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Destreos - what an old marvel! |
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Magnolian Khan
Champion Joined: 23 Dec 2015 Location: SA Status: Offline Points: 8437 |
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Posted: 24 Jan 2018 at 11:10pm |
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Destreos, A Real Life Superhero (Without A Cape)
24 January 2018 | Chris Barsby Logo Century: Destreos is looking to become the latest member of the 'Hundred Win' club this Sunday at Launceston Century: Destreos is looking to become the latest member of the 'Hundred Win' club this Sunday at Launceston Many chapters have already been written about harness racing’s modern day “Iron Man” Destreos. And the fan favourite already holds a special place in harness racing history. The 14-year-old gelding has endeared himself to fans around the globe owing to his relentless appetite for competition and never say die attitude. He has defied most things including the biggest challenger to all mankind - Father Time. Within his plain bay frame is a massive heart with an amazing ejection fraction, not so unlike the legendary Phar Lap. He also possesses pins of steel with his battle scarred legs that pump like pistons which have carried him to glory on so many occasions. To be more accurate, the number is 99. After 445 starts, the Ken Rattray and Sally Stingel prepared pacer and much loved family member is set to join another exclusive list. His next victory will register his century of triumphs, therefore, joining the household name of Paleface Adios and central Queensland 1980’s star Cane Smoke as the only pacers in the Southern Hemisphere to win more than 100 races. Cane Smoke holds the official record with 120 victories while Paleface Adios won 108 races. Truly remarkable. In North America, the list of centurions is a little longer with 15 already in the record books and set to be extended when the world’s richest pacer of all time Foiled Again ($7.54 million plus) raises the bat with his century in the coming weeks. And just like Foiled Again, Destreos has never sidestepped a fight. He has raced during an era of absolute superstars which includes Blacks A Fake, Im Themightyquinn, Smoken Up, Mr Feelgood, Be Good Johnny, Washakie, Flashing Red and Slipnslide among many others. And amazingly, many of the above mentioned equine freaks were based in his backyard of Brisbane. As it stands, the horse commonly known as “Dexter” holds the record for most wins (73) at Albion Park - the metropolitan venue for harness racing in the Sunshine State. It’s a record that will never be beaten. Even more amazingly, the bulk of those victories have come via the hardest level of competition, free-for-all racing. No short cuts and no places to hide in that often brutal arena. Destreos has raced at Albion Park, Gold Coast, Redcliffe, Menangle, Bathurst, Dubbo and Newcastle plus Alexandra Park and Cambridge in New Zealand. But his efforts and records are well documented at Albion Park; he graced the track on 321 occasions which resulted in 73 wins and 100 minor placings. A number of drivers have partnered “Dex” including Kelli Dawson, Scott Kunde, Darrel Graham, Bruce Birch, Ray Law, Ricky Thurlow, Mathew Neilson, Shane Graham, Luke McCarthy, Hayden Barnes, Simon Jones, Gareth Rattray, Ricky Duggan and Rattray himself. And Dawson is a clear leader with victories. The lightweight driver has posted 57 victories behind the marvel, 54 of those coming at Albion Park. His biggest victory at Albion Park came via the 2012 Gr.3 $30,000 Be Good Johnny Sprint. Destreos ‘s accomplishments and feats in Queensland were recongnised last year when he was inducted into the state’s Hall Of Fame while still competing. And the announcement was met with harmonious applause. Now based in the aptly named Flowery Gully in Tasmania, Destreos picked up win no.99 at Launceston on January 12 and shoots for the century this weekend, again at Launceston, where he starts in the Carlton Draught Open Pace over 2200m with Kelli Dawson booked to drive and will start from gate 6 in the field of six. Since being based in Tasmania, the Astreos gelding has raced at Launceston, Hobart and Carrick. But the move south to the Apple Isle has only grown his fan base, in an era of social media technology, ‘Dex’ has fans everywhere and those loyal followers will be tuned in as he closes in on that elusive milestone. “It’s going to be an exciting day,” Trainer Rattray said about the possible momentous occasion. “To win 100 races with the same horse, that’s some type of effort because it takes a heck of lot of durability, determination and desire among other things to reach that mark. “We get fan mail and meet well wishes all the time and that’s been the way for some time now and Sally and I can’t believe the impact he’s had on so many different people, it’s just so humbling. “I’m sure that’s why people have shown affection to him, he’s overachieved when competing against the very best and he just keeps turning up week after week, rolling up the sleeves and having a solid crack because that’s what people want to see from their heroes.” We all have the ‘hero’ inside us and Destreos is a prime example. A worthy member of the centurions club! |
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oneonesit
Champion Joined: 06 Aug 2012 Status: Offline Points: 37159 |
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Well done Magnolian - great to see a thread on an old warhorse. Tough as old boots
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Refer ALP Election Promises
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horseshoe
Champion Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Location: Tess' Paddock Status: Offline Points: 4526 |
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The Dark side of Destreos:
Star pacer Destreos's bid for a remarkable 100th victory this weekend has been sensationally thwarted after the 14-year-old returned a positive cobalt sample from a race on December 31. |
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Those who know don't tell, Those who tell don't know
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Magnolian Khan
Champion Joined: 23 Dec 2015 Location: SA Status: Offline Points: 8437 |
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You’ve got to be kidding me. Why on earth would they use cobalt on him now????
