The Faithful

Very disappointing run last night by The Faithful last night,hope all ok !.Tough race fresh up from a couple of months break so hopefully just in need of the run.
Winner huge potential,runner-up wow run,good thing it didn't win after Mark P's going public with his intended driving tactic's to look after him .

Good to hear of the stakes rise,yeah apartment sales may be behind that.Must be a few with money to plunge into that crazy Auckland housing market,overseas buyer's ??? ,not a fan of foreigner's buying up my homeland though !
Anyway hope the road ahead will be good for harness racing in NZ,not always positive the news I've been hearing.

geejay wrote:Did I miss something,been wondering why the absence of The Faithful from the track lately and now seeing he won't be back until march ,has there been a problem after his last race,or is it just a lack of suitable races with all his good rivals absconding to Australia ,dam good move for them it certainly has been ! Sorry Des  you have had to watch this while your one sits home,a bit painfull.
No one has quelled my curiosity since I said it  be great to know what David Butcher had to say after his last race after a couple of rough steps and not being very vigorously driven out from my observations.Hope all good with him !

I haven't heard anything negative about the horse's condition but that trainer, Barry Purdon, has decided to race The Faithful at the March premier meeting with a prior workout scheduled for 25th.February. There were only 4 nominations from memory for the tighter class race at Auckland this week so the event was canned but a couple of those have been placed in a mixed ratings event over 2200metres mobile. They have of course been handed the worst draws which would have been his fate had he been entered no doubt.

I don't recall any profound statements  coming from the mouth of David Butcher other than confirming what we could see, in that he did pace a little unevenly in the straight , possibly due to being less comfortable left handed.  

The announcement today that Auckland stakes are likely to boost by $40000 per race day from next August (presumably apartment buyers will have settled by then) is welcome news and hopefully will arrest the exodus of horses to Australia, provided they increase stakes across the board, and not just for maidens.  By that time, our 2014 syndicate horses will be 7 years old but not too old or worn out to share in some of the spoils.

Did I miss something,been wondering why the absence of The Faithful from the track lately and now seeing he won't be back until march ,has there been a problem after his last race,or is it just a lack of suitable races with all his good rivals absconding to Australia ,dam good move for them it certainly has been ! Sorry Des you have had to watch this while your one sits home,a bit painfull.
No one has quelled my curiosity since I said it be great to know what David Butcher had to say after his last race after a couple of rough steps and not being very vigorously driven out from my observations.Hope all good with him !

For those that do not have access to, or have not as yet caught up with, the phone message system...
There was a message placed on the system on Saturday by Rob advising that Jack's return to racing has been delayed and he will now not race until March 3rd at Auckland and then again on the 10th. On the 3rd there is a Group 3 1700m race and then on the 10th there is a Group 2 2200m Auckland Free-For-All. There will be a workout prior.

Well Des, you're probably correct to an extent as many would prefer to watch their horses at home with all the social and equine contact which that involves, a bit like a sporting fan enjoying attending a home game.
Funding an overseas trip is a relevant issue.  The rules require stake monies to be paid out when they reach $10000 while a travel fund of $10000 is usually held from other funds built up from subscriptions but this would have had a large dent in it following the South Island trip. So there is probably not much left at the moment.  With a small ownership base it is much easier for the registered owner to cough up a few thousand to underwrite an overseas trip.
Syndicate horses have raced in Australia in the past, usually in races they have been entered for as yearlings or qualified for (e.g. Inter Dominions), generally these have been on a hit and run type basis, not as a prolonged trip.
All the main tracks in Australia are left handed, which doesn't help much.
As for Mr. Trump, well he is ensuring that the media is fully occupied and I understand that he was loved by his mother, when a child.
Good to read that a warm welcome awaits you in Iceland and New Zealand. When you visit you will find there are no snakes in either country.

At Melton today Rocker Band won a group 1 mares race. Hughie Green raced in the death seat and pulled away to win with comments like he will be the new top dog in Queensland where he is going to be based. Hug The Wind is 15/1 for the Hunter Cup. No Doctor Needed has won both his races at Menangle. These are the horses that The Faithful has been mixing it with yet there is a great reluctance from syndicate members to race overseas because of a desire to watch the races live.

