Harriet Of Mot is back home at Woodend Beach after venturing south to Omakau earlier this week.
She got third and more than paid for her trip in what was a funny ol' race, because things just never really panned out for her as it unfolded.
The first and most important obstacle was to get Hattie through the first couple of hundred metres without leaving her feet, because the two other times when she's drawn the second row in a mobile (at the Harness Jewels in 2016 and at Addington as recently as last September) she's galloped.
With that box ticked, John Dunn was following his brother Dexter on Belles Son the whole way and when the sprint went on at the 800m point a hole opened opened up right in the middle of the field and separated the eight horses into two groups.
Having waited for something to give him and Hattie a drag forward, it soon became apparent that those just ahead of them were struggling so John launched our girl around the home bend.
Unfortunately by that stage the leading pair had put enough of a gap between them and us, and Hattie was left to trot home boldly into a minor placing. She's still gone great though.
Plus, quite a few of our southern-based Syndicate Members got great delight out of seeing Hattie in the flesh; it was another trip away so it was good for her psychological development, and she's now put four great efforts together on the bounce and has a formline of 1213 since the Dominion.
So, although not a win on this occasion - definitely a 'win win' situation all round.
Co-trainer Craig Edmonds reports that Hattie had a bit of a blow after the race and then hardly touched her tea that night, leaving him to think she "wasn't a hundred percent" on the day.
And there could've been numerous different reasons why, too - such as being in a foreign place, the heat etc - so the fact that she perhaps wasn't quite herself only earns her more kudos for still putting up a brave effort.
Hattie's returned to Christchurch and so has her appetite, with Craig confirming that she's taken no ill-effects from the trip and is happily back in familiar surroundings again.
She's being given a brief freshen-up, and then will be aimed at a couple of trotting events which are tentatively programmed at Addington later this month and in early February.
(December 30)
Harriet Of Mot is in fine fettle as she prepares to head south to Omakau for the Central Otago meeting on January 2.
Co-trainer Craig Edmonds reports that Hattie worked "great" this morning. They've also had her blood tested during the week, and that's looking good too.
Hattie's travelling south with Majestic on New Year's Day, leaving first thing in the morning, so she'll have every opportunity to shake off the trip with a good night's sleep in a lovely paddock at the other end.
Craig is tagging along with her in the transporter too, so she'll be in good hands the whole way.
With the racemeeting being an Inter-Islander Summer Festival one, there'll be a cover charge to get through the gate.
I've got my hands on an email from the Club which gets owners oncourse for free though, so if you intend to be there to cheer Hattie on then just hit reply to this newsletter and I'll forward it onto you.
All you need to do is print it off and take a copy with you, and keep the $10 in your pocket.
(December 22)
The Central Otago Trotting Club's Meeting at Omakau on Tuesday, January 2 has been locked in as Harriet Of Mot's next appearance.
There's a $14,000 Free-For-All mobile trot on the programme down there for her, so that's where she'll head.
Co-trainer Craig Edmonds rang today to say that Hattie's had a quiet couple of days after her record-breaking victory at Addington six days ago, but is back into strong work again now and doing great.
He and Aimee will just keep our girl ticking over along the beach in the meantime, and expect her to be in fine fettle for her next assignment.
Following that, Craig says she'll probably be given "an easy week" because there's not much for her until about mid-February.
Noel, Wendy and I would like to wish all our goHarness Syndicate Members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Eat lots, drink little (haha), and please keep your speed down on the roads if you're travelling anywhere.
We'll see you all again real soon!
(December 18)
The fastest trotter, male or female, in a 2600m mobile event... ever!
This is an honour now bestowed on Harriet Of Mot after her breathtaking victory at Addington on Saturday night.
Got quite a ring to it, hasn't it?
National Records can stay in place for days or decades, and the only thing certain about them is that they eventually get lowered. So for now, let's bask in the glory of yet another terrific performance from our girl.
In all honesty, she's unlucky not to have won three straight since her unbelieveable run in the Dominion Handicap; instead, she's won two and was nutted on the post in the other.
On Saturday Hattie wasn't rushed by John Dunn early, and he kept her at the back when sensing that the tempo was a corker up front.
Passing the 800m peg it was time to move, and when John launched Hattie three-wide they got pushed another cart width wider. Amazingly, the second-to-last quarter in the race was covered in 27.7 while Hattie was out there and buzzing forward - so her own split over the penultimate stanza would've been close to sub-27 seconds.
She kept up her strong run right to the line, and held out Alderbeck more comfortably than it looked to stop the clock at 3:12 flat (a 1:58.8 mile rate!).
"Johnny said she was edging clear of that other horse again near the finish," co-trainer Aimee Edmonds reported yesterday.
"And she actually should improve with that run too - she'd done pretty well since Methven and was a bit round in the belly."
Hattie has come through her record-breaking win in great order. We're just unsure where she'll line up next, but there's plenty of options around Canterbury and further south so as soon as it's been decided I'll let you know.
(December 15)
Harriet Of Mot is in good shape heading into the $14,400 Mobile Free-For-All at Addington this Saturday night.
Hattie's got a wide marble to contend with in the 2600m event, which is her 'penalty' (under the preferential barrier draw system) for being one of the tightest-assessed horses in the race.
In a way this is negated by it being not a big field; meaning that wherever John Dunn manages to slot her in, she's not going to have as many horses to get around.
"She's got to be tough to beat the way she's been racing," co-trainer Craig Edmonds said yesterday.
"Yep, she's all good. We did a bloodtest earlier in the week and it's come back fine, plus she worked well this morning too.
"It's all up to her now, really."
Saturday's meeting at Addington is being run under the 'Christmas at the Races' theme, but when I checked with the Club earlier this week they confirmed that there's not going to be a charge to get oncourse.
For those of you who are heading along, we'll see you there.
It's going to be a busy weekend for goHarness, because all three of our current syndicates have horses engaged.
Just a matter of hours after Hattie goes round at Addington, both the 'Buy, Race & Sell' Syndicate (Angustia, race one) and 'Staxofun' Syndicate (Franco Saxon, race three) will be in action at Rangiora.
(December 5)
What a super run it was by Harriet Of Mot at Methven on Sunday!
