Group racing returns to Hatrick on Friday night
Pictured: Let Him Cook, who was super impressive in winning his Wanganui Cup heat last week.
Red hot Group racing returns to Hatrick Raceway this Friday evening, where the $30,000 Wanganui Cup and the $20,000 Wanganui Stayers finals will be contested.
Let Him Cook ($5 and $1.50 – TAB Final Field) stylishly threw down the gauntlet to his Group 1 Wanganui Cup heat rivals, when he flew through his 520m assignment in a stunning 29.81 seconds.
It was a free-wheeling chasing display by the Matt Roberts-prepared chaser who was never seriously challenged, as his 2.25 length winning margin indicates. He is seeking to make it a repeat dose from his handy two-trap draw.
“He’s a funny dog - when he gets it right, he’s right up there, like we saw in his heat. He can come home really strong as seen by his 11.30 heat run home time.
“He has come through his heat great and I’m very happy with him. He gets his chance from the two – if he traps as well as he did last week, then it looks all good for him,” confirmed Roberts.
The Lisa Cole-mentored hot $1.20 heat favourite He’s All Go ($1.60 and $1.07) was gallant when he chased after the pacemaker throughout to book his place in the decider. He got a touch-up when rounding the first turn, but Let Him Cook had already slipped the field.
“Initially, I was pretty disappointed with his race, but then on reflection, you look back at the circumstances from the week before when the traps didn’t lift.
“He copped a first turn check in his heat and you can’t give away a start like that when they’re running time off the front. He can come out and blow them away,” said Brendon Cole about the White Horse Toaster own class act, who will be chasing after his sixth Group 1 victory from the four-trap.
Blazin’ Master ($7.50 and $1.85) is chasing after yet another Group 1 title, and his mentor Cole produced him to blaze through his heat in 30.18, while building a 6.75 length margin over his rivals.
“That was a really good heat run by him from trap-8 – a top effort. He’s going to have to break quickly from the same draw and hopefully others inside him make mistakes.
“Look, he’s a month away from turning four and he’s coming up to 100 starts, but I tell you what, he certainly knows how to win Group races,” commented Cole.
Russian Ahead ($14 and $2.70) will have her first taste of black-type racing for Cole following her 7.25 length heat fourth behind Blazin’ Master.
“She’s stronger than what she showed in her heat. She should show up early from her good draw (2). She can run 30 seconds, but she must jump smartly,” explained Cole.
With Mum (Gaylene Turnwald) and Dad (Garry Cleeve) being away on holiday, it will be Sydney Cleeve who will be returning north with three contenders from the Canterbury-based kennels.
Jay Walker ($41 and $5) was solid when he ran on from the midfield when finishing 5.5 lengths astern of Let Him Cook. He is going to have to jump smartly from out in trap-seven.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect him to go that good, being the first time he’s been on the track. He keeps on surprising me and he’s going from strength to strength.
“The downside is that he likes the rail – that’s where he is most comfortable. Hopefully he jumps and can clear the others before the first turn,” suggested Sydney Cleeve.
Who’s Jealous ($11 and $2.40) gamely led home the chase after Blazin’ Master.
“It might be difficult for him from his draw (6). Hopefully he won’t have any issues from there. He has raced exceptionally in the north before and he has come back from the trip really good,” said Cleeve.
Finishing resolutely just a further half a length behind was litter brother Charley Horse ($9 and $2.50), and he has drawn kindly in trap-one.
“I thought it was an impressive heat run by him after he got turned sideways. I expect him to use his draw and put himself into the race.
“He is a happy dog, bouncing around like his normal self. I consider him to be our main chance,” declared Cleeve.
Alpha Rambo ($41 and $5) will take his place in the final, jumping from trap-five, after he finished 7.25 lengths behind Let Him Cook for his conditioner Marcie Flipp.
“I thought he was unlucky in his heat when he copped a tap on the first turn, meaning he had to get going again. It was a good effort for Rambo to get up for fourth.
“He’s a marvelously consistent dog, who bounces back really good. I’m a bit worried about what might happen from his draw – it depends on the first turn. If Rambo jumps better, then yes, he can be right in it,” expressed Flipp.
The Cole kennels provide both reserves with 9 Big Rime Bam ($16 and $3.10) and 10 Big Time Lauren ($21 and $3.10).
