder Over Me who was placed 3 times as a 2yo.

For over 20 years Burns Bloodstock has been a major player in breeding top quality racehorses. Horses like, Romeos Legend, 1.56.1, $267,000, Abbey Tiara, 1.55.6, $253,000, Elzar, 1.56.3 $220,000, Karter Brown, 1.56.5, $215,000, Speriamo, 1.58.0, $111,000, Play The Line, 1.57.4, $110,000, Prince Humperding, 1.55.8, $103,000, Mystical Torado, 1.58.3, $102,000 and Invincible Barnes, 1.55.4, $97,000 have all made their way through yearling sales under the familiar Burns Bloodstock banner.

This sale provides a rare opportunity to purchase some mares by top broodmare sires like Fake Left, Vanston Hanover and Land Grant together with yearlings by the 4 resident Egmont Park stallions, P B BULLVILLE who retired as the fastest 3yo in the world at 1.48 and is now the sire of 89 individual winners from just 128 starters including 9 x $100,000 earners like Torque In Motion and Karter Brown. P B BULLVILLE has had yearlings sell for up to $48,000. JEREMY’S GAMBIT who has produced winners like Queens Gambit, Beckoning and Jacka Sandy has also had yearlings sell up to $22,000 or the exciting unknown potential of MARIKA who was champion 2yo of his year in New Zealand and whose yearlings sold up to $12,000 this year with his oldest crop having just turned 2. This auction will also see the first yearling by SIR GALVINATOR go under the hammer. The winner of 25 races and over $500,000, this son of Perfect Art may just turn out to be as exciting a sire as his father.

*All mares are being sold with a FREE SERVICE FEE to either P B BULLVILLE (service fee $2750), JEREMY’S GAMBIT ($2200) or MARIKA ($1650) provided they stay at Egmont Park until they pass their 45 day pregnancy test. Agistment, vet fees and all associated fees not included.

AUCTION SUNDAY 2nd OCTOBER 11am AT EGMONT PARK

FOR CATALOGUES PHONE PAUL BURNS 0427 515 258 or DARREN EBERT 0410 688 176

Posted by dlsmith at 09:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"TROT TACTICS"..03/09/2011..

The Australian Standardbred Breeding Industry Panel sent shock waves through the owning and breeding segments of the light harness sport this week when it proposed a steep rise in the import fee levied on overseas imports.In an average year,we import some 600 harness horses into Australia,the bulk of these from New Zealand.The new fee schedule would be $1500 for 3 and 4yo fillies and mares,$250 for mares 5yo and older,and a staggering $5,000 for colts and geldings.(report makes no mention of stallions).

"Does it make sense to put such a high cost on imports? Effectively an owner would need to win two races before beginning to recoup any purchase or training costs if a $5000 import fee was levied. There is no doubt that such a cost would stem the flow of New Zealand horses heading across to Australia and the industry needs as much product (racehorses) as it can get its hands on."(Greg Hayes.."the Hayes Files").

Sadly,if adopted,the Breeding Panel's proposal will do what it is intended to do.That is to prevent the middle band of owners from dabbling in the lower end of the NZ market in the hope of "fluking" an improver,(it does happen) and force them back into the shrinking band of small breeders and yearling sale patrons.The big money men who operate in the higher end of the NZ export business with its perceived better chance,will not be deterred by an extra $5,000 outlay.

The Cold Mountain Stud reduction sale at Marburg last Sunday produced a reasonable result.Any or all faults in the racing and untried stock were disclosed prior to sale and a mixed draft of 22 horses returned $32,500.Not a lot of money you might say,but it was proof positive that participants whose economic circumstance keeps them out of the glitter of the prestige yearling sales,were still keen to buy a ticket in the four legged lottery.Sale topper was Jennas Regret at a respectable $5,700.Toogoolawah based mega-breeder,George Michael,may have scored the bargain of the day when he paid only $200 for the imported stallion,Quality Cam.George was ever a numbers man,but the numbers began to carry some clout when GM secured the SA Derby winner Bonamax for his "Melton" stud.Bonamax has proved a very consistent sire of tough pacers that can win on all tracks.Quality Cam will get a first chance when crossed with Bonamax mares.

When you're on a roll things just go right.Graham Harriott who trained the winners of the three trot races run in the second last week of the season,took out the opening event of 2011/12 when Castletonian (Gary Whitaker) charged home in Race 1 at Albion Park last Thursday.The gelded son of Continentalman scored in a fashion that suggests punters should stick with him in the immediate future..

Resultsville..Gold Coast 26/08..Jack In Flight (Chris Petroff for Brett Cargill)..Rosewood Dan (Trevor Lambourn)..Jazz Legend (Tim Gillespie)...Albion Park 27/08..Maywyn Tonz (Gary Whitaker for Shane Sanderson)..Da Svidanya (Darrel Graham)...Albion Park 30/08..nil...Redcliffe 31/08..Spiderman Two (Steven Doherty for Ricky Gordon)..Helava Big Dog (Brad Cowen for Trent Knack)..Secret Ruby (Ron Sallis)..Im Archie (Lola Weidemann for Ricky Gordon)...Albion Park 01/09..Castletonian (Gary Whitaker for Graham Harriott)..Cold Native (Murray Sullivan)..Vinnies Adventure (Cassie Saunders for Al Barnes)..Melton Miss Style (Pete for John McMullen)...

Posted by dlsmith at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)