On an afternoon when there was a distinct bias towards horses who were in or near the lead, John Dunn was left with no option but to push forward from their wide draw and I applaud him for putting our girl in the race.
Hattie was four and then three-wide before scooting to the front down the back straight, and unfortunately the exertion was just enough to make her a 'sitting duck' for the swoopers and that's exactly what transpired.
After shrugging off the attention of Great Things Happen halfway down the home straight, Hattie looked to have the race in safe keeping but just couldn't withstand the barnstorming finish of Everybody Knows in the last few metres.
Considering they ran home in 57.7 and 28.7 on the grass, it was still a huge run from our girl. The overall time of 1:58.4 for the mile established a new track record for trotters, and Hattie's personal clocking of 1:58.5 was also inside the previous best - so she's 'unofficially' the fastest trotting mare to ever race over this distance at Methven.
Speaking to co-trainer Craig Edmonds last night, he confirmed that Hattie had come through the race in grand order.
"You wouldn't even know she'd had a run to be honest," he said enthusiastically.
"She's eaten up everything since, and was feeling pretty good about things when she had a nice relaxing walk in the surf this morning."
Hattie's next target is likely to be a race at Addington on Saturday, December 16.
(November 28)
Gosh it was great to see Harriet Of Mot return to her best form and put win number 10 on the board last weekend!
Watching on television as the field assembled for her event, I don't think I've seen Hattie look better all season and she certainly franked that with a truly meritorious performance.
And it wasn't without some anxious moments either... first a false start, then a galloper which crossed right under Hattie's nose from one side of her to the other; we needed that like a hole in the head.
As the commentator Mark McNamara quite-rightly stated though, our girl didn't bat an eyelid at the interference and was as solid as a rock as she settled into her rhythm.
John Dunn had Hattie positioned beautifully in the one-one once the field was sorted, then she showed no aversion to sitting parked after that and forged to the front strongly nearing the final bend - with one lone chaser in pursuit.
And hey, Hattie might've only won it by a head over Monty Python in the end but the margin flattered how each horse was actually travelling and you've only got to look at the mannerisms of the drivers for the proof; Johnny was sitting as quite as a church mouse, whereas Matty Williamson was throwing everything but the kitchen sink at his charge.
"Johnny was only kidding to her at the finish and said he had the other one covered easily," Craig confirmed, adding that Hattie being more 'sensible' at the start is a reflection of her wellbeing overall.
"As I said leading up to this race, she seemed a lot happier than she was heading into the Dominion.
"So it's an indication that she's more or less over all the little niggles that have been troubling her, she's getting free of them."
I thanked and commended Craig, Aimee and the rest of their team for the dedication to the cause, because a huge amount of 'overtime' has gone into getting Hattie back to her best.
He agreed that it was pretty satisfying, because "we know how good she can go when she's right".
"Hopefully she'll come out and do something similar next Sunday."
And that's where she's heading next: the $17,500 Trotters' Green Mile at Methven, an event which Dominion Handicap winner Amaretto Sun and Show Day shock failure Great Things Happen are also nominated for.
I know whose camp I'd rather be in, and wild horses couldn't keep me from being oncourse to cheer for Hattie this weekend.
(November 24)
Co-trainer Craig Edmonds is "very happy" with Harriet Of Mot heading into tomorrow's race at Orari.
Craig rang this afternoon to report that Hattie's had a good week of training and improved since her luckless outing in the Dominion seven days ago, and even feels better through the reins compared to what she was like leading into the big Group 1.
"It's a different sort of grass track surface at Orari, but as long as she handles it and doesn't do anything wrong I think she'll be hard to beat tomorrow," he said.
I can't be oncourse this time, but Noel and Wendy will be ringside and they look forward to seeing those of you who are also going.
(November 20)
Oh what might've been, what could've been, and what almost was...
I think most Trotting For Fun Syndicate Members will still be feeling a bit like 'stunned mullets' after the running of the Dominion Handicap at Addington on Show Day.
And that's because it was a real rollercoaster ride for all of us, containing every emotion possible in the space of four and a bit minutes.
First came the despair of Hattie's early gallop, but then instant relief that she didn't go down on her nose right then and there; the slowly regathered hope as she gradually made up the lost ground to at least be a part of the event, and then what seemed to be a cruel tease as she still looked to be full of running swinging for home.
Surely she couldn't still win a Group 1 two-miler after losing 50 metres at the start, could she? Yep, she could've - that's how much ability Hattie possesses in her petite little frame.
Despite the fact that she bookended the biggest race of her career with a break, you can't help but acknowledge the enormity of Hattie's run; trust me, apart from the warm fuzzies surrounding the winner's connections and the shock failure of the hot favourite, the biggest talking point of the 2017 Dominion Handicap is Harriet Of Mot's performance.
We need to thank Craig and Aimee for everything they did too, because against all odds they managed to get our horse all-but spot on for the big occasion.
Speaking to Craig this evening, he still hasn't watched the replay and says he's unlikely to; he already knows that Hattie pretty much threw the race away.
"Earlier more than anything - it's that gallop at the start which cost her," he lamented.
"Her mother was the same too, she used to get away but then gallop early for no reason as well.
"It tends to be a concentration thing. Hattie was on her own down on the inside at the time, and some lengths off the horse in front of her, so perhaps it might've been different if there was some others close by."
Remembering my post-race conversation with John Dunn on Friday, he just shook his head and uttered a couple of expletives - which in itself was a fair indication of the opportunity that went begging.
John said Hattie just came to the end of her run before rolling into a gallop, but no-one could begrudge her getting tired under the circumstances.
"Just the lack of race fitness counted against her, she wasn't quite a hundred percent," Craig continued.
"She seems to have come through it okay though. She had a walk in the water along the beach on Saturday and then a jog on Sunday, and she's pretty full of herself."
Our trainers have nominated Hattie for this Saturday's meeting on the grass at Orari, where she'll be off a 20m handicap over 2850 metres.
This is with the Green Mile at Methven the following weekend in mind. Craig says he'll give her a decent hitout on Tuesday and Thursday and as long she does as expected they'll confirm the start on Saturday.
