Northern trainer Karen Walsh prevented a two kennel total clean sweep of all ten final field positions for next Thursday’s Mike Stent Decorators New Zealand Derby final.
Pictured: Nangar Star – last year’s New Zealand Derby winner
It took a strong finish by Thrilling Surge in the final of the five 457m heats to prevent what very nearly was a complete Group 1 final with all ten greyhounds from just the Lisa Cole and Dave and Jean Fahey kennels.
As it is the single Walsh trained youngster will join four greyhounds who will represent the Cole kennels, along with three prepared by the Fahey’s, who also train both reserve contenders for the $40,000 Blue Ribbon decider.
Let’s reflect on those heats. First up it was the potent Fahey kennel who struck when Vikings dictated the pace to his rivals throughout to deliver his 26.62s heat win. His kennel mate Min Ho, who had settled in the midfield, extended nicely during the run home to wind up a length and a quarter behind him. His placing was the third fastest second placing, therefore, ensuring him a start in the final.
It was another pace-setting win that materialised in the second heat. Spare Some Time picked the jump perfectly from the six trap and he was never headed at any stage when delivering his 25.76s heat win. Mazu for the Fahey’s didn’t make the best of starts, however, he stoutly knuckled down to his task to slip past a number of his rivals to close to within three-quarters of a length of the winner. The slower heat time meant that Mazu will occupy the second possie on the reserves bench.
The pace was on from the outset in the third NZ Derby heat when the Cole prepared Bigtime Dazzler pinged away smartly from trap five to deliver his pace making 25.49s win. Bombs Falling caught the eye by punching home solidly after jumping from the ace trap for the Fahey’s. His effort saw him claiming a final field placement when arriving home a further three-quarters of a length behind.
(From left): NZ Derby heat 1 podium with winner Vikings flanked by Min Ho (2nd) & Bigtime Jason (3rd); NZ Derby heat 2 podium with winner Spare Some Time flanked by Mazu (2nd) & Cawbourne Crowie (3rd); NZ Derby heat 3 podium with winner Bigtime Dazzler flanked by Bomb’s Falling (2nd) & Jimmy’s Rocket (3rd)
The recent Cole trained Aussie import Storm Warning impressed when he produced a competitive NZ debut third in the previous week’s Palmerston North Gold Cup Invitation at Group 2 level. He flanked that form by seizing the early race lead in the fourth heat which was a lead he never relinquished when scoring by a 3.25 length margin, clocking 25.56s. It was Opawa Brad who gamely chased him home for the Fahey’s, which now sees him as the first reserve.
It was left to the Karen Walsh mentored Thrilling Surge to break up the dual kennel domination when he dug in real deep during the run home to claim his 25.48s final heat win. In doing so he mastered the freewheeling, pace-setting Allegro Gun from the Cole kennels by a half-length margin. Allegro Gun was credited with the fastest second place finish (third quickest overall heat time).
(From left to right): NZ Derby heat 4 podium with winner Storm Warning flanked by Opawa Brad (2nd) & Hard Questions (3rd); NZ Derby heat 5 podium with winner Thrilling Surge flanked by Allegro Gun (2nd) & Opawa Timo (3rd) – all pics thanks to Sarah Cockburn, Waikato GRC
Pawnote: There will be three Group races decided at the Cambridge Raceway next Thursday. Aside from the Group 1 Mike Stent Decorators New Zealand Derby final, the Theresa McDonald Cup (747m) and the Lois Henley Memorial (457m) will also be decided at Group 2 level. It is a dual code meeting with the first greyhound race jumping at 4.02pm. A return trip for two to Queenstown, which includes two nights’ accommodation at the Novotel Queenstown plus breakfast, must be won by an on-course patron.
By Peter Fenemor
