One thing became rather clear when rifling through the leaderboards for this year's Harness Jewels - you can't chase every major race throughout the season.
The 4yr-old emerald category is the most obvious one to suffer from attrition. Sure, Have Faith In Me is technically still in the field, but I'll eat a raw onion if he's bowling around Cambridge in the $150,000 group 1 in early June.
Costa Del Magnifico is already in the paddock eyeing up a New Zealand Cup start in November, while Hughie Green has suffered a setback or two. Toss out Alta Ronaldo and Ashton K and five of the 12 top money-earners in the 4yr-old entires and gelding categories will be missing on Jewels day.
It's a long season, of that there's no doubt, and something has to give. Let's say you're a talented 4yr-old in Canterbury. There are pretty much big-money opportunities in every month from September through to June.
That's not even factoring in a possible visit to Melbourne for the Victoria and Hunter Cups and a Breeders Crown bid at the end of the season.
... crazy diamond (and emerald and ruby)
Of course, no horse can take on all of these, but the point stands - even with picking and choosing targets, it's a long time for a horse to be close to full fitness to get from August-September through to May-June.
But the date of the Harness Jewels still fits. There are still 3yr-old fillies features being run at Addington in November, and there is still the thrill for those owners with a horse in 14th or 15th spot just hoping their pride and joy can scrape together enough stakes to make it to the big day.
The 2yr-old programmes slot in nicely with very little juvenile racing in December, and the 3yr-olds are usually placed with a little more spacing between their targets.
The 4yr-old pacing mares category has suffered similarly with The Orange Agent and Fight For Glory succumbing to injury and retirement respectively, but there should still be a fascinating fight between Democrat Party, Lusty Mac, Rocker Band and a few others.
Just as an aside, there's a lot to be said for the breeding of some of the 4yr-old emerald hopefuls. Field Marshal is out of great mare Foreal, Maverick is out of Auckland Cup winner Kate's First, Titan Banner is a half-brother of 2005 NZ Cup winner Mainland Banner, and Art Union is out of top mare Sparks A Flyin.
As for Titan Banner heading to the All Stars Stables (as reported in the Otago Daily Times on Wednesday)? An inspired move from trainer and part-owner Graeme Anderson.
Lazy Fiver
I don't mind losing the Lazy Fiver when a) it's by a nose and b) it's to an Otago-trained horse as happened with Seize The Moment dipping out to Tommy Tucker at Riccarton last weekend. The draw and the mobile start gives Risk a strong each-way hope in the Taylor Mile at Alexandra Park tonight.