(November 13)
Harriet Of Mot has now been 'locked in' to tackle the Dominion Handicap later this week.
Co-trainer Craig Edmonds rang me with the great news earlier this afternoon; the last box which needed to be ticked was a private hitout around Rangiora Racecourse today, and it's a test she passed with flying colours.
"Johnny (Dunn) was really happy with how Hattie felt and how she trotted," Craig said, adding that our trotter worked over 2400 metres alongside a galloping pacemaker and was travelling "great" at the finish.
For us it's now just a case of sitting back and waiting four sleeps, but for Craig and Aimee and their support crew there'll be no rest between now and Friday... Hattie will undergo another session of acupuncture, have a final bowl-around on Wednesday, and her trainers will continue to tinker with a couple of things - all with the aim of having her as cherry ripe as possible on the day.
Craig admits that a lack of lead-up racing to the Dominion isn't the ideal situation, but quickly points out that Hattie's fit and healthy and the rest is up to her now.
"If she does everything right and gets no bad luck, she's capable of being right in the finish."
This now brings us to the matter of organising tickets for Show Day - and more importantly, distributing them amongst those of you who'd like to be oncourse for the occasion.
I'm not sure how many passes our syndicate will be allocated, but I'll let Addington Raceway officials get through tomorrow's Cup Day first and then address this issue with them on Wednesday.
Can you please email me back if you intend to go, and would like to be considered for a ticket. Once I compile a list of names over the next 48 hours, I'll compare that to how many passes we've been allocated and then do a draw if necessary.
As was the case this time last year, I'll be the only person authorized to pick up our bunch of passes - and then if you're getting one off me, I'll ask you to meet me near the entrance to the course prior to the first race so that I can hand it over.
(November 9)
After watching Harriet Of Mot run fifth in her trial at Addington yesterday afternoon, I'll stop short of trumpeting "she's back" - but I definitely saw signs that our girl is heading in the right direction.
Hattie was once again a bit fractious prior to the start of her 2600m Heat, twisting sideways and rearing up as the field organised themselves in readiness to get underway.
And for a moment I was worried she might not step cleanly because of that - so important when the whole point of yesterday was to get an indication of where Hattie's 'at' leading into Cup Week; breaking and not being part of the trial would've been less than ideal.
But Hattie slotted straight into her rhythm from the moment she took her first step, even as others made tardy beginnings around her, and driver John Dunn had an interesting observation afterwards.
"It's like she's 'playing on it' a bit," he said, referring to Hattie's uncooperative nature behind the tapes.
"So I just growled and gave her a whack and she trotted away fine," John added, indicating that being strict on Hattie in this respect might be the way to curb those tendencies.
John steered Hattie into a spot four-deep the fence and stayed there the whole way, and in my opinion there were a lot of positives about that as well; we've hardly seen her cramped away on the inside in any of her races, but she never looked like putting a foot wrong the entire time she was down there.
Coming around the final bend yesterday, Hattie was still some distance from the action unfolding up ahead of her and then John just let her drift into the centre of the track as the winning post got ever closer.
She officially ran fifth in what was a blanket finish, probably about two lengths off the winner, and I was delighted to see her doing it under her own steam while John never moved a muscle.
"She felt really good - more like her old self," he said.
"They've gone 3:23, but it felt like she was going 3:33," he added, signifying how easily Hattie travelled throughout.
So, where does this leave us heading into Show Day?
We're definitely a chance of lining up in the Dominion, but please be aware that there's still a couple of boxes which need ticking before Craig and Aimee make the final decision early next week.
Hattie was scheduled to have more hock injections (IRAP treatment) once she got home yesterday; she's booked in for another acupuncture session over the weekend, and Craig is also toying with the idea of giving her a private hitout around Rangiora racetrack on Monday.
He and Aimee have worked night and day trying to get on top of the various little issues troubling Hattie, and will continue to do so - all in a bid to have her as right as she needs to be to contest a race like the Dominion.
'Team Hattie' doesn't stop their either, because the likes of vet Sam Taylor and acupuncturist Sophie Wigley are as committed as our trainers are to the cause and we're indebted to everyone for their work behind the scenes.
Of course, it's too early to claim we're out of the woods just yet - but if nothing else, yesterday's trial performance suggested that our team of professionals are slowly but surely winning the battle.
The necessary improvement in Hattie is literally only days old, too, because Craig says that when he worked her last Saturday he wasn't convinced she'd even be lining up at yesterday's trials.
"But then I worked her again on Monday and she was a lot better - she trotted great," he said.
"Sophie did tell us that the benefits of the acupuncture might take a couple of days to 'kick in' though, and it seems like it is.
"Hattie's going to come right eventually," Craig reiterated.
Keep an eye on HRNZ's website over the next 48 hours, because I'm hoping the replays of yesterday's Cup Trials will be loaded into the Trials Results section sometime soon.
(November 2)
Harriet Of Mot won't be making another raceday appearance prior to Cup Week.
Craig and Aimee Edmonds have been involved in a real 'race against time' trying to get Hattie right for the Dominion Handicap on Show Day, which has been her main target all along.
They've chosen next Wednesday's Cup Trials at Addington as Hattie's final public hitout leading into Christchurch's glamour week, and despite the fact that she hasn't raced since October 6 they're more than confident Hattie won't be lacking anything in the fitness department come the big day.
Craig is the first to admit that Hattie's build-up to Cup Week has been "a far cry" from the programme they'd originally pencilled in for her; and a little bit unexpected too, to be fair, especially seeing how she kicked off her season with a couple of workout wins and looked to be squarely in the zone.
However, in recent syndicate emails we've outlined that Hattie has had some "issues" lately - none of them are serious on their own, but when two or three littly niggly things all occur at the same time it's made it that much harder for our trainers to sort everything as the Dominion's countdown clock keeps ticking away unforgivingly in the background.
To help explain the situation, we've got a Vet Report from Craig and Aimee's vet Dr Sam Taylor which was received last night, and it says...
During the last month, Harriet Of Mot has been examined after galloping a number of times while racing.
There is no lameness present when trotted in hand, however when worked the drivers are reporting she becomes unbalanced in her gait. I have driven the horse twice now, and she does become unsteady at high speed.
