Meanwhile ...
What a cracking day at the Kurow Trotting Club's meeting on Sunday. The temperature (eventually) became quite pleasant, there was no wind, and the horses duly responded with some very quick times in one race.
But one thing bugged me - and as it later transpired, it confused other people too. Dexter Dunn had a drive in race 1 but, after that, he was twiddling his thumbs until race 9. That's seven races where his prodigious talents were not used in a sulky.
... a young man waits ...
Sure, he was the likely driver for Spencer Gore who was scratched in race 3, and he was ineligible to drive in the junior drivers' race (race 8), but it still leaves five races where he was not employed to do what he does best - drive winners.
I have lost count of the number of people in the last year or so who cannot believe Dunn's ability to find an extra length or two in the performance of any horse - be it a top-liner or a 50-start maiden. Limitation, a winner at Forbury Park a couple of months ago at her 51st start, is the perfect example.
... and hopes
I'm not necessarily suggesting taking other professional drivers off your horse to put Dunn on, but it's the small-time trainer-driver to whom I guess this is directed. Yes, I understand there can be a financial factor, as every driver gets at least $80 for a drive which can help the hobby trainer-driver pay for floating his horse to and from the track.
But it just seems like a terrible waste to me to have the driver who is likely to break all records in the harness racing code left on the sidelines while a trotter or pacer battles away in the c1 grade for the 15th straight start.
A new dawn
So, it's early days in the new two-channel system of Trackside 1 and Trackside 2. So far, so good, in my opinion. Well, mostly. I caught a bit of Steve Davis' show, Off The Track, on Tuesday night when he chatted to Sheila Laxon. Good to have it in prime time and it sounds like there are a few good shows coming up in future weeks, including one with Steve Hansen. I, unfortunately, just caught the tail end of Meet The Butchers on Monday night, but what I saw was promising.
The appearance of Geelong on Trackside 1 on Friday afternoon raised a few eyebrows on one or two internet forums, but I can understand why it was on - the Australian thoroughbred channel TVN provides a fully produced feed (other than graphics) from all Victorian gallops meetings and it fitted in to the schedule quite well. I also hear that you will be seeing a lot more on-course presenters, which will certainly benefit turnover at meetings at this end of the country.
Lazy Fiver
Mighty Matt was looking like a winner with a few hundred metres to go in the Winter Cup but my fears were realised and he couldn't see out the 1600m, finishing - you guessed it - fifth. The $6 yesterday afternoon for Keep The Courage in race 9 at Riccarton on Saturday is a bit skinny, but you might get a little more on the day.
