The powerful greyhound Thrilling Boris has drawn to win his third Group 1 title on Sunday at Manukau where he takes his place in the $80,000 Plasterboard Ltd Auckland Cup final.
Pictured: Thrilling Boris following his Manukau Group 1 Waterloo Cup victory
Thrilling Boris stamped his authority on his Auckland Cup rivals when he scampered to his impressive 527m heat win last Sunday. His 30.41s winning time was three lengths faster than the next quickest Cup heat. Things got even better for the Karen Walsh trained $1.70 Final Field favourite (option 949) chaser after he was allocated the two trap to step away from.
“If he can do the same again – get an early break on them, then yes I will be happy as it can give him a bit of a breather. He had been on the lead going into his heat which explains why he didn’t run out the 527m as strongly as he can. His draw is good for him,” advised Walsh.
Canterbury trainers Dave and Jean Fahey are lethal conditioners of Group 1 finalists. 46 winners at the very elite level proves that statement (96 Group race winners overall). They produced He’s All Power ($3.50) to deliver a potent heat win where he came from an absolute hopeless early field position to nail his 30.58s heat win. Watch out for this bloke if he can get himself into a handier early field position on Sunday.
“I didn’t think he was that good when he first arrived here (from Australia). Yes, he is going alright now. He’s a strong dog, who is now a good chance. I expect him to jump better after having his first look up there (Manukau). He is jumping better at Addington, so hopefully he will on Sunday. He has pulled up good from his heat,” said Dave Fahey.
The Fahey’s has qualified a back-up contender for this event after Majestic Action ($26) stuck on stoutly to claim his three length heat second behind Zipping Jordan. He has been provided with no favours as he is required to step away from the lousy five trap draw.
“I feel it would be best for him to slightly miss the jump from that draw as he will head straight down to the rail from where he can take advantage of any trouble that may occur in front of him. Yes, he will be looking for early luck whatever happens to him from the traps,” said Fahey, who also has Opawa Kevin ($26) sitting as the second reserve after his three length heat third to Letron James.
Craig Roberts mentored Dyna Vikkers to victory in last year’s Auckland Cup and on this occasion he is looking towards Letron James ($18) to provide him with back to back Cup winners. He made no mistake when seizing the early race lead from trap two to lead his rivals throughout. He completed his 527m task in 30.59s. He will be sighted wearing the pink racing vest on Sunday.
“Yes he finally got a draw in his heat and he showed what he is capable of doing by winning it. I’m not concerned about him being out in the eight for the final – it’s his second best box (stats wise). If he can ping out he will hunt up around the outside. I knew when he led his heat field that they wouldn’t catch him as he is very strong. He has been a box of beans since being back home. If he’s in front, then he will use catch me if you can tactics,” suggested Roberts.
Plasterboard Ltd Auckland Cup finalists (from left): Thrilling Boris, He’s All Power, Majestic Action, Opawa Kevin (reserve), Letron James
Zipping Jordan ($4.50) was the New Zealand Cup runner up back in November for Callum Weir. Obviously her trainer is hoping that she can go one better in this final, while also ending a frustrating run of feature race minor placings. She was gallant in the manner that she stuck to her heat task which resulted in her 30.65s win. Being loaded away into trap one will greatly assist her towards that goal.
“I was pretty rapt with her heat run, especially as she didn’t jump as good as what she can. She can lead out, hopefully she does which makes the others having to try to run her down. She certainly deserves a big race win. I don’t think I can have her in any better condition. She is perfect and the travelling hasn’t affected her,” said Weir who is also hoping for a Group 1 trans-Tasman winning double as her litter brother Zipping Bruiser won last December’s Hobart Thousand at Group 1 level.
The locals will go ballistic if the Henny Laagland prepared Belcroft Banker ($31) can snatch an upset win on Sunday. If doing so it will represent a massive triumph for the smaller owner/breeder kennels as this bloke is a home bred chaser who will be vying with Thrilling Boris for the $1,000 NZ Breeders’ prize awarded to the first Kiwi bred chaser to finish in this Group 1 event. His heat effort was full of merit as it took the strong finishing He’s All Power to nail him by a neck margin.
“I guess you can say it is surprising he has qualified, but we did prepared him to make it and we are thrilled that he has. It was a long slog to get him right – he had a lot of injuries and wrong box draws which affected his confidence. Leo (husband) took down to Cambridge for a 375m sprint which saw him regaining his confidence when winning down there. If he decides to jump and puts his mine to it he can give it a real good go. It will also be a feather in the cap for his mum (Kitty’s Thunder). It is an honour to have a finalist in a Group 1 race; he is our first in 17 years of involvement in greyhound racing,” a rightfully proud Laagland stated.
On the other paw, the newly established Cambridge training partnership of Greg Hore and Peter Fergusson hasn’t wasted any time in qualifying their first Group 1 contender. Soaring Hawke ($51). She was real bold when she chased home Thrilling Boris to claim her final field position 1.75 lengths behind the star chaser. That meant their girl actually clocked the second fastest overall heat time.
“Yes, it is a big buzz for us to have a Group 1 runner so soon. She is a real honest, consistent greyhound and we decided to give the Auckland Cup a crack after she won her C3 527m race the week before. She deserved a chance, so we rolled the dice and have made it. She is in the right frame of mine and we’re happy with her going into Sunday. Her draw (seven) isn’t the worse. It has been a real team effort to get her into the final, with my wife Wendy and Danny Lang helping out around the kennels,’ said Fergusson.
The drawn field is completed by Paul Dozer ($31) who also provides his trainer Angela Turnwald with dual Group 1 kennel representation on Sunday. His heat was also bold when he raced on the pace throughout when chasing home Letron James, a length and a half behind him. His efforts prior to this assignment contained merit.
“We are very happy with him and he has come through his heat magnificently. His downfall is that he isn’t a consistent beginner – it is all about the jump for him. There are a lot of possible scenarios for him, although that revolves around on what he does at the jump,” explained Paul Freeman.
The first reserve is the Lisa Cole prepared Timma Turtle ($21) who is a leading prospect in the support Invitation Stakes (race 7) if he isn’t required here. He led his heat into the straight from where he was run by a neck and half a length by He’s All Power.
Plasterboard Ltd Auckland Cup finalists (from left): Zipping Jordan, Belcroft Banker, Soaring Hawke, Paul Dozer, Timma Turtle (reserve)
By Peter Fenemor