Radiographs of the front limbs were taken to assist in shoeing balance. Radiographs were also taken of the knees and revealed some early arthritic changes; these were treated.
Around this time the horse also suffered a significant tie-up episode. This has also been treated, however the muscles in her hind limb became very tight and cramped, preventing racing at Ashburton last weekend.
This tie-up has since improved, and a number of muscular treatments including acupuncture have been carried out.
Harriet has been a difficult horse to treat, as most issues only appear at speed. She also appears to be very sensitive, in that she doesn't trot well unless she is 100 percent happy and sound.
At this time I think we are on top of the current issues, and we hope she can return to racing next week.
If nothing else, such a Vet Report proves just how much time and effort is being put in behind the scenes; all of it in an effort to get Hattie to once again show us how good we know she is!
"She'll come right sooner or later - we just hope that it's sooner rather than later," Craig said philosophically.
"We're just going to have to take one step at a time with her, it's all we can do."
And for that reason, Craig and Aimee haven't even looked past next week's Cup Trials yet. In other words - whether she'll line up on Cup Day, Show Day, both or neither is still to be resolved.
"We'll wait and see how she goes at the Cup Trials before deciding that," he said this afternoon.
(October 20)
Harriet Of Mot has been withdrawn from the Flying Mile at Ashburton on Monday.
Co-trainer Aimee Edmonds rang with the news a few minutes ago, saying that Hattie will not get a chance to win the Group 3 event which is coincidentally sponsored by Noel's stallion The Pres.
Aimee reassures us there's no reason to worry though - her and Craig are just not entirely happy with where Hattie's 'at' at the moment.
"She worked great this morning but then she was a little bit scratchy in the warm-down," Aimee said.
"She's not far away, but she's just not a hundred percent right now - and she's too good a horse to line up in a race like that just for the sake of it."
As was the case when she first went back into work a couple of months ago, Hattie's main aim for the season is still the Dominion Handicap on Show Day; lining her up on Monday when she's not quite right could've undone those plans, and our trainers aren't prepared to take that risk.
From here the schedule leading into Cup Week is going to be a bit different to this time last season, but it'll soon all fall into place. One thing's for sure though, Hattie won't be going to Kaikoura.
"We'll take her back to the trials next," Aimee says.
"After that, it'll either be a race somewhere (if there's a suitable one) and then Show Day - or we'll go Cup Day/Show Day.
"Although, starting her in a mobile three days out from the Dominion might not be ideal. So we'll just have to see.
"Hattie's fit, she's really well within herself, and she looks great - so it's going to be okay just keeping her ticking over at home in the meantime."
(October 17)
Harriet Of Mot is not heading off to the Rangiora Workouts tomorrow after all.
Craig and Aimee Edmonds are still working on a couple of little issues with our girl; these are nothing major, but a standing start midweek trial just doesn't fit perfectly into the equation as we build towards her next start - a mobile mile at Ashburton on Monday.
Craig says Hattie is "sound, and really well within herself", so they'll just keep ticking her over at home in the meantime.
(October 10)
If you were disappointed about Harriet Of Mot once again failing to get around in one piece at Addington last Friday night, you're not alone.
Most in the Syndicate would've gasped and rolled their eyes when Hattie rolled into a gallop after 150 metres, and again when she broke on the home turn - as would've all the punters who backed her into second favouritism for the Group 3 event.
But if you're a bit angst about things, multiply that by a thousand and you might start to get close to what trainers Craig and Aimee Edmonds are feeling about the whole situation because it's way worse for them... the rest of us are passing judgement on the three and a bit minutes that Hattie's on show for every now and then, whereas our father and daughter duo are riding the Hattie rollercoaster 24/7.
"It is really frustrating because she's training so good at home," Craig said last night.
"But it's just something we've got to work through.
"Hattie's won nearly a third of the starts she's had so far, so she hasn't done too bad; people have just got to remember that she can't go out there and win every time though.
"We all know she's got the ability - she just needs to behave herself on racenight," Craig said, adding that the problems are "definitely not" in her head.
Such is the 'expectation' surrounding Hattie whenever she lines up these days, Craig says the occasions when she manages to win or run in the money are more a case of relief rather than enjoyment for him and his daughter. It shouldn't be this way.
The best way to think of Hattie is like one of your children... sure, we get a bit grumpy with them when they're naughty from time to time - but you don't love them any less for it.
This is the sort of attitude we'd all do well to take on board. After all, when it comes to horses - form is temporary, class is permanent.
Ironically, I thought we were 'out of the woods' on Friday night when Hattie stepped away as clean as a whistle, but in hindsight the signs were there that she wasn't a hundred percent happy because she reared up a couple of times before the start and continued to prance around in a fractious manner prior to the tapes being released.
John Dunn's post-race report confirmed it, too...
"She was like a cat on a hot tin roof," Craig said.
"They'd rolled the track (in anticipation of the rain), and Johnny said it was as hard as a road. He suspected in the prelim that she wasn't entirely happy on it.
"And yet, he felt she was still jogging around the final bend before she broke again; he was on Gav's back (Great Things Happen) and was going to be right in it - second or third at worst."
Not for a second are we offering the condition of the track as an excuse for Hattie's latest misdemeanours, but it probably contributed to the situation.
The fact is, ever since Craig and Aimee moved their operation out to Woodend Beach, Hattie has done 95 percent of her training on the soft and spongy sand - interspaced with a couple of workouts around Rangiora Raceway. It's understandable therefor that, come raceday, she'd notice the difference underfoot.
In layman's terms that should be an easy fix though, right? Just take her to a racetrack more often in between starts? Unfortunately it's not that simple.
"The more work you do on a track, the harder it is on her joints. If we'd have been training her more that way, she probably would've started doing things wrong in work a lot sooner," Craig offered.
Knowing there must be a reason why Hattie galloped twice on Friday night, our trainers asked their vet Sam Taylor to give her a thorough examination as soon as possible. This happened over the weekend, and involved x-rays of her feet and legs plus other various tests.
"We found a couple of niggles," Craig said.
"They're nothing major though, and we're now treating her for them.
"I'm also going to put pads on all her shoes to help take the jarring away, plus I'll alter the angle of her front shoes so that it gets her up on her heels a bit more."
