The sights and sounds ...
It's a good hint the racing season is warming up when the Te Teko trials are held in the Eastern Bay Of Plenty in early August.
Yes, I know the new season has technically just started, but there were a few handy gallopers resuming towards a spring campaign, including Brave Centaur, Soriano and Choice Bro.
Less than a couple of decades ago, there used to be some breathing room between seasons, but now they almost flow seamlessly from one to the next.
Personally, I'm not complaining, as racing in the wet and cold, on heavy thoroughbred tracks or on a chilly night at Addington or Forbury Park, gives more horses a chance to leave their mark on the track.
But some around the ODT office have asked when racing takes a break. The answer? It doesn't. Well, other than Christmas Day and two days over Easter. So strap yourself in for another year.
... of spring are near
Some of those horses mentioned above are on their way to Hastings for the Triple Crown carnival, which brings me to my next point (or possibly my first, depending on your evaluation of this column).
The first group 1 of the season is the Makfi Challenge Stakes on the last Saturday of this month but, as a good friend of mine once said, isn't it a bit odd to have a group 1 where most - if not all - of the starters are fresh up from a spell?
I suspect there would be a fairly weighty backlash from the Hawkes Bay community if there was a move to downgrade the status, and chances are such a move would never happen, as the presence of good horses like Mufhasa, Sangster, Silent Achiever and Final Touch - fresh up or otherwise - gives strength to the race's rating. Still, it's an odd anomaly, albeit one I won't be losing too much sleep over.
Back markers
The recent sudden death of Warren Bartlett reminded me of watching his good trotter Raymauwarrhen Sun start like an Olympic sprinter from big handicaps time and time again.
Many times, ''Donny'' would have trotted his way to the front after just 800m and would dare the other trotters to chase him down.
The Fiery Ginga is another recent trotter from these parts to show such dazzling speed from a standing start. Any others from yesteryear that spring to mind? Drop me an email.
Lazy Fiver
Cheeky Tart found the North Island horses to be a bit too good at Riccarton last weekend. So let's give a debutant a chance at Ascot Park on Sunday.
Young Reggie won a workout in good time last week, and could surprise in race 2.