Group 2 $20,000 Wanganui Stayers – 755m
Pictured: Grande Vue Ace is seeking another Group race win on Friday night.
Grande Vue Ace ($3.40 and $1.35) strongly signaled her intention to secure another Hatrick Group race title via her dashing last to first 44.81 Wanganui Stayers heat win at Group 2 level.
Her heat had similarities to the racing style that was employed by the outstanding stayer Swift Fantasy, when the current Wanganui Distance title holder was tailed off during the first half of her 755m heat.
Grande Vue Ace’s conditioner Bob Pringle went through some early anxious moments, as he explains.
“Yes, the first half of the race I was very anxious for her and I thought to myself, ‘oh my God I haven’t come here to run fifth!’
“She took her time to wind up and I was absolutely delighted with the way she finished – chuffed with the result. It was an extraordinary run by her. She was a bit flat afterwards; however, she’s now back to being very well within herself. I’m happy with her draw (6) and I expect her to be on the podium after the race.”
The Kelly Lincoln-Papuni trained Drought ($16 & $3.20) refused to flinch when he gamely stuck to his task when after leading down the back straight he kicked on for his 4.5 length second to Grande Vue Ace.
He is a tenacious chaser and his early pace can see him racing handy to the pace from trap-two, which is a trap that he has built a respectable record from.
Johnny Football ($9 and $2.25) raced handy to the pace throughout for his conditioner Lisa Cole and he maintained his gallop when winding up eight lengths behind Grande Vue Ace.
“That was a good run by him, considering he was held wide all the way. He is capable – he needs to make a clean jump. He definitely has the ability and he can win it if he leads them out,” advised Brendon Cole.
Corey Steele will return to Hatrick with Opawa Tails ($41 and $5.50) after he bravely finished just a nose behind Johnny Football.
“Realistically, it’s far too rich for him; he’s just making up numbers. He’s got a terrible draw out wide (7). He somehow needs to take a sit and work it out from there. He did pull up great,” said Steele.
Dan Roberts returned his stayer Opawa Corban ($9 and $2.25) to winning form when his charge proved too strong when claiming his eye-catching 4.5 length heat win, clocking 45.02.
“I was bloody rapt with his heat effort. Going into it, I was worried that I had thrown him into the deep end in terms of race fitness. He handled it brilliantly.
“He’s come through it better than I thought he would and he arrived back home in good spirits. His draw (3) is where I wanted him to be, he just needs a bit of luck. I’m happy with him and I guess it depends on where he lands early,” suggested Dan Roberts.
Chief Dribble ($1.90 and $1.12) raced in the midfield throughout for Matt Roberts. He was sighted doing his best work at the business end of his heat when claiming his six-length third to Opawa Corban.
“Yes, I’m happy enough with him. I feel he was all at sea in his first race at Hatrick. He also got a whack on the last turn, then he ran strongly through the line and onto the lure.
“I reckon he can iron out those problems and be right in it on Friday. His draw (8) might be tricky for him, but in saying that, it can work out okay for him.
“I believe he’s an improver and I reckon it can be similar for him like the Silver Collar final, when he took a lot of improvement from his heat. He loves travelling and he’s all good to go,” stated Matt Roberts. .
Know Hurry ($31 and $4.40) kicked on solidly when finishing on for his second behind Opawa Corban and she has proven to be competitive at this venue.
“She surprised all of us. Her heat run was exceptional and was one of the best races she has produced. Her draw (5) isn’t the best, meaning she must jump cleanly like she did last week. She’s all ready to go again,” said Sydney Cleeve.
The recent NZ Nationals Distance winner Know Defence ($8 and $2.10) takes his place in the decider for team Cleeve after his 7.25 length fourth behind Opawa Corban.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic about his trap-one draw, as he will be looking to get forward from there. He has lots of ability and he’s a top stayer who will get the trip. I’m rapt with him,” enthused Cleeve.
The reserves are the Cleeve-trained 9 Know Speed ($19 and $3.60) and 10 Long Non White ($19 and $3.60) for Cole.
The support card is stacked full of competitive looking fields and it promises to be an enthralling evening of high-class chasing action in the River City!
And don’t forget about The TAB Dog promotion, where every greyhound drawn Box 3 wears the new TAB Rug. If that greyhound finishes second or third in their respective races on Friday night, backers will receive Bonus Back Cash of up to $50.
By Peter Fenemor