Remedial work complete, Hattie is likely to have a trial outing next week. And it could even be in a mobile if possible, as there's not a lot for her between now and the Ashburton Flying Mile on the Monday of Labour Weekend (October 23).
(October 5)
Tomorrow night's Group 3 Yaldhurst Hotel Canterbury Park Trotting Cup at Addington is a $30,000 event with a million dollar question attached... will Harriet Of Mot step away?
Hattie has been a bit 'one each way' so far this season - or 'one over two' to be more precise - as her three outings in 2017/18 have gone gallop/trot/gallop.
So this afternoon I asked co-trainer Aimee Edmonds what her thoughts were heading into our next event, and she's not expecting Hattie to put her feet in the wrong place.
"As long as she doesn't have to stand there too long before they let them go, there shouldn't be a problem," Aimee said.
"She's on the front line with horses either side of her, so this is going to help her concentrate a bit more.
"Plus she'll have the pacifiers back on again tomorrow, which will also help; we've been working her in them at home lately."
Hattie's been training well in the lead-up, with Aimee confirming that she's right where they want her to be.
"She's really good, and is trotting a lot happier again - plus her heart rate has been good too.
"Johnny (Dunn) was in the cart yesterday when we fast-worked her and he was pretty happy with her, saying she was up on the job and doing it easily.
"We gave her a quiet bowl down the beach this morning, and she'll do the same again tomorrow."
There are a lot of talented square-gaiters amongst Hattie's opposition in the Group 3, and it's a sign of things to come because the fields will only continue to get stronger as the Dominion Handicap draws ever nearer.
"It's a pretty even bunch tomorrow, and there's no real standout - any one of five or six of them could win it," Aimee said.
"But as long as Hattie can settle in the right sort of position, she shouldn't be far away."
(September 26)
Harriet Of Mot remains on target to contest the Yaldhurst Hotel-sponsored Canterbury Park Trotting Cup at Addington next Friday night (October 6).
Co-trainer Aimee Edmonds briefly toyed with the idea of lining Hattie up at the trials or races this week, but opted to change those plans after our girl's latest hitout along Woodend Beach.
"I just wasn't a hundred percent happy with the way she trotted," Aimee said yesterday.
Aimee stresses it's nothing serious, and simply an indication that it's time for some more 'maintenance' on her hock by way of an injection.
As you'll recall, Hattie underwent IRAP Therapy earlier in her career - the process which involves extracting blood and then treating it so that the plasma's healing qualities are concentrated and multiplied by about a thousand.
Coincidentally, the 'Staxofun' Syndicate's horse Franco Saxon also started a course of this very effective treatment recently too.
The procedure produces about half a dozen vials of Hattie's own 'reinforced' blood for Craig and Aimee to use on the afflicted area when the need arises, so their vet Sam Taylor will pay a visit sometime today and give her another hock injection. The last time she had one was seven or eight weeks ago.
It takes approximately 48 hours for the plasma to 'kick in' and start doing what it's designed to, so Hattie will be back to full training again before the end of the week; Aimee says there's no need to take her anywhere between now and next Friday, as she'll be able to "do enough" with Hattie at home to have her ready for her next assignment.
Being a Group 3 event which boasts a $15,900 stake and lovely trophy for the winner - not to mention automatic entry into Show Day's $300,000 Group 1 Dominion Handicap - the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup is bound to attract some serious talent.
Strap yourselves in people, because the racing is about to get as great as it can from here on in and it'll be a huge thrill for the Syndicate just being part of it all.
Keep the faith, too... on her day, Hattie is one of the best around and I can assure you our trainers will continue to do everything they can to help her show it.
The rest is up to Hattie.
(September 18)
Harriet Of Mot has gone back home for a couple of days in the aftermath of the early gallop which put paid to her chances for Group 3 glory in the Ordeal Cup.
She was always headed back to Motukarara after the race, regardless of how she went, just to give her a temporary change of scenery. And seeing how Craig and Aimee commute daily between there and Woodend Beach anyway, it's not like she's going to be out of their sight for any length of time.
Our trainers are as disappointed as we are that Hattie ruined her own chances on Saturday, but unfortunately this sort of thing happens in racing occasionally and we just have to turn the page and move on.
"Dad and I have watched the replay a few times and it looks like she's ducked in just after the start," Aimee said this afternoon.
"So, a lack of concentration is all we can put it down to really.
"Yes she shouldn't be doing it, but you've virtually got no control over what goes on in a race.
"Look at Paul Nairn... he wouldn't have expected Habibti Ivy to break either but she did, plus she carried on a lot worse than what Hattie did.
"Don't forget, when this sort of thing happens - we don't get paid either."
What makes matters even more frustrating is that Hattie never puts a foot wrong in training, whether it's at Motukarara or down the beach.
Aimee and Craig are going to try a slight gear change though, but it'll be nothing major; they'll just put the pacifiers back on Hattie again, and expect this to remind her to concentrate over those all-important first couple of hundred metres of her races.
The pacifiers are mesh goggles which look like flies' eyes. Hattie used to wear them all the time early on in her career, but it's a piece of gear she's needed less and less as she's matured and she hasn't had them on for quite some time.
The positives to be taken away from Saturday include that in finishing eighth, Hattie trotted some of the fastest sectionals of the race. Plus the most important one: she's still as bright as a button 48 hours later.
"We've had the vet go over her," Aimee confirmed, "and she's not sore anywhere, stressed, or tied up."
Next on the programme for our girl is another 2600m standing start affair at Addington on Friday-week (Sep 29). But as it's a 'R65 & faster' event, and Hattie is currently a R96, Craig and Aimee will just see what sort of handicap she's given before making a final decision about lining up.
Regardless of whether she starts the 29th or not, Hattie will almost certainly contest the Group 3 $30,000 Canterbury Park Trotting Cup at the same course a week later.
(September 12)
What a tremendous thrill it was to see Harriet Of Mot return to her best form last Friday night at Addington.
Hattie didn't just win either - she romped in, leaving a handy field of trotters behind as she sped home in 57.7 and 28.4 to score easily by three lengths.
Her opposition will only get tougher as the bigger races draw nearer of course, but it was great just to be given a reminder of the talent our girl possesses. And some!
