Castlemaine Gift

Castlemaine reminds of a time forgotten. When athletes targeted specific events as their race knowing that to win would affect them for a number of years. I always see this as a step back in time, maybe it is the sleepy township or maybe it is the buildings but Castlemaine is another one of those races that holds a place in my heart.

Anyway, enough ramblings, cast a vote.

The Ant from Paul Newman and KK

The Italian Stallion to take this one out.
Sonsini from Vi, Punchi, Adams, Ant, Newman, Dunmall and a krumling KK.

A final for Kev Brittain wouldn't surprise.
Surely an improved performance from Randy this week, disappointing at Keilor.

Mick, don't be seduced by Sonsini's run at Keilor. If the VAL didn't have the 2 blind mice starting, the second gun would have fired and he would have gone back a metre and Adams would have waltzed into the final instead. WTF is going on with our starters at the moment, they have missed that many breaks over the past month it's embarrassing.

Agreed that was a shocker but people make mistakes. I have a feeling that was the confidence boost the Stallion needed though. He's had to play second fiddle to some of his mates for a while and no doubt wants some of the action.

Race report makes no mention of the women's final re-run, seemed like an itchy finger on the trigger on the day?

Castlemaine one of my favourite meetings of the year, this years addition should not disappoint

my picks

Newman - 6.5
looked good at Wangaratta in the 70m taking it out (7.58s) off 5m, scratched from the gift after an easy heat. Ive got him in the final again this year, does he really want to win this again ? Top 3 for The frog Man

Antonino - 8.5
Frog Mans pick this week to take the winners check, got razor close to running down the eventual winer of Lugo in the Keilor semi. If he runs to his best he takes this out. Top 3 for The Frog Man

Punchihewa - 9.75
Is struggling to break through with that W, is this a win he would want? Will definitely final if runs.

VI - 10.5
Same deal as Punchihewa, could see him sit this one out, if runs- will final.

Outside Dangers: Sonsini, Adams, Stevens, Rosen

After watching the footage of the 6th semi at Keilor, it is clear the smoke appears before Sonsini moves and thus was not a break. The starters recognised this and rightfully let it go. His return to form is exciting and I have the Italian stallion as a big danger on the circuit for the rest of this season.

For the rest, Vi and Punchi to go at it again here but they wont get to Rosen. God Bless.

Antonino. Barely beaten in his semi to eventual winner Lugo and showed he has better top speed than Lugo. Has established himself as the big dog of the Fiedler squad - his race to lose if he can hit the start.

Look for Sonsini to go well here also, he is getting better every week and showed stable mate adams who the boss is. Under a good coach in Ireland who knows how to get them primed for the big race... have to wonder if Bailey is just a distraction for the main chance Sonsini. He’d look good at Stawell off 7m

Agreed Westy, Sonsini chewed up and spat out Adams with ease. His a quality athlete that everyone would love to see take home a Stawell sash

Im gonna have to disagree here, ive lost too much of my hard earned on Sonsini. Just when i think he is ready to go he lets me down. Time for his stable mates to shine

Antonino showed his hand last weekend at Keilor, and I would fully expect a good performance this weekend from him, if not then some questions must be asked as they have been of other young athletes in a similar position such as Aiden Green and Ireland.
120m
St albans S- 12.694 F- 12.788 AP
Ballarat H- 12.487 S- 12.65 AP
Terang H- 13.13 S- 13.26 AP
70m
Stawell 2019 off 7.5m ran 7.62s with raw times as quick as 7.53
Ringwood 2019 ran off 7.75m runs 7.46s (on rubber) was the allowance 1m? so make it 7.56s?
Hastings gets 6.5m runs 7.86s (first race of season, on a fluffy track)
Warnambool- quick track leave them out
Daylesford- his now on 7m and runs 7.9s and 8.0s (5th)(this track is slow however a Stawell 70 runner up should be winning this easily)
Rest of 70 runs fall around 7.80s some slower some quicker. His back to 7.25m now and not many questions asked, his meant to be a year stronger? Will most likely start off 7.5m again for Stawell....crazy
Other young athletes forced to go into hiding such as Aiden green and other athletes like Ireland who gets pulled half metre for losing a metre from heat to semi on a wet track.

