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HOW PATHETIC is Harness Racing Australia !!

We are guessing it happened to all Australian participants who went across to New Zealand for the running of the “Night Of Champions,” but we do know that the Brad Hewitt trained Captain Knock copped a $655.00 fee from Harness Racing Australia for going across to race on the big night.

The horse stayed in New Zealand just three nights, yet Harness Racing Australia want their “Income earning” chop.

You would have thought HRA would be pleased to see the horse go to New Zealand to promote the sport, but not HRA and their greed.

New Zealand (HRNZ) welcomes horses from Australia for feature racing and process any necessary paperwork with no charge - As it should.

IT WAS terrific to see the super consistent Majestic Son (CAN) trotter Jilliby Ballerini (1.55T) pick up his first Group 1 win at Melton last Saturday night.

Now the winner of just over A$475,000 in prizemoney, you would ask how many more Group races would he have won and how much more prizemoney would be in the bank, if it wasn’t for his famous stablemate.

In saying that we would still all love to own the five-year-old – He’s a marvel.

Lucky enough a close mate of ours does have a share in him and is having the ride of a lifetime.

Well done Megs !!

HOPE THE ARTICLE written on today’s Harnesslink, regarding the comments of respected Canterbury horseman Mark Jones on the training expertise of Menangle trainer Jason Grimson is read by past gossip mongers and doubters.

As always jealousy plays a big part in professional sport and in particular our industry, when all sorts of weird and wonderful reasons are given by persons who really have no idea when a particular trainer has success – Mostly derogatory and untrue.

It’s not the first time we’ve heard the same positive things said on Jason's horsemanship by other peers who should know !!

THE NEW ZEALAND handicapping system has just been given a real kicking by one of industries best ever trainers of straight out trotters.

He’s just put a last start winning trotter on the market, as he says he is now not competitive as a one (1) win horse in New Zealand, as he now has to race horses like Buffy Northstains.

Buffy Northstains is a 21-win horse of $250k and has a rating of R41 – The one (1) win horse now is a R40 horse!!!!

Only problem is with the HRNZ Export fee at now $1,500, the ever-increasing float fees to get a horse to Auckland Airport to fly out and more importantly the ridiculous rating Harness Racing Australia have put on New Zealand horses coming into Australia, the horse isn’t saleable.

Three years ago, the same horse would have been sold after its win to Australia at the click of our fingers.

Where does it go next ?

Must fly so we will close off.

Best regards to all.

Stuart and Marg Valentine