Compelling Addington Group 1 Wednesday Qualifiers Loom
Compelling Addington Group 1 Wednesday Qualifiers Looms
We have witnessed the curtain raisers and it’s now down to the serious material for the contenders who on Wednesday evening will chase much sought after final field positions for the three Group 1 races which will be decided during the Springston Hotel New Zealand Cup meeting.
Hugely impressive 525m and 520m warm up performances were observed during last week’s chasing action.
At the Addington Raceway the 525m track record was lowered twice during Thursday’s meeting, both by Dave and Jean Fahey prepared greyhounds. Opawa Shirley posted a 29.92 gallop, then the fresh-up Opawa Hugo recorded his slick 29.86 time.
The following evening at the Hatrick Raceway members of the Lisa Cole team who hold NZ Cup aspirations threw down the gauntlet to their southern rivals with both of the star chasers He’s All Go (29.87) and the ageless Blazin’ Master (30.16) rounding off their preparations with their 520m wins.
The five 525m heat winners, will be joined by the three quickest second place-getters to contest the $100,000 Springston Hotel New Zealand Cup on November 14.
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The first NZ Cup heat (Race 7) is a ripper with He’s All Go (trap-7) looking to extend his impressive career record for Cole. Kennelmate Boom Dynamite (2) narrowly went under to Blazin’ Master last Friday when returning from a spell.
“We were pleased with He’s All Go’s race last week. In saying that he must get onto the lure and if he does he has the ability to get the job done.
“Boom Dynamite can only improve after going a terrific race when coming back from a massive lay off,” said Brendon Cole.
The Fahey’s will be represented in this heat by Opawa Archer (5) who finished a close-up second to Opawa Shirley on Thursday, plus also they’ll box-away Sefton Heights into his favored eight-trap.
“Opawa Archer is going good and hopefully he’ll cut across to the rail. Sefton Heights loves drawing out wide and I expect him to push forward from out there,” said Dave Fahey.
Adding interest to the heat is the presence of the proven Garry Cleeve trained Charley Horse (4), while the intrigue factor is added by the Matt Roberts prepared former Australian chaser Juice Master (6) who delivered a quick 16.84s 295m trial last week.
The second NZ Cup heat (Race 8) includes the inform Opawa Katrina (2) for the Fahey’s. “She’s improved a lot lately, racing much better. Her draw is good for her,” said Fahey.
The Cole team will line-up Friday’s bold third 520m place-getter Russian Ahead. “Her draw (3) is good for her and she’s very hard to get past if she gets onto the lure,” suggested Cole.
Cleeve prepared Jay Walker (7) to win the recent Group 1 South Island Champs here, while the proven Matt Roberts trained Let Him Cook (1) will appreciate his good draw. His Dad Craig has Caterpie Bale (4) engaged here and she will have benefited from recent racing following a spell.
The third heat (Race 9) is also stacked full of potential NZ Cup qualifiers. Johnny Football (2) can be forgiven for his last 527m miss for Cole. He was super when winning his previous Manukau 527m race in a quick 30.06. The kennel is also lining up So Strict from the eight-trap.
“Johnny Football has raced really well down there before. Forget about his last Auckland race when he got bashed up. He’s best from the inside and he’ll run out his race strongly. The draw for So Strict makes it very hard for her. We have NZ Oaks plans for her,” advised Cole.
The Fahey’s produced Opawa Shirley (4) to fly over 525m in 29.92, setting a 525m track record last Thursday.
“I would have preferred to have her on the rail. Opawa Shirley is a one-pace dog who is very strong,” advised Fahey.
Cleeve mentored Who’s Jealous (3) to a 30.22 last start 525m victory here, while Claws In Zorro (6) is a proven chaser at the top level for Matt Roberts. Diamond Alex is a trap 1 specialist for Malcom Grant and he has secured his desired draw here.
It’s looming as a Fahey kennel match race in the fourth NZ Cup heat (Race 10). The stunning new 29.86 525m track record holder Opawa Hugo has drawn to swoop from the eight-trap. Kennelmate Bandit Dan secures the ace-trap following his Thursday 3.7 length second to Opawa Hugo last Thursday.
“I would have preferred Opawa Hugo to have drawn closer to the rail. He really impressed last week and he’s in good condition going into Wednesday. Bandit Dan raced really good last week and his draw is alright for him,” suggested Fahey.
The Cole kennel will be represented by the inform Fear To Tread in this heat. She travels south after her pair of freewheeling Hatrick sub 30-second 520m wins.
“She is doing everything right so far and she always a chance with her early pace. She has been really nice lately,” stated Cole.
They must do everything right, because Sinead Bale (2) was a stylish 30.02 Thursday 525m winner for Craig Roberts.
The final heat moves onto meeting code M10 Race 1.
The heat features the potent former Australian trained Group race performer One Hot Bandit (4) who has entered the Fahey kennels. He displayed his ability when recording a quick 16.73 295m trial.
“I don’t know a lot about the dog, however he has settled in here really well. I was pleased with his recent trial. He’s a strong dog,” stated Fahey.
Cole produced Blazin’ Master (1) to win his 41st race on Friday and this bloke just doesn’t know how to run a bad race.
“Drawing box-1 is a big help for him. Look, he knows what he has to do despite him getting on in age. This dog still has what it takes as we’re still seeing,” Cole said.
Northern trainer Corey Steele produced Opawa Sooty (2) stylishly to win his last start Manukau 527m race in 30.12. Cleeve’s assault on the NZ Cup heats wraps up with the talented Zestful (7) here. .