Co-trainer Aimee Edmonds summed things up perfectly by pointing out something pertinent about Hattie's career to date...
"Virtually the only times she hasn't run in the money is when she's missed away," Aimee said.
"So when she's naughty she's naughty - but when she does everything right, she's pretty good."
As thrilling as the victory was, what's just as important is how Hattie pulled up afterwards and I'm delighted to report that the news is all good as far as that's concerned too.
"Yeah she's bright and happy and has come through the run really well," Aimee said last night, adding that our trotter will have improved having now had a 'proper' race under her belt.
So now it's full steam ahead towards the Ordeal Trotting Cup at Addington this Saturday, an $18,000 2600m mobile with Group 3 status attached.
For those of you who are intending to be there for the occasion, we'll look forward to seeing you in and around Spectator's on the day.
I'm not sure where the Club will slot Hattie's race on the programme, as the fields haven't been finalised as yet, but the first race is at 12 noon so at a guess it'll probably be within a couple of hours of that.
In closing, I'd just like to ask the Members who were oncourse at Addington last Friday night if you know anything about Hattie's sign?
This is a vital piece of the marketing of our goHarness brand, because I blu-tack it to the wall behind Hattie's stall every time she races - and then people walking past know it's us, and our horse. The signs aren't cheap to buy either, just quietly.
Strangely, when I went down to the stabling area on Friday to collect the sign after the last race, it had disappeared. The blu-tack was still stuck to the concrete wall, but Hattie's sign itself was nowhere to be seen; even Aimee said that it was still there when they bundled up Hattie and all her gear to go home.
I can't for the life of me think why anyone would steal it - or feel that they have the right to, for that matter. Peeved off would be putting it mildly, and a bit of a 'oh bugger' moment at the end of what was otherwise a terrific night.
If anyone can shed some light on the situation, I'd appreciate a call. No questions will be asked nor retribution sought, I just want to get the sign back.
(September 6)
Harriet Of Mot has done everything asked of her in the build-up to her second start of 2017/18 on Friday night.
"She came through the run well, has had a good week so far and worked nice again today," co-trainer Aimee Edmonds said earlier this afternoon.
Aimee admits to being a little annoyed and perplexed about Hattie's tardy getaway last Friday, especially since she'd been "perfect" from the standing start in both of her practise runs at Rangiora prior to resuming.
As reported by John Dunn afterwards though, there were a couple of other factors which contributed to Hattie breaking - plus the one we didn't mention: her also being a bit 'fresh' for her first run back.
Aimee isn't expecting a repeat this week, so the rest is now up to Hattie.
"She's off the front this time so hopefully that'll help her get away with them," Aimee said.
"And she didn't really have a run last week, so she'll still improve a bit more with the outing on Friday."
See you in and around Spectator's Bar on the night.
(September 2)
If you felt disgruntled about Harriet Of Mot breaking and taking no part at Addington last night, then cut her a bit of slack because the misdemeanour wasn't entirely her fault.
John Dunn's first words when he returned to the stabling area with Hattie were "what a prick of a start", and his ensuing report provided a little more insight into a couple of factors which weren't clearly evident to those of us watching on from the sidelines.
All the runners were literally moments away from being released when Donegal Bettorgretch suddenly burst through the 10 metre tape and had to be reversed back into her position again; John was forced to change his command from "go girl" to "whoa girl", and as a result Hattie pranced around impatiently on the spot and was bobbling when the field finally did get underway.
Not helping matters either was the fact that the two horses drawn directly to her inside got a bit close to Hattie as they found their feet.
"She didn't want to break - it just happened," John offered.
"And I could've let her chase them to catch up too, but what's the point?"
John did what any driver would have under the same circumstances... knowing Hattie had settled too far from them by the time she was back into her rhythm, he just let our girl have her own little hitout at the back of the field.
I did notice him ask Hattie for a bit more speed over her final couple of hundred metres too though, so the outing would've still meant something in the overall scheme of things.
"There's always next week," he said philosophically, "she does feel real good out there."
And next week it is, because co-trainer Aimee Edmonds confirmed that Hattie will be nominated for the same sort of event (2600m stand) at Addington on September 8 - another stepping stone towards the Ordeal Trotting Cup eight days later, which is a mobile.
Don't read too much into her tardy getaway either; Hattie stepped safely in both her workout and trial prior, so it's best just to call last night a combination of circumstances and turn the page.
And there was a positive to take home as well, because at least our talented square-gaiter didn't stay in a break for hundreds of metres like she has when she's broken in the past.
Hattie settled virtually straight away, proving that she continues to mature both physically and mentally as new chapters are written into her career.
(September 1)
A wet and cold scene awaits Harriet Of Mot for her resumption at Addington tonight.
Hattie has a 10 metre handicap and a small but talented field of trotters to contend with at her first start back, and although it's common knowledge how good she is at her peak, there's no way she can be yet.
Don't get me wrong, Hattie has looked stunning in the two 'off the place' appearances she's made at Rangiora in preparation for tonight - winning a workout by four lengths on August 9 and her trial by six lengths last week - but racedays are a different kettle of fish altogether.
The important thing is that she's "happy, healthy and seems really well", these being the words uttered by co-trainer Aimee Edmonds when we chatted yesterday afternoon.
Our trotter's first main target for 2017/18 is the Ordeal Cup on September 16; doing the math, that race is a fortnight away.
"Hattie's on the way up and is still going to need the run this week," Aimee reiterated.
"There's a long season ahead for her, and she's not at full fitness yet.
"As long as she does everything right and is running home strongly at the end, we'll be happy."
Personally I'm just rapt that the wait is finally over, and we're able to cheer Hattie on at the races again.
Dress warm if you're intending to be there tonight, and we'll catch up with you in and around Spectator's Bar.
(August 24)
Harriet Of Mot kept her pre-resumption preparation ticking over beautifully with a very nice win at the Rangiora Trials yesterday.
Away safely from her 20 metre handicap in the 2600m Heat, Hattie settled four-deep on the inside as the field remained pretty much in indian file for the first lap.
