NO cosmic construct has preoccupied the mind of man or perplexed his sometimes limited understanding more than that of time.

Philosophers have pondered its role in our lives, Einstein uncovered we can theoretically travel ‘through’ it and, most pertinently for this piece, racing form analysts have debated its veracity and value. 

For some form students’ time means everything, for others it means nothing; the data demons live for it, the traditionalist trusts his eye over a stopwatch every day of the week. 

If ever times did matter in harness racing, however, then two variables seem more vital than others. 

The first is distance; times – generally-speaking – are much more representative of something meaningful over short-course trips, specifically those under 2000m. 

The second is gait; pacers are driven by short, sharp bursts of elite speed, while trotters are more reliant upon rhythm and this reliance leads to greater time-consistency over the journey. 

The reason we’re outlining these facts is not for an upcoming TED talk on form factors but as a way of explaining Sleepee’s upset success in Saturday night’s Woodlands Stud Noopy Kiosk Trotters Free For All. 

Going into that contest Sleepee was a big drifter courtesy of her first-up status and the enormous support for race favourite Cover Of Darkness. 

Remember, however, this race was staged over 1720m and for trotters, which make it the most fertile hunting ground of all for times to teach lessons. 

And teach us they did. 

In her previous three starts over sprinting trips Sleepee had recorded two wins in mile rates of 1:56.2 and 1:56.3 and a second placing by 1.5 metres in a race rate of 1:55.7. 

In short, Sleepee had trotted almost identical times in all of her previous three sprint events. 

Saturday night she stunningly stretched that theme by claiming the Noopy Kiosk in 1:56.1. 

There comes a time where that consistency of recorded ability cannot be dismissed. 


DESPITE his quietly spoken nature there’s no doubt that one of Australia’s fastest rising superstars of the sulky, Jack Laugher, has grandiose aspirations for where his career may take him. 

For some drivers, slowly following in the footsteps of legends is one way of edging toward their own slice of future greatness. 

Laugher isn’t your average bear, however, so on Saturday night he decided on a more direct approach. 

Having witnessed Chris Alford’s phenomenal steer behind Max Delight, which was marked by a brilliant mid-race move from first to last, Laugher must have thought it looked like fun. 

So he thought he’d try it himself. 

On Saturday night, seven days after Alford’s heroics, Laugher produced a carbon-copy drive behind Rockasaki to claim the Blossom Lady for open class mares. 

Not only was it a stroke of genius but also contravened the instructions given by co-trainer Clayton Tonkin. 

Suffice to say we’re very pleased for Laugher’s sake it worked out as well as it did.