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Gay3
Moderator Group Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Location: Miners Rest Status: Offline Points: 51994 |
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Who says they started then?
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Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
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Magnolian Khan
Champion Joined: 23 Dec 2015 Location: SA Status: Offline Points: 8437 |
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Surely he’s been tested before?
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BlackKnight
Champion Joined: 10 Mar 2012 Status: Offline Points: 3096 |
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And has tested positive, but cobalt is a bit of a step up from bute which was the last thing the trainer got time for with this horse before leaving Queensland. |
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Prince of Penzance
Champion Joined: 17 Jan 2018 Location: Melbourne Status: Offline Points: 1938 |
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Won his 100th race
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Paul Hogan
Champion Joined: 16 Sep 2014 Location: Victoria Status: Offline Points: 742 |
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Great Drugs..
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JudgeHolden
Champion Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Status: Offline Points: 11728 |
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Bute has been known to kill horses. Cobalt hasn’t. Also, there is much more reason to think bute will enhance performance than cobalt. A step up indeed. |
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Prince of Penzance
Champion Joined: 17 Jan 2018 Location: Melbourne Status: Offline Points: 1938 |
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Drugs or not, great effort by the horse
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Carioca
Champion Joined: 13 Nov 2015 Status: Offline Points: 21821 |
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Gotta disagree with you there Judge, just like Cassius fought with cortisone knuckles, it didn't make him fight better than he was, just eliminated pain, and bute if not abused only let's the horse race pain free, the danger with bute if used on something with a severe chronic problem it can become acute quickly and therein lies the danger of disaster.
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JudgeHolden
Champion Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Status: Offline Points: 11728 |
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Eliminated pain, Carioca? That's a huge performance enhancer in my book.
There is no evidence to suggest cobalt is a PE. And there no record of ONE horse dying from cobalt. Bute on the other hand...
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Carioca
Champion Joined: 13 Nov 2015 Status: Offline Points: 21821 |
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Judge if you read my post I said if bute is abused it can lead to disaster, how can it be a p/e if it only lets you do what your capable of,. what say you give bute to a perfectly healthy and perfectly sound horse, please don't tell me it will make him go faster because I may piss myself ( sorry) , now cobalt mimics epo , that'll do me . |
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Paul Hogan
Champion Joined: 16 Sep 2014 Location: Victoria Status: Offline Points: 742 |
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Of course it made him fight better. If you have ever played football yes it does make you play better, why, because you have a lot more movement and freedom in your limbs and you don't feel the pain. An amazing drug. |
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JudgeHolden
Champion Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Status: Offline Points: 11728 |
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If you give bute to a sound horse it MAY allow them to push through the pain barrier further.
There is ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE THE ADMINISTION OF COBALT WILL DO F'ALL.
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JudgeHolden
Champion Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Status: Offline Points: 11728 |
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Exactly
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Shrunk in the Wash
Champion Joined: 25 Mar 2016 Status: Offline Points: 9890 |
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Judge
If an athlete is suffering pain from a head ache and takes a panadol is that a performance enhancer |
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JudgeHolden
Champion Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Status: Offline Points: 11728 |
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Aah, so they’re running sore horse? That’s much better..
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JudgeHolden
Champion Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Status: Offline Points: 11728 |
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I’m sure it’s just the welfare of the horse they are thinking of when they run them on bute...
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Carioca
Champion Joined: 13 Nov 2015 Status: Offline Points: 21821 |
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Right, I'm back now , decided to retire early, your too stubborn for me Judge, just wonder if you still debate the chicken and egg theory, because I don't for sanity's sake, have a good day and back a winner, I'm outski .
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Passing Through
Champion Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Location: At home Status: Offline Points: 79532 |
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Egg
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