Southern Lights, who is the current star of the southern tracks, continued his total domination over his rivals on his home Ascot Park track when scampering to his effortless win in Tuesday’s NZRS Advanced heat.
Pictured: Southern Lights delivering his easy NZRS heat win – pic Tim Johnson
After jumping handy to the pace, the Roy Hamilton trained son of Lochinvar Marlow and Imperative seized control of his 457m heat, slipping underneath the pace-making Dirk The Jerk, when rounding the big, sweeping bend, to cut clear from his rivals. He cruised home for his three length heat win, clocking a very respectable 25.84s. In doing so he maintained his high winning strike rate with this being his 22nd win from his 64 races ($63,855).
It was a bold effort by the John McInerney prepared Botany Alan to claim second. This son of El Grand Senor and Kazz Razz was caught up in early jostling which saw him settling in the rear group. He improved into the midfield on the turn, then extended nicely during the run home to secure his final field position.
After settling in the midfield, Opawa Kevin pressed on stoutly during the run home to book his finals appearance for his trainers Dave and Jean Fahey. The son of Cosmic Rumble and Miss Idol was a further 2.75 lengths behind and he held a head margin over the strong finishing Hard Questions who filled the final qualifying position from this heat. It was a bold effort that this Gary Cleeve trained son of Talk’s Cheap and Hard Habits produced after being the last greyhound to turn into the home straight.
The second heat resulted in a determined pace-making victory for Opawa Jimbo from the Robin Wales and Josh Lane kennels. This son of Winsome Opawa and Opawa Andrea hopped away smartly from the four trap, which then translated into his 1.5 length, 26.08s heat win.
Know Hassle provided Cleeve with his second finalist, when after settling back in the field, this son of Dyna Tron and Know Which was sighted putting in big late bounds to nail second. The Ray Adcock prepared stayer Can’t Catch Tim grinded on stoutly during the run home. The son of Bit Chili and Nina’s Girl was 2.75 lengths behind the runner-up, while holding a half-length margin over a gallant Amino Trouble, who is a litter brother to the first heat qualifier Hard Questions, trained by Ashley Bradshaw.
The first reserve for the Southland hosted $11,000 March 28 final will be Dirk The Jerk (Collision – Molly Paisley) for Jason Dunn after he lost his qualifying claims when he was impeded when turning for home. Shift The Blame (Trendy Leigh – Joyville) will occupy the second possie on the reserves bench for McInerney.
Opawa Jimbo dashing to his heat win and with co-trainer Josh lane on the post race podium – pics Tim Johnson, supplied by Dave Robbie - drobbie@ihug.co.nz – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
