Sad news from across the Ditch with the impending retirement of trotting maestro Chris Lang sen. The 54-year-old Victorian has Raynaud's disease which is affecting the circulation in his hands and making winters close to unbearable. He will give the game away - for a while at least - once his property sells.
It's worth remembering he was basically the provider of the toughest Australian opposition for Kiwi trotters during the latter half of last decade. Skyvalley, Let Me Thru and Sundon's Gift have all humbled our own trotters on a few occasions. He is one of the great characters of the sport, too. Perhaps he might find himself talking, instead of driving, for a living in front of the camera at some point?
Early winners
I'm off to Wellington next weekend (September 5-7) to meet up with a few friends where we will chew the fat, have several beers and indulge in our annual punting competition on the Saturday.
Which is where you come in. If you've been following a horse for weeks or months and it appears in the fields when they're released next Wednesday drop me an email by next Thursday afternoon. We'll be betting on 10 races between 3.30pm and 5.30pm next Saturday afternoon. And yes, the irony of a racing reporter asking his readers for tips is not lost on me . . .
Double whammy
Top marks to Matthew Williamson and Jonny Cox who provided Otago Daily Times readers with back-to-back winners at Forbury Park last night in our Tips From The Talent section. Scotty's Image paid $3.20 and Floreta - Jonny's tip - returned a juicy $13 on the win tote.
Where to look
I know I bagged the Makfi Challenge Stakes last year and hey, it is still a fresh-up run in a group 1 for six of the likely starters, but it's hard to argue with the quality. Horses such as Survived, Veyron, Nashville, Shuka, Scapolo, I Do, Recite and more are all performers in group company, while the promising Abidewithme has squeezed in to the field.
Now, I'm not calling this another Lazy Fiver - that's not advisable - but it's definitely worth throwing Pure Champion into your trifecta and First4 bets based not only on his name, but on his excellent trial win at Taupo last week. He hit the line really well and might get a cosy run from barrier 4.
Lazy fiver
I happened to tune in to watch Aldebaran Star at New Plymouth last week. Jumped well, got the trail and then . . . awful. Just awful - I'd be surprised if it could go forward on one of those moving walkways at the airport. I'm hoping Franco Tyson can deliver a knockout blow, or at least a points decision, in race 5 at Timaru on Sunday.