I have just watched the replays from the big meeting at Melton today. If anyone is in the slightest doubt about the absolute superiority if the NZ horses over the Australian horses then the replays show that it is no contest.
Rocker Band ... win from 3 back on the sprint lane.
Jacks Legend ... win from back in the field.
Vincent ... dominant win from the death seat.
Moto Meteor ... win from the sprint lane.
Sunny Ruby ... easy win from the sprint lane.
Have Faith In Me ... Tough win from death seat.
Lazarus ... No words to describe ... superior.
Mark Purdon ... 5 winning drives, 4 winning training.
Barry Purdon / Zac Butcher ... 2 out of 2.
This was a feature Victorian programme totally dominated by New Zealanders ... The Faithful ??????

No Doctor Needed ( who The Faithful has beaten 5 out of the last 6 times they have met ) has now won 2 out of 2 at Menangle, the latest rating 1.50 something after working hard to get the lead and being headed in the straight and then fighting back to win. How long can we ignore the riches in Australia that are available to a horse like The Faithful?

No Doctor Needed is $1.15 fixed to win the first race at Menangle today. The Faithful has beaten No Doctor Needed five of the last 6 times that they have raced. This is a further indication that there is money to be made by good ATC horses in Australia. Major Star has made $46,000 in 6 months and is odds on favourite tonight at Ballarat and can be claimed for $25,000.

That very game run by No Dr Needed did appear to overshadow The Faithfulls 4th placing at first glance but watching David Butcher in the straight he did not appear to drive him out very vigorously compared to those 2 on the outside of him.Whether that wasn't necessary or whether those couple of rough moments during the race drew a bit of caution by him I don't know but be great to know what he had to say after the race.He's known for looking after his horses so in no doubt he has done this here ,beating Lazarus over this distance with the run he had nigh impossible, just getting beat by Christen Me and the narrowest of margins by a No Dr Needed who put in the performance of his life well that's quite a performance in itself.Also wonder if he has much of a liking to racing this way round,Cambridge and NZ Metro not been overly great for him so far at least.Think he capable of a faster mile with the right circumstances but agree the longer distances his friend.

I must admit to being a bit disappointed as he had the perfect run and did not beat the death seat horse. His old sit and sprint ability seems diminished. What did the trainer and driver have to say?

A creditable run by Jack tonight.  He got a bit unbalanced a couple of times during the running and it would have been nice to see him finish third rather than fourth given the effort that he made - but that is realistically the fastest that he can run.  A mile is a bit short for him given the staying ability that he has shown in 2700 and now 3200 metre races. A strong determined racehorse is our Jack and a bit more distance would be his best friend.

Hughie Green scratched today together with Hug The Wind. We should now end up behind Lazarus at $1.60 a place. A further indication of what a nice horse The Faithful has developed into is that trottech selections has sandwiched him between two handy horses ... Lazarus and Christen Me. Surely Christen Me will not sit three back on the fence and wait for the sprint lane.

Barrier 1 looks good on paper but I fear they may go forward with Hughie Green, then hand up to Lazarus, leaving The Faithful 3 back,  Of course if Lazarus goes straight to the front we may be lucky and hold the trail, which would be the ideal.P.S. Hughie Green now scratched so that takes one further obstacle out of the way.

As to getting any favours, I don't see that happening  but the barrier draw does make it hard for the stablemates to position other than in the running line (s) which may work to our advantage.

There were no particularly enlightening comments on the Cup run but both trainer and driver said "good run- happy with that, on to the Flying Mile", as they sped off to their next engagement on a very busy night.

Barry Purdon has told Rob that he feels that Ideal Belle should be retired now and Rob has informed members by the phone message that a meeting of members will be arranged as soon as practicable to discuss the suggestion.

