There’s more than just Group 2 racing glory attached to Monday’s running of the $28,000 Total Bodyshop Supplies North Island Challenge Stakes final for at least a couple of the contenders.
“I reckon he’s the best dog racing in the country who hasn’t won a Group race,” commented Canterbury conditioner Craig Roberts about the warm favourite Dyna Dave for Friday evening’s $30,000 Barron’s South Island Championships at the Addington Raceway.
It’s shaping up as an enthralling Total Bodyshop Supplies North Island Challenge Stakes final at the Manawatu Raceway next Monday afternoon in what is looming as a classic lower North Island verses northern North Island trained paw wrestle.
The domination of the New Zealand Sires’ Produces Stakes by greyhounds bred and trained by Gary “Crafty” Cleeve plus co-owned with his partner Gaylene Turnwald continued at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday afternoon
Sunday sees the running of the $16,000 New Zealand Sire’s Produce Stakes (race 11) at the Manukau Stadium which is a Group 2 527m event that recognises the New Zealand registered stud dogs.
The staying action continues at the Adding Raceway on Thursday evening where two heats for the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Stayers Cup over the 732m journey will decide the eight stayers who will return to contest next Thursday’s $30,000 at Group 1 level.
There are a number of the smaller kennels around the country who are currently enjoying a considerable amount of success. Included is Jason Dunn who has prepared a steady stream of recent winners from his Harwarden training establishment.
It is becoming a rather congested group of elite greyhounds who are all vying for the code’s ultimate award – the 2018/19 New Zealand Greyhound of the Year title.
Group 1 racing means strong support races on the undercard and Friday’s Group 1 $46,000 New Zealand Breeders’ Stakes meeting at the Hatrick Raceway was no different.
The healthy advancement of New Zealand greyhound breeding is strongly illustrated by the depth of talent that is contained in the field that will contest Friday’s $46,000 New Zealand Breeders’ Stakes final (race 10) at the Hatrick Raceway at Group 1 level.
The New Zealand bred straight out sprinters takes center stage during Thursday’s Christchurch meeting at the Addington Raceway where they contest their $8,500 NZRS Sprint final (race 11). Six 295m heats held last Thursday has brought together a field of rather sharp looking sprinters
The 49th running of the prized Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar turned into a real cliff hanger of an edition. Hot race favourite Dyna Weslyn appeared to be cruising to victory in the $100,000 Group 1 779 staying test.
It was an outstanding afternoon of greyhound racing at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday with some outstanding support races on the undercard to the $100,000 Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar witnessed. Included was the seventh running of the $6,000 Peter Earley Classic.
Dyna Dave firmly pushed his paws forward as the major contender for the looming $30,000 South Island Champs when he stylishly won two Addington 520m races last week.
A red hot $1.30 favourite and a $76.90 rank outsider prevailed in Sunday’s two 779m heats for the $100,000 Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar at the Manukau Stadium.
Despite withdrawing two contenders, the Opawa Racing team still holds a strong breeding influence in the possible outcome of Tuesday’s $8,500 NZRS Graduation final over 457m, on the big spacious Ascot Park track.
It’s Garrard’s ‘Connie Smallbridge Memorial’ Ashburton Cup time again as the Ashburton GRC host their annual TAB meeting at the Addington Raceway on Queen’s Birthday Monday afternoon.