Coming round the home bend with a circuit still to run, driver John Dunn hooked our girl out of their spot and progressed onto the lead. From there she continued to trot ever so fluently at the head of the field, and John then decided to step things up a notch from about the 600m point onwards.
Hattie had put a break on her rivals by the time she'd turned for home, and coasted to the finishing line to win by six lengths - under a hold!
Her overall time for the trial was only a sedate 3:33.8, which when put into perspective is about 20 seconds slower than what she'll be need to go at the races proper, but it made my mouth water seeing how effortlessly she sped over her closing sectionals in 59.3 and 28.9.
John confirmed afterwards that Hattie did it as easily as it looked. He's a man of very few words at the best of times, so we can read a lot into his description of her run as "real good".
Trust me, there was a distinct glint in his eye as he uttered the words.
We really need to take our hats off to trainers Craig and Aimee Edmonds, because Hattie is as special to them as she is to us and in my opinion they're manufacturing a faultless build-up to what will be our girl's much-awaited return.
Every time Hattie steps off the place she's doing things perfectly, gaining more and more confidence in her own ability (not that it's ever been in question), and adding all-important increments to her fitness levels.
There's nothing like actual races to bring a horse to its best of course, but I just know that our father-daughter training duo have locked in the Ordeal Trotting Cup as a definite target and Hattie will be pretty ready for it come September 16.
Aimee said they're going to wait and see how Hattie comes through yesterday's outing before deciding where and when they'll go next, although she indicated that our trotter would more than likely make her resumption before the Ordeal Cup.
(August 22)
Harriet Of Mot is stepping out again at the Rangiora Trials tomorrow.
She's in Heat 10 on the programme, a 2600m standing start event where she'll begin off a 20 metre handicap against eight others.
"She seems really good," co-trainer Aimee Edmonds said this afternoon, confirming that our girl has come through her first appearance a fortnight ago without a hitch.
"They've changed tomorrow from Workouts to an actual Trial Meeting now, but it'll just be another nice run for her on the way up.
"She's heading in the right direction towards where we want her."
Where our trainers 'want' Hattie centres around her first main target of the 2017/18 Season - the Ordeal Trotting Cup being staged at Addington on Saturday, September 16.
"Whether or not she'll end up having a start somewhere at the races before then just depends," Aimee continued.
"We'll see what sort of time they run tomorrow, how she performs, and how she comes through it before making any further decisions."
(August 15)
Harriet Of Mot's scheduled appearance at the Rangiora Workouts tomorrow is not happening.
The workouts at Rangiora have been cancelled due to today's Chertsey Trial Meeting being postponed and put back 24 hours, meaning that the two fixtures would clash with each other if they both went ahead.
Craig and Aimee Edmonds could've headed further south with Hattie tomorrow themselves, but they've decided just to keep her ticking over at Woodend Beach in the meantime and will line her up at Rangiora again this time next week (August 23).
"She's absolutely fine and has come through last week's run in great order," Aimee said today.
(August 9)
Harriet Of Mot kicked off her 2017/18 Season in the best possible fashion with a resounding victory at the Rangiora Workouts earlier this afternoon.
She scored by four lengths, coming off a 40 metre handicap to clock 3:35.6 for the 2600m journey. The final sectionals were recorded in 61.7 and 29.2, but Hattie was still towards the rear of the six-horse field turning for home so she would've gone a lot quicker over her closing stanzas than what they reflect.
No disrespect to the opposition she faced today, but with such a slower overall time you'd sort of expect Hattie to win with the authority she did. The main thing is that we can put a big 'mission accomplished' tick next to her first 'off the place' appearance this campaign.
"Yeah I was really pleased with how she went today," Aimee said.
"She stepped away with them and did everything right, plus she was pretty relaxed and recovered quickly afterwards too.
"Johnny (Dunn) was really happy with her as well, and said she was just jogging at the finish.
"She still had the earplugs in as she crossed the line... mind you, I didn't even attached the cord so Johnny had no choice but not to pull them," Aimee added with a smile, confirming that Hattie will line up again at the Rangiora Workouts this time next week.
(August 8)
Harriet Of Mot is off to the Rangiora Workouts tomorrow!
She's in Heat 10 on the programme, a 2600m standing start event which is scheduled to kick off at 1:15pm and she'll start off a 40 metre handicap against half a dozen others.
Isn't it just great to know that Hattie's already reached the stage of being ready for her first public hitout of the new season.
Co-trainer Aimee Edmonds cautions that our girl will need the run, and is just there for "a quiet look around".
"She seems really well," Aimee said this afternoon.
"She's pretty bright, and happy within herself."
Knowing that Hattie hasn't yet set foot on a racetrack this campaign, in preparation for tomorrow Craig and Aimee gave her a bowl around the fast-work track at David and Catherine Butt's nearby property in Woodend on Monday.
"Johnny (Dunn) drove her and said she felt really good," Aimee enthused.
"So as long as she comes through tomorrow's hitout okay, she'll go somewhere again next week for another run."
(July 20)
The wait is almost over - Harriet Of Mot is about three weeks away from heading off to the workouts.
Co-trainer Aimee Edmonds rang to deliver the 'music to our ears' news last night, saying that Hattie continues to progress through the various stages of her new campaign without a hiccup.
Hattie's surroundings have been new this time in as well, but Aimee says our girl has quickly adapted to 'life on the beach' at their Woodend satellite stable and is "loving every minute of it".
"She's happy and healthy and is looking really good actually," Aimee said.
"When we take her to the workouts sometime in August, it'll be the first time she's been near a racetrack since her last campaign."
The Dominion Handicap during Cup Week is the first target being aimed at in 2017/18, and the raceday appearances which Hattie will make during September and October are geared towards having her cherry ripe for the Group 1 two-miler in November.
I'm sure you'll all agree that it's going to be great to have her back again!
(June 14)
With more than a month's worth of jogging behind her, Harriet Of Mot's new campaign has progressed to the next stage.
Hattie is now doing slow strong work, and as an added bonus she's also enjoying a temporary change of scenery - she's moved out to Woodend Beach to be a part of the stable that John Dunn runs on behalf of his father, Robert.
Our trainers Craig and Aimee Edmonds have been toying with the idea for a while, and last week it was decided that now is as good a time as any after Aimee copped a nasty injury.
