The Harness Racing New Zealand awards on Saturday didn't spring too many surprises.
The 2yr-old male pacing category was perhaps the most fascinating with Chase The Dream coming out on top of the voting above Lazarus and Waikiki Beach.
I will put my cards on the table and say I voted for Waikiki Beach, based on his unbeaten record on both sides of the Tasman and his dominant displays in Australia.
That said, I think you could put in a nod for all three so no real arguments there.
I also voted for Stent for Horse Of The Year, but again, Christen Me was a worthy winner.
Jumping to it
I think we can safely say last week was one of the better Grand National carnivals in recent years from a southern perspective.
As mentioned in last week's column, we had Timy Tyler's win in the Winter Cup (both Otago and Southland can take some credit, I reckon) and High Forty's Koral win.
Of course, that was followed up on Saturday with High Forty's tremendous Grand National win.
The way he pulled away over the last furlong produced a fist pump in my household at least, and I'm sure I wasn't alone.
One of the other pleasing aspects of the National was the largely clean race.
We lost Keep It Tight halfway through, but otherwise, it was a nice watching thoroughbreds take on those large fences with gusto and a hint of technique.
He's a speedy Giza
It's coming up a couple of weeks since he won, but American Pharoah's thumping victory in the Haskell Invitational is well worth a mention.
Victor Espinoza was happy to sit back a little in the running before launching as they rounded the home bend to win by 2 lengths, although he was eased up well before the line.
His trainer Bob Baffert is noncommital about the star's next start, although the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 29 is a possibility by all accounts.
Short spell
I'm taking a few days off next week.
I could claim it was to indulge in a spot of DIY, but the last time I swung a hammer was in form 2 woodwork, so that would be a lie.
Anyway, the key point of that was to explain there will be no Racing Matters next week.
Lazy Fiver
I'm stuck in Place-Land at the moment, as Canardly Lover found out on Sunday.
I'm no Madonna fan but maybe Like A Prayer can call on help from above to win race 9 at Rangiora on Sunday.