Barrier 1 for The Faithful in the big sprint race on Friday. What did the trainer and driver say about his Auckland Cup run?
This Friday The Faithful begins well and hands up to Lazarus ... not to Hughie Green. Every other horse in the race will now lose unless they get up there mid race so hopefully there is plenty of pressure. I know that team driving does not exist but The Faithful has two stable mates who owe him favours for the protection that he has given to them in past races. A slow race and we can run second. A quick race and we can cause an upset. What is happening with Ideal Belle ... race on or retire?

Tiger Tara ran second in the NZ Cup winning over $100,000. In the Auckland Cup he raced in a trail all the way yet The Faithful gave him 9 lengths start at the two laps mark, two lengths on the home turn, did not pull out until late in the straight ????? yet finished a diminishing half length behind him at the finish. Hug The Wind had the run behind the leader and pulled out at the top of the straight providing the run for the third placed horse who also had a great run throughout. Apart from the winner, I believe that The Faithful was the run of the race and must be rated in the best few horses trained on the North Island.

It certainly was an exceptional run and his finishing burst in the straight was exhilirating to watch, which I did from track level. He was going so fast I expected to hear a bang as he broke the sound barrier!  In the process he became ATC Syndicates' fastest ever 3200 metres horse but being unplaced the time will not be recognised.

David Butcher gave him good shelter in the early part when the pace was frantic and this enabled him to come on strong when the leaders were wilting near the finish.

I believe a contest with Lazarus is imminent,which will be a further character test!

A great performance today,race run in record time yet he was finishing it of so well,you's sure should be proud of that run.Bodes well for the future.Sure can help to have some luck in these big races,will come sometime.
Awesome win though by Dream About Me ,what a mare,would love to be on track when she eventually meets Lazarus .

What a brilliant brilliant run by Jack in the Auckland Cup. It was a classy drive by David Butcher and even after running 3000 metres he still put in his usual determined sprint for the finish line. He is a true genuine racehorse and it would have to be one of the proudest non-winning performances that I have been associated with.
Jack it is time that you had a bit of luck run your way and that you won a major race - it will come.....

Great to see The Faithful has made the cup field,good luck !.A surprise to see the change of driver,hard to see Zac making that choice himself but anyway all should be good with that.All Stars gonna be hard to beat but anything can happen so fingers crossed, a bit of luck could help and even a placing in this would be a good result ,a good field and maybe thank goodness no Lazarus.
Brent Mangos on Ideal Belle also a surprise,that points to me they going for the lead but not sure that will be easy to get so going to be interesting how things turn out,Zac on Mo Casino,wonder whats going on ,whatever hope Belle benefits from the change.Tough field though so not gonna be a much easier race for her afterall.

Good to see David Butcher aboard for the Cup.  A driver of his ability should not be sitting in the stand for a Group One event.  Elsu, Changeover, Tintin in America etc.etc. - all benefited from his presence.

As for Belle, well she might be in for a tough night, with the odd reminder of what racing is all about.

...and the answer to who will drive The Faithful in the Auckland Cup is...... David Butcher!?

While I have no concern over David Butcher's quality as a driver I am surprised that they have gone with someone who's never driven Jack before in a $250k Group 1 race that we've been targetting for a couple of months now. Surely he should have been given the drive in a lead up race if they were planning to give him the drive in the Cup.

I also notice that Ideal Belle is now to be driven by Brent Mangos. If you've read my previous posts about Belle you would know that I am actually pleased to see a change of driver for her, but am surprised that the main stable driver (Zac) is driving a horse for another stable rather than driving Belle!? Is this a planned change of tactics or a show of no faith by Zac?

A good result for us in the Futurity with none of the aforementioned horses finishing in the money.
There are now only 15 nominations remaining for the Auckland Cup so I'm feeling much more confident of Jack getting a start.
The question for me now is who is going to drive him?

Now down to 18 noms for the Cup with Ideal Belle and Locharburn both having been officially withdrawn.
This will move The Faithful up one spot in the ratings order, however Bettor B Amazed, Bettor Spirits and Shandale all line up in the Futurity at Cambridge on Xmas Eve so the result of this race could determine whether Jack makes the Cup field or not.