I have to admit I thought Darcy Ireland was very stiff. Firstly he has already won this year and taken a penalty. Secondly I was in his semi and I thought I ran better in the semi than my heat but was 0.08 slower. With the rain around it was hard to get a consistent gauge on times. I would’ve thought others had done worse things in the 70 this year. But there may be other info we don’t know? So hard to know why the stewards made this decision without knowing all the facts

It smells like onions, dumpster juice and old socks all rolled into one. I’d say Ireland’s name was in the little black book and any misstep was a trigger for sanction. Loses 1.5m from heat to semi (which is liable only for a NAP on times) and only gets beaten by a metre from eventual winner of final in Dunmall.
Looking at his 70 history; 2nd at Warrnambool/ Terang, wins Rye, 6th at Wang & 4th at Ballarat, hmmmnnn inconsistent?
Tucker (1m loss between semi to final of 70m) and Mistarz (Gift semi time loss) also Up’d at Keilor.

BTW Daniel Martin runs 7.45 (raw time) to win Ballarat from 11.75m and still has 11.25m this week - pffftt please.
On the flip side Poddy back 3m in masters 120m - whack!!!! Will probably still win, as long as he’s been able to walk this week. Even Senior Bailey back 0.50m in 120m for 2nd place time.

No surprises though; every season there is a meeting or two where stewarding muscle is flexed, demonstrating that athletes need to perform consistently. The athletes just wish that could be reciprocated across all season carnivals.

Wow - glad I haven’t entered this weekend. Rosen looks to be in flying form based off Instagram. Very good chance to win this.

Aah cmon TS, don’t let the Rosenator scare you off. There’s a difference between not running and not entering.

thespy wrote:Wow - glad I haven’t entered this weekend. Rosen looks to be in flying form based off Instagram. Very good chance to win this.

Shame you actually have entered Spy... ‍�

Also the irony of saying someone is flying when they post 2 steps in slow motion ‍�

All eyes on you this week Randy, just the way you like it.

Shame it wasn’t footage of you running 11.19 I think a few of us would’ve liked to have seen that, good luck this week Timmy I’ll be cheering for you in the crowd

All eyes should be on whoever performs best on the day El Chapo. If it’s me then great. But I think Antonino will be incredibly hard to beat. As will Vi and Max again.

And Juice, id love more video of my sessions, so you’re welcome to come down to dmac and video every single one and post it on social media. Unlike some I don’t care if people see me training hard

Top 16 chances (2 x semis of 8.)

Stevens 2.25m
Dunmall 4.5m
Deslandes 6m
Newman 6.5m
Sonsini 6.5m
Adams 6.75m
Mekonnen 7m
R.Lugo 7.25m
Antonino 8.5m
J. Ireland 8.5m
Ware 8.5m
Brittain 9.25m
Eddy 9.5m
Vi 10.5m
Rosen 15
Hughes 16

Winner will come from 6.5 - 6.75m

Would probably have Kardakovski, James and Hoffman in before others, but their last performances were a little off their best.

Easier Said Than Run wrote:Top 16 chances (2 x semis of 8.)

Stevens 2.25m
Dunmall 4.5m
Deslandes 6m
Newman 6.5m
Sonsini 6.5m
Adams 6.75m
Mekonnen 7m
R.Lugo 7.25m
Antonino 8.5m
J. Ireland 8.5m
Ware 8.5m
Brittain 9.25m
Eddy 9.5m
Vi 10.5m
Rosen 15
Hughes 16

Winner will come from 6.5 - 6.75m

Would probably have Kardakovski, James and Hoffman in before others, but their last performances were a little off their best.

That list looks the main contenders ESTR, those 3 are

Newman
As I said I have him right up there, would go to Stawell with a metre less this year from last.... is this race really in his plans?
Sonsini
admittedly improving week to week. Couple have him beat here.
Adams
Running well. same, couple have him beat.

Antonino for me.