Suck It Up Galaxy Sprint semifinals
Ten action packed heats contested last Thursday sorted out the semifinalists for the Group 1 $40,000 Suck It UP galaxy Sprint. The straight out sprinters now move onto four semifinals with the first two finishers in each advancing to the 14 November final.
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The first semifinal (Race 1) features the presence of the trap-four drawn electric Dave and Jean Fahey prepared sprinter Jerry Cola who last Thursday broke his 295m track record for the third time when clocking his searing 16.53 sprint. Kennelmate Sun Strike will step away from trap-eight.
“Yes, Jerry Cole is going really super at the moment. Hopefully he keeps it up here, although I’m worried about Opawa Barnes (7) coming down on him. Sun Strike is suited by her wide draw and she can slip around the outer,” said Dave Fahey.
Lisa Cole will line-up Writ Large in this semifinal after she boldly pushed the inform Opawa Marsh to a quarter-length margin in her heat.
“That was a good run from Writ Large in her heat. If she begins good, she’s strong enough to be right in it (finish),” advised Brendon Cole.
Opawa Barnes has been a competitive sprinter for a long time and his conditioner Lisa Waretini produced him to deliver his strong 16.85 heat win. He is likely to head down to the rail from his seven-trap draw.
Impressive Roar is a consistent Addington 295m sprinter for his trainer Jonathon McInerney. He has won all four of his previous races from trap-two and he has drawn that trap here.
In the second semi the Fahey’s will produce the 10 race unbeaten sprinter Opawa Mocha. He will exit from trap-two following his swift 16.56 295m heat win. They will also load away Very Rarely into the eight-trap here.
“Opawa Mocha keeps on surprising us. He does have a lot of pace, although he does tend to run out from the boxes. That’s not a bad draw for Very Rarely and if he jumps away with them then, yes he’s a chance of qualifying,” suggested Fahey.
Pick And Go has drawn the final from the one-trap for her mentor Dylan Voyce. She set up the pace in her heat prior to being run down. The Malcom Grant trained Diamond Ranger and Mitcham Rose for Ashley Bradshaw delivered sound heat second placings.
Opawa Marsh has won all 12 of his Addington 295m sprints and he’s poised to maintain that record from the ace-trap after his 17.14 heat win in the third semi final. Kennelmate Wild Pansy won’t object about hopping away from trap-seven in this semi.
“Opawa Marsh keeps on winning and I guess that’s what counts. He does run a bit wide from the traps. That’s a nice draw for Wild Pansy and she’s likely to push forward from there,” commented Fahey.
Big Time Atlas takes his place in this semi for team Cole. He pressed on stoutly for his 4.7 length heat third to Opawa Mocha.
“He is his biggest enemy at the start. He is fast and he is capable, but it’ll come down to what he does at the start,” confirmed Cole.
This semifinal also contains two heat winners. Shane Baxter led his rival’s all-the-way when posting his 16.86 sprint for McInerney. Riley Evans produced Goldstar Duffy to deliver similar pace-making tactics for her 16.89 heat win.
The final Galaxy Sprint heat sees the Fahey prepared 16.91 heat winner Who Gives taking his place from trap-four. The Fahey’s Galaxy representation is completed by the 2022 Galaxy Sprint winner Opawa Ryder who will wear the black racing vest.
“Who Gives has overcome a setback and he’s done really well to make it this far. Opawa Ryder has been drawn to suit out wide and he’s a chance owing to that. We are happy with all of our team going into Wednesday,” advised Fahey.
The Cole kennel will be represented by Midnight Brockie in this semi, who booked her place here by being one of the fastest heat fourth place-getters.
“That was a good little run by her in her heat. She has speed, but realistically she’s racing for luck,” said Cole.
Garry Cleeve produced True Ability to win his heat in a tidy 16.70 and he drew the ace-trap for this dash. Hadwin Bale led throughout to take out his heat in 16.74 for Craig Roberts.
Previous Galaxy Sprint winning trainers Jared Udy and Denise Cottam are returning south with Mad Paddy who ran a bold heat half-length second to Who Gives.
Rose & Thistle NZ Stayer Stayers Cup heats
Two 732m heats for the $40,000 Rose & Thistle New Zealand Stayers Cup will be held for the stayers (Races 5 & 6).
Head-lining the first heat is the presence of last year’s NZ Stayers Cup winner Grande Vue Ace. The Bob Pringle trained Geraldine wonder is a proven 732m stayer around this circuit, whose strength at the business end of her races is an asset.
Her clash with the recently crowned NZ Stayer of the Year Chief Dribble is expected to be a cracker. Matt Roberts prepares him and he is generally sighted bowling along sweetly on-the-pace as seen by his pace-making Hatrick 766m 45.20 win last week. .
Dave and Jean Fahey have their stayer Blake ticking over nicely at the moment, while the Garry Cleeve mentor Know Valour is a vastly experienced stayer. Gold Star Ginny owns the field best 43.07 winning 732m time for her conditioner Riley Evans.
The second heat will see a clash between two proven stayers. Opawa Corban has been a consistent stayer for his trainer Dan Roberts as seen by his 5.20 length Wanganui 766m second to Chief Dibble last week. The Cleeve prepared Know Defence has no issues in running out the longer race distances.
Evans produced Goldstar Becks for her first taste of 732m racing last week and it was a stylish 43.91 winning gallop. Maestro Mojito is a C2D graded stayer for Matt Roberts, while the Jack Johnson trained Matryoshka was solid when chasing home Chief Dribble over 766m in Wanganui last week.
By Peter Fenemor