Aimee was leading a horse back to its paddock when, as equines can do from time to time, it all of a sudden threw its head sideways and smacked her in the side of her face, fracturing her cheekbone in three places.
Aimee is as tough as they come and will loathe the fact that I'm even mentioning her accident, but she's under strict doctor's orders not to go near a horse for at least six weeks - and for obvious reasons, because another bump in the same area would delay the healing process and could even cause long-term damage.
I'm sure you'll all join with me in wishing Aimee a speedy recovery. She's not going to have much to do with Hattie for a couple of months, but our mare is not changing stables - Craig will just commute backwards and forwards between Woodend and Motukarara on a daily basis.
He and Aimee currently aren't working as many 'outside' horses as they normally do anyway, so it's given him the opportunity to help out at John's while overseeing Hattie's programme at the same time.
"She's really well," Craig said of our trotter yesterday.
"She's come through her month's jogging great, with no issues whatsoever. And all the straight-line training on the sand down the beach won't do her any harm either.
"I think it'll be really good for her."
Hattie's on target to be back at the workouts and trials sometime late July or early August, and will make her much-awaited resumption shortly afterwards.
Harriet Of Mot is back in work!
Craig and Aimee collected Hattie from the place where she was spelling yesterday, and this morning they hitched her up to the jog cart and did a few laps of their track.
"She looks really good," Aimee said.
"She's put on a good bit of weight and is very round in the bum - so she's got a good foundation for us to work with.
"She's bright, and seemed very happy to be out there on the track again today."
It'll take a couple of months before Hattie is back in racing trim, so at a rough guess Aimee anticipates her being ready to step out at the trials or workouts again sometime mid-Julyish.
"We'll look to target the first couple of bigger trots early in the new season, and try and improve her ranking leading up to the Dominion," Aimee added, confirming that the two-mile Group 1 is the main aim to begin with.
As for Hattie's tying up problem which brought her last campaign to a premature end, our trainers don't expect this to be an ongoing issue and are already seeing indications that it's a thing of the past.
"I think it was just a lot of little things combined," Aimee offered.
"We've now changed her diet, and got her on Vitamin E powder as well.
"She walked out of the washbay fine after her jog this morning, too. Having had a decent amount of time off, if a horse was going show any signs of tying up again then we would've seen that today.
"But we didn't, she was fine."
And while the syndicate's only remaining racehorse has just returned home, the reports from across the Tasman are that our 'ex' Saratoga has found himself a new one.
Adam Sanderson contacted me late last week to say Saratoga is now residing at Gumnuts Riding School in Canungra, a 140 acre horse farm nestled in the Biddaddaba Valley, Queensland.
Some of the many features that Gumnuts offer the local community are 'riding for the disabled' classes, and Saratoga has quickly become a favourite amongst those participating.
"He's in great nick," Adam said.
"I thought he might've been a bit strong and boisterous for that sort of thing, but apparently he's really gentle and has fitted in perfectly.
"The horses do little more than just get led around on the lead while someone sits in their saddle, so it won't be taxing on him whatsoever.
"I've heard that he loves the kids and they love him, so he's obviously enjoying all the attention."
Once again our heartfelt thanks go out to Adam and his partner Brittany for seeing this process through to the end, and ensuring that our big boy gets the long and happy retirement which he so richly deserves.
(March 24)
Harriet Of Mot is staying in the paddock, for now.
The latest bloodtest results show that Hattie's tying-up issue has definitely improved but she's not completely over it yet, hence the reason why their vet recommended adding another 10 days on top of the two-week spell she'd already had up until the middle of this month.
The longer the delays went on, the more opportunties she ran out of time to be ready for.
We're now only days away from the two Addington features she was originally being aimed at - the $25,000 Group 3 4&5YO Championship on March 31 and $80,000 Group 1 NZ Trotting Championship a week later - plus she's not going back to Alexandra Park again for obvious reasons so the Rowe Cup's off the agenda too.
So with very few other major opportunities remaining during 2016/17, it makes sense to leave her out spelling.
"We could've brought her back up for some racing in June but they're likely to be only $8000-$10,000 races where she'd be starting off a handicap," Craig pointed out.
"And then she'd still have to go out for a spell sometime anyway.
"This way, she can have April and May off, we'll jog her up during June and July, and then get her ready to race in August as we begin to build towards the Cup Meeting (and the Dominion Handicap)," he said.
Some of those open class trotting races early in the season tend to be pretty light on numbers too, because a lot of the top horses have raced longer and are therefor still on 'R&R' until about September.
"It's a shame in a way, judging by how well she went at Addington last start when she was an unlucky fifth - but at least we know she's up to those good ones," Craig added.
So the curtain has come down on Hattie's 5-year-old season, one that consisted of just eight starts and will be best remembered for her meritorious second to the freak Monbet in last October's Ashburton Flying Mile.
There were some indifferent performances too though, as we all know, because Hattie galloped in half of those appearances; but all this means is that we hardly got to witness the talent she possesses.
It's impossible to forget the dream start she made to her career, winning eight races in the space of 10 months between May 2016 and this time last year - not to mention bookending that period with a couple of hat-tricks.
And having leapt up the grades so quickly, we can certainly forgive her for having an 'off' season by her standards because plenty of horses can and do go through the same thing.
What's important is we've got a lovely mare who's sound and chock full of ability, and it won't be long until she's back and wowing us again.
(March 21)
* Following the first AGM, Members were also asked to submit any other questions/concerns to Noel and/or HRNZ prior to the end of February. Only one person chose to, and his email was also discussed during Noel's meeting with HRNZ and passed onto the Auditor for comment.
* A couple of other subjects raised at the AGM - such as the Syndicate not necessarily having to continue with 125 shares if people forfeit, and the options for spouses of Members who pass away - have since been discussed and clarified with Mark Bennet at HRNZ. We'll just add a couple of clauses to the existing Syndicate Rules to cover these scenarios; I'll finalise the new wording for these amendments, make them available to everyone prior to the next AGM, and get them approved by vote on the night.
(February 28)
Harriet Of Mot won't get the chance to defend her Group 3 Southern Lights title in Invercargill this year.
