Harness Racing - The Decade That Was

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The year 2000 was a year full of excitement for harness racing fans across the nation. Fresh from the nineties, where we were treated to the likes of Westburn Grant, Franco Tiger, Jack Morris, the mighty mare Blossom Lady who was later followed by Tailamade Lombo (two mares we have not seen the quality of since), Weona Warrior, the freakish Chokin and the awesome battles of Master Musician, Golden Reign and Desperate Comment. We had a taste of what the USA can offer with Tiber and of course we had Iraklis and Quantum Lobell dishing it up, but often coming off second best to the freakishly talented triple Interdominion winner and the undisputed horse of the decade, in Our Sir Vancelot.
The champ was retired after his successes that year, and the left the door open for a new horse to take the mantle. Who would that be? Who would the star of the new millenium be? That title looked to be going the way of the mighty mouse from the shaky isles, Courage Under Fire who had gone through his 2yo and 3yo seasons undefeated and won something like 6derbies. In his first Aus start he beat the all but undefeated Aussie star Shakamaker by 21m, 6months later and Shaka cut the margin to 13m in the Aus Derby, but the cream of the crop was no way near good enough for the mighty mouse, with the Colin De Fillipi driven colt running 1.56.5 for the 2540m trip.

2000
On the first day of the new year if any future stars were likely to be unveiled you would think it would be in a group race. So we go to Leeton for the 2yo Breeders Plate, but while waiting for that race we get side tracked by a 3yo. Winning that day was future ID winner Jofess!
Just three weeks later, ironically a Leeton horse and future stablemate of Jofess, Kyema Kid knocks off Courage Under Fire in a heat of the ID!
Not to be put off connections then push on to the Vic Cup a week later. Where Breenys Fella (I remember my dad backed him this day) knocks off a STAR STUDDED line up in the first Group1 of the decade. Shakamaker finishes 2nd, with the otha boom NZer Christian Cullen in third. Further back we had the American Slug of Jin, Courage, Safe and Sound, Yulestar, defending Vic Cup champ Holmes D.G, Happy Asset and Tailamade finished last!!
Onwards to the Inter and who could forget Dan Mielickis call, I cant. Shakamaker won in a bustling finish, proving to good for Breenys Fella in a field not to dissimilar from the Vic Cup.
A 4yo won the Inter, but he still couldnt win the Chariots of Fire, going down by 5m, the biggest Chariots margin, to a smart mare in Lombo Rapida.
However a week later he turned the tables at the same venue, winning the Ben Hur by the narrowest of margins after giving Lombo Rapida a 15m headstart at the handicaps. Atitiagain was third.
The Miracle Mile was taken out by back to back champ Holmes D.G, who somehow beat Atitagain by 0.01 metres! Tailamade finished 3rd, Shake 4th, Courage beaten 20m in 5th and poor Ablazin Star in 6th who struck one of the strongest Miles in history.
Too add to a stellar year, Shakamaker took out the Tassie Gp1 with 2 days left to cross of on the calendar.

2001
Was it too be Shakas year again after being such a dominant force in 2000. Two disapointing runs to start the year and John Justice had jumped off him to drive Safe And Sound in the Vic Cup. However Shaka beat his stablemate to give Justice a quinella. The field was once again star studded, Atitiagain, Holmes D.G, The Lombo mares in Tailamade and Rapida, Breenys Fella and Yulestar.
A fortnight later and a 20m handicap proved 2metres to far in the Hunter Cup, with Shaka going down to Another Party by 2m.
The Brisbane ID soon rolled around and CUF was back to his best, as were Atitagain and Shaka. All 3 took out 2 heats. But it was to be an 'upset' with Yulestar heading a kiwi bred first 5 of Atitiagain, Pocket Me, Courage and Breenys Fella.

Do some more later.
 

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footyman

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Onwards to the Inter and who could forget Dan Mielickis call, I cant.
Here, here. "here comes Shaka" as they rounded the turn and of course "it's a Victorian quinella" as they went over the line. Made the hair on the back of the neck stand up, although a lot of Dan Mielicki's big race calls do!

Great read carltonblue, look forward to your next instalment.
 

western royboy

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Fresh from the nineties, where we were treated to the likes of Westburn Grant, Franco Tiger, Jack Morris, the mighty mare Blossom Lady who was later followed by Tailamade Lombo (two mares we have not seen the quality of since), Weona Warrior, the freakish Chokin and the awesome battles of Master Musician, Golden Reign and Desperate Comment.

Great reading but without wanting to offend anyone, deal me out of mentioning Weona Warrior in the company of the other champs highlighting the 90's. IMO he is probably the worst horse ever to win an Inter (it was a very weak field) and the memory will never fade as I was on the pacing warrior in Ultra Jet all through the series and to be beaten by this horse after sitting in the death over 2700, admittedly by the best drive ever in the history of the sport in this country still haunts me to this day.

Looking forward to the remaining parts.
 
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Haha, wow. We own Kyema Kid, he is our back paddock right now :)
Watch out for Kyema Khan. 9 starts for 4 wins and 3 seconds.
 
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Haha, wow. We own Kyema Kid, he is our back paddock right now :)
Watch out for Kyema Khan. 9 starts for 4 wins and 3 seconds.
I think I would have backed Kyema Khan at most of his starts in fact. I notice Eurell does it with a lot of his horses, but is there a reason Kyema Khan is so lightly raced?
You would have had a lot of fun with Kyema Kid!!!
 

Childish Gambino

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2000

Not to be put off connections then push on to the Vic Cup a week later. Where Breenys Fella (I remember my dad backed him this day) knocks off a STAR STUDDED line up in the first Group1 of the decade. Shakamaker finishes 2nd, with the otha boom NZer Christian Cullen in third. Further back we had the American Slug of Jin, Courage, Safe and Sound, Yulestar, defending Vic Cup champ Holmes D.G, Happy Asset and Tailamade finished last!!
Onwards to the Inter and who could forget Dan Mielickis call, I cant. Shakamaker won in a bustling finish, proving to good for Breenys Fella in a field not to dissimilar from the Vic Cup.
Great write up.

I was in the winners circle that day even though I was only 13 it was a moment I'll never forget.

In the Interdom if Breenys Fella gets a clear run in the straight he would almost beat Shaka as he was almost last on the turn and in heavy traffic and he had to weave his way through horses.

The quality of horses going around in the late 90's and early 00's was unbelievable. So many champions in that era. Horse's like Christian Cullen, Courage Under Fire, Holmes DG, Shakamaker, and Tailamade Lombo. Even the 2nd tier horses were amazing like Yulestar, Atitagain, Safe and Sound, Slug of Jin and Breenys Fella.
 
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