Can’t Catch Tim and Timma Turtle both produced a bold pair of feature cup wins over recent days.

Pictured: Can’t Catch Tim delivering his strong Dunedin Cup victory – pic Luana Robbie

DUNEDIN CUP

Ray Adcock is regarded as a very astute conditioner of greyhounds. Many a time over the decades the Canterbury mentor has pulled off stunning training wins. He was at it again on Tuesday afternoon at Forbury Park when he produced the current NZ Stayer of the Year on points Can’t Catch Tim to comprehensively outstay his 545m rivals in the $6,000 Dunedin Cup.

The Craig Roberts prepared Cawbourne Kristy won the break from the traps to undertake the pace making duties. Her kennel mate Letron James was pushing forward during the initial rush while settling ominously handy to the pace along the rail was Can’t Catch Tim.

It was obvious a long way from home who the eventual winner was going to be. Can’t Catch Tim was the greyhound and although others finished strongly with him it was the robust son of Bit Chili and Nina’s Girl who put in the strong bounds to annexe his win by a 1.25 length margin, clocking 32.40s.

Know Hassle pressed on stoutly to claim the runner-up's prize for Gary Cleeve, while the warm race favourite Southern Lights extended from an early midfield position to wind up third, a further three-quarters of a length back, for Roy Hamilton.

It was a continuation of the love affair that Can’t Catch Tim, who incidentally is owned by a pair of Rays – Adcock and Amer, has for the Forbury Park circuit. It was Tim’s twelfth race over the venue’s 545m distance and it was his seventh win there (his other five races there has resulted in minor placings). He has proven to be a potent chaser when racing from the ace- trap as this was his eleventh win from the desired (for most) draw from 18 occasions (four minors).

“I couldn’t believe what he paid ($11.10). He loves it there and also the one trap. He stuck to the rail all the way and that was the winning of the race,” advised Adcock, who added about the plans he has in store for Tim when asked responded with, “He’s stepping back up in distance next Tuesday where he’s racing over 630m at Ascot Park (Anzac Day, race 12, 5:11 pm). I have been bringing him back from injury and that’s why you haven’t seen him in distance races. I’m taking it race by race with him and hopefully he’ll hold together so he can contest the Silver Collar, which if he does get there will be his swansong from racing.”

Can’t Catch Tim will become a race centurion on Tuesday which will be his 100th race day assignment. It features the potential mouth-watering clash with Southern Lights over the 630m trip. After 99 races, he has been placed on top of the podium on 35 occasions. He has placed in another 30 of them which sees his career stake earnings now sitting at $120,830.
 

  

Leading mentor Ray Adcock with race day handler Graham Tapiki with Dunedin Cup winner Can’t Catch Tim; the full Dunedin Cup podium with Can’t Catch Tim being joined by Know Hassle (Gary Cleeve) and Southern Lights (Roy Hamilton) – pics Luana Robbie – supplied by Dave Robbie - drobbie@ihug.co.nz – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos; the newly retired Ray Adcock owned and trained Willis

Pawnote: Ray Adcock also advised that his talented chaser Willis (Dyna Lachlan – Delusionist) has been retired from racing after an injury-plagued career. “He’s such a heavy dog in his front end which meant he kept on damaging his front ligaments. It’s a pity because we didn’t get to see the best of him owing to that. He will make a lovely pet,” he added about his fawn charge who takes up his position on the couch as the winner of $24,532, the result of ten wins, 17 minor placings from his 51 career races.
 

AUCKLAND EASTER CUP

With no Sunday racing owing to the Easter break, the Auckland club hosted a rare Saturday afternoon meeting at the Manukau Stadium. The feature event was the $5,000 Easter Cup which saw a thoroughly deserved win going to the Lisa Cole prepared Timma Turtle.

Deserved because the greyhound had trekked north on three previous occasions and returned south with three minor 527m placings listed beside his name (including an Auckland Cup heat third).

Timma Turtle made no mistake from the eight trap where he began smartly to chase the initial pacemaker Belcroft Banker (the Auckland Cup third-place getter). This pair matched their paws down the back straight and it was when heading into the final turn when the Turtle eased himself into a clear race lead.

He extended nicely during the run home to claim his feature win by a three-quarter length margin, posting 30.70s for his 527m gallop. Kava Blu extracted himself from an early midfield position to finish second for Wayne and Tracey Steele, while he held a half-length margin over the Denis Schofield trained Lochinvar Brogue who claimed third. Timma Turtle is now the winner of 17 of his 64 races and after adding in another 20 minor placings sees his stakes tally currently sitting at $48,457.
 

 

The Auckland Easter Cup winner Timma Turtle with handler Gary Fredrickson; and Timma Turtle being flanked by runner-up Kava Blu and third placed Lochinvar Brogue

By Peter Fenemor