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Destreos - what an old marvel!

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Magnolian Khan View Drop Down
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    Posted: 24 Jan 2018 at 11:10pm
Destreos, A Real Life Superhero (Without A Cape)
24 January 2018 | Chris Barsby
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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 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote oneonesit Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jan 2018 at 8:16am
Well done Magnolian - great to see a thread on an old warhorse. Tough as old boots
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote horseshoe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jan 2018 at 2:48pm
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.
Those who know don't tell, Those who tell don't know
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Magnolian Khan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jan 2018 at 2:59pm
You’ve got to be kidding me. Why on earth would they use cobalt on him now????
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gay3 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jan 2018 at 4:19pm
Who says they started then? Wink
Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
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Magnolian Khan View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Magnolian Khan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jan 2018 at 4:22pm
Surely he’s been tested before?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BlackKnight Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jan 2018 at 11:44pm
Originally posted by Magnolian Khan Magnolian Khan wrote:

Surely he’s been tested before?


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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Prince of Penzance Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 9:40pm
Won his 100th race
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Paul Hogan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 11:05pm
Great Drugs..
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JudgeHolden Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 11:21pm
Originally posted by BlackKnight BlackKnight wrote:

Originally posted by Magnolian Khan Magnolian Khan wrote:

Surely he’s been tested before?


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.


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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Prince of Penzance Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 11:53pm
Drugs or not, great effort by the horse
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Carioca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2018 at 12:05am
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JudgeHolden Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2018 at 12:18am
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Carioca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2018 at 12:42am
Originally posted by JudgeHolden JudgeHolden wrote:

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...

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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Paul Hogan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2018 at 12:50am
Originally posted by Carioca Carioca wrote:

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.


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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JudgeHolden Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2018 at 12:52am
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote JudgeHolden Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2018 at 12:53am
Originally posted by Paul Hogan Paul Hogan wrote:

Originally posted by Carioca Carioca wrote:

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.


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.

Exactly
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shrunk in the Wash Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2018 at 10:33am
Judge
If an athlete is suffering pain from a head ache and takes a panadol is that a performance enhancer
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote JudgeHolden Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2018 at 10:58am
Aah, so they’re running sore horse? That’s much better..

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote JudgeHolden Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2018 at 11:02am
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Carioca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2018 at 11:32am
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Passing Through Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2018 at 11:40am
Egg Thumbs Up
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