Slaters Queen Ready For Cup

The name Slater is not what you would call well known in harness racing circles, but young trainer/ driver Zeke Slater is surly starting to make a name for himself in harness racing in Tasmania.
On Sunday night Slater will be looking for his first major cup, with the nice mare Queen Of Fire, who will be driven by leading driver Ricky Duggan as they try to bring home the 2012 Bullock Consulting Devonport Cup over the long trip of 3020m.
Queen Of Fire has the top draw of 3 from the standing start, and if Duggan can get on the front end, with this bold front running mare she will be very hard to run down on the tight Devenport track.
Queen Of Fire is by boom sire Courage Under Fire, out of a What's Next mare, Penultimate, she has started 54 times for 12 wins, 14 seconds and 6 thirds and has banked just under $135k in stakes.
Slater horses are firing at the moment, and he puts this down to the fact that they are a lot more settled, in routine, now that he has his own barn at the Brighton Training facility

Harness Racing Returns @ New Norfolk

There is a great card of harness racing at New Norfolk this Saturday, with a 8 card meeting . The gruelling 1/2 mile track at New Norfolk has always been known to throw up some rough results and i think tomorrows meeting we will see some bolters get up at good odds.
I inspected the track this morning and i must say, it is in the best condition for some time, with a nice cushion thanks to the over night rain.


I think punters can get off to a good start in race 2 with Margin Girl, has to over come a bad draw of inside the second line, but this should not be to much of a problem for drive Paul Ashwood.
In race 3 there could be a nice smokey at odds, Miss Stately has draw the one hole and trainer/driver Paul Hill know this track like the back off his hand.
Zeke Slater will saddle up Camivell Rock in race 5, and i have got the mail that this horse is ready to win, the 40m handicap will make his job a bit tough, but the 2500m trip will suit.
Move on to the next race the Ripper Maddox Memorial and another interesting runner in Earl Of Highview, could surprise, very bad draw, but did trail nicely on Wednesday.
The lucky last race i think Bettors Express can win again after his nice win last start.

Sugars To Drive @ Hobart

Harness racing fans of Tasmania are in for a sweet treat tonight at Hobart, as top Victorian driver Greg Sugars will be in action.

Sugars main mission for the night will be to drive the Dean Braun trained Mr Nickel in the Tasmanian Derby $30,000 group one, which is race six on the 9 card program.
Sugars will also drive Imperial Majesty in race 1, Thelastof race 2, Mckenzie Madness race 5, and Cosmic Under Fire race 7.
Tonight's program all races except the Tasmanian derby will be ran over the mile, and i know that track curator Wally Regett has been working over time on the track to have it lighting fast, but as always mother nature has it's way and the forecast is for about and inch of rain !!!

Quinny So Smooooooth !

This is why i love harness racing, I'm Themightyquinny, has excited us all so many times but Friday night was just some thing special, the 2012 Inter Dominion will be remembered for many things, firstly it was the first time in history that 3 horses had made the final with maxium points after 3 rounds of heats, Lance Justice tried to get a doctors clearance to drive Smoken Up in the final after the final rounds of heats, and lastly it is the last time we will see the Inter Dominion ran under this format for some time, which is a real shame.

Come race night the race had it all, Smoken Up charged out of the gate looking for the front end, but it was not there as Mr Feelgood held the front end, John Justice, pushed the issue and the champ Smoken Up went off stride as they hit the bend at high speed, Mr Feelgood also mix gait for a few strides as Smoken Up made slight contact. This mishap ended Smoken Up chances, it has been revealed that Smoken Up made contact with his hind leg and bike.
At this stage it looked like Mr Feelgood was going to have his own way on the front end, but Butt had different ideas and made a first over move with Auckland Reactor to sit there for the last 1200m of the race, Quinny was still second last as Smoken Up tacked on to the field, the 15,000 fans track side was all asking the same question?, when will Hall make a move on the local hero, but Gary Hall had it under control, he was having faith in Quinny's sprint.
At the bell Smoken Up made another move from the rear and Hall tack on to his back, but he quickly went back to his inside as Smoken Up again went rough on the bend, Quinny was in trouble with 700m to go ! Or was he !
At the 1/4 pole Hall released I'm Themightyquinn and he came 5 wide around the final bend with a wing on every foot, but the fight was not quiet over with, Mysta Magical Mach and Lombo Navigator starting to run on after their good trips, but like top horses do Quinny stuck his neck out for Hall and got on top, to win the final by 1.5meters.
There is a champion horse in the states called Put On A Show, and that is what Gary Hall Jr did after he crossed the line. He gave Quinny to the crowd and the fans loved it, it made the hair on the back of your neck stand up, like Glenn Boss did with the Diva , Hall took Quinny along the out side fence so the fans could interact with the champ. With the reins hanging loose on the bike Hall signalled that Quinny is number 1 !

I'm Themightyquinn, has now stamped him self as one of the most exciting pacers of the new century, purchased at 3 for a reported sum of $180k, Quinny has returned $3.3m for his connection from 84 starts for 39 wins and 27 placings.
The other two local horse that fill the minor price, was Mysta Magical Mach and Lombo Navigator, both horses drivers need to be congratulated on a fantastic drive, they both drove their horses to the condition of the race and was reward for it.
Finally this Inter Dominion, has shown that Gary Hall Jr is now in the top 5 drivers in Australia, drives not just on Quinny but other runner have been faultless, i have all ways had a big opinion of Hall Jr,  now I'm sure i have been right !

Time To Rumble

Gee guys it has been a while since i posted on my blog, to say it was slack , is a bit of an understatement, so it is time to rumble once again.
Lets get cooking, the Inter Dominion final will be ran this Friday night at Gloucester Park in Perth, Western Australia, and what a race we have. For the first time in history, we have 3 horse that have earned maximum points, Smoken Up, Auckland Reactor, and the local hero I'm Themightquinn.
Smoken Up has shown that he is handling the 1/2 mile oval of Gloucester Park ok, with out setting the track on fire, he has made it into the final with out much trouble, but i have to be honest here , i have seen him travel better on the big tracks like Menangle and Melton, if there is going to be one horse that will benefit from a 7 day break from racing, Smoken Up will be the horse. I feel that a little bit of a freshen up will do him the world of good.
Auckland Reactor, well i was one who said that the reactor was not strong enough to take 4 races in 14 days, how wrong was I. This horse has never gone better, he is handling the 1/2 mile oval like a dream, is settling in his races and he has a real chance to take out the final. His bad post of 9 has not helped his chances, but this horse is really racing well and i can see him being in the top 3 as they cross the line.

The Star of the show , has no doubt been the local hero, I'm Themightyquinn, he has just been amazing in his heat wins, and last week heat win, was awesome, he chewed the line and won by 18meters over Raglan, won has also perform well through out the heats. I have sat down and studied the field for the final, I just can't see any way how they are going to beat Quinny !! he is a super star pacer and has really turned it on for the fans of harness racing through out this series, he will win, he can't be beaten, know matter which way you try to look at it.
Of the the other runners, Mr Feelgood has come good at the right time with a track record in his final heat, drawing the pole in the final is a big help and has put him into calculation.

The Field for the 2012 Inter Dominion
1. Mr Feelgood   2. Lombo Navigator   3.Raglan  4. Crombie  5. Mysta Magical Mac  6. Smoken Up  7. I'm Themightyquinn  8.Can Return Fire  9. Auckland Reactor.

My selections are,    1st I'm Themightyquinn, 2nd Mr Feelgood, 3rd Auckland Reactor

All the best to every runner and their connections, have a safe trip drivers.