Now that Springbank Eden has made the 3yr-old ruby field, it is great to see six contenders from within the greater Otago region lining up at the Harness Jewels tomorrow.
But just how great is it?
A chat with another harness racing media man got me looking back through the fields to see how many ''blue and gold'' trainers (I'm going for a combined Otago-North Otago look here, so no Old Golds colours I'm afraid, Hayden Meikle) have taken their charges to New Zealand harness racing's age-grade championship.
... than sense . . .
The answer is pretty great. Six horses - Titan Banner, Onedin Mach, Al Raza, Starlight Starbright, Father Christmas and Springbank Eden - are representing their trainers and owners at Ashburton tomorrow, one more than the five who turned up at Cambridge in 2008 and 2010, and Ashburton in 2009.
The greater Otago region was represented by four horses at the first Harness Jewels at Ashburton in 2007 - the Alan Clark-trained Solana, the Keith Coutts-prepared Darby Doll (when he still trained from Oamaru) and, of course, the two winners, Springbank Richard (Phil Williamson) and GTH Aveross (Andrew Faulks and Noel Creighton).
... for the Jewels
Springbank Richard went back to back - also winning at Cambridge in 2008 - and, a year later, Leighton Hest provided a group 1 win for Matthew Williamson, before Pembrook's Delight became the toast of Roxburgh with her 4yr-old diamond win at Cambridge in 2012.
Technically, this year's total is two fewer than the eight Otago horses who lined up at Ashburton on 2013, but that was the year when three 5yr-old races were added to the weekend's racing, and six of the eight Otago horses raced in that now-defunct section.
So for consistency's sake, we'll stick with the 2, 3 and 4yr-old categories for numbers per year.
As I continue to channel the cricket statistician and craft beer lover Francis Payne with some #statschat, I can report Phil Williamson has had 18 Jewels runners (that will increase to 20 tomorrow), and former Taieri trainer Alan Clark lined up four when he was based here while four Otago-trained horses took part in the 5yr-old trotting race in 2013.
Right, I think that's enough.
Speaking of which
Before we move completely off the subject of numbers, how about the 11 races at Wingatui on Sunday?
I hope my flight back from Christchurch on Sunday morning isn't delayed but regardless, it's pleasing to see trainers flock back to Wingatui.
There are four jumps races in total, and see if you can lend the Otago Racing Club a hand in trying to raise $10,000 for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
Lazy Fiver
Third for Vice Consul this week. With the Jewels on this week, just try a multi with Dream About Me (race 1), The Orange Agent (race 5), and Have Faith In Me (race 9) which should return you somewhere between $3.50 and $4 for every dollar you invest.
