Group Classic Age racing action moves back to the Addington Raceway on Thursday evening where three competitive looking 520m heats for the Active Electrical Christchurch NZ St Leger will decide the finalists for next Thursday’s $15,000 final at Group 2 level.
Pic: Dirk The Jerk winning last year’s NZ St Leger final (pic Dave Robbie)
Here’s a look at the heat contenders along with their TAB Futures market quotes (option 994).
Active Electrical Christchurch NZ St Leger heat 1, race 6
1 Resident Djay ($16): He’s a powerful Aussie import who has a couple of strong littermates racing over here. He owns sound looking inside trap stats.
2 Helski Bale ($21): He’s giving away class here being C3 graded, although he did gamely chase home the talented fair Pippa 1.75 lengths behind her last Thursday.
3 Albie Punter ($16): She has been contesting recent Group 1 events. She’s a railer who can sneak along the rail here.
4 Fair Pippa ($16): The recent NZ Oaks third place getter who is in solid current form as seen when she controlled the pace throughout for her meet best 30.24s 520m winning time last Thursday.
5 Amino Trouble ($21): He is returning to 520m racing after recent 295m sprints and he cops a tough draw for this assignment.
6 He’s All Power ($5): Despite his recent misses in the strong 520m field, the Auckland Cup winner always demands respect.
7 Frosty Action ($101): Her recent wins came in C2 310m and 295m sprints. She does own 520m winning form, however, she is facing a steep rise in class here.
8 Opawa Racer ($51): She isn’t regarded as a quick starter and her lack of form from this trap is a concern for her here.
Reserves
9 Opawa Denise ($81): She owns strength, although her latest outings have been at C1 level. That says she faces a hard task if she’s required here.
10 Opawa Cheviot ($81): She is generally sighted doing her best work at the business end. Her lack of early pace will make it tough for her advance.
Active Electrical Christchurch NZ St Leger heat 1 contenders includes Albie Punter (left) and He’s All Power
Active Electrical Christchurch NZ St Leger heat 2, race 7
1 Mandy Junior ($10): She has drawn to make her presence felt in this heat as seen by her rather tidy looking inside trap stats.
2 Tom Tee ($2.80): He is flying around this circuit at the moment as seen by his recent trio of sharp sub 30-second 520m wins around here.
3 Opawa Timo ($51): He has no option but to jump straight onto the early pace here as he faces a steep class rise being C3 graded.
4 Sadder Nation ($51): His slow starting tactics is likely to prove costly against the higher graded chasers he clashes with here.
5 Mazu ($26): He is a competitive chaser who was bold in his recent Hatrick Group 1 520m heat third. He cops his first career trap five draw here.
6 Cawbourne Britty ($101): She has been touring the country lately and has delivered good lower grade efforts. Her lack of wins at this venue concerns.
7 Justin Ryan ($81): He found himself jammed up in the midfield pack after jumping from trap eight when stepping up to C3 racing. This is harder again.
8 Cosmic Odette ($81): She is being offered at very lucrative odds considering she is the current NZ Oaks title holder. She owns the ability to contest the early pace.
Reserves
9 Opawa Denise ($81): She owns strength, although her latest outings have been at C1 level. That says she faces a hard task if she’s required here.
10 Opawa Cheviot ($81): She is generally sighted doing her best work at the business end. Her lack of early pace will make it tough for her advance.
Active Electrical Christchurch NZ St Leger heat 2 contenders includes Mandy Junior (left) and Cosmic Odette
Active Electrical Christchurch NZ St Leger heat 3, race 8
1 Eagle Tee ($31): She’s the NZ Oaks runner-up who secures the draw advantage via this trap. She can make effective use of it.
2 Howie Bale ($26): He’s a former Victorian chaser who arrives here holding a C3 grading. He isn’t wasting any time in taking on proven higher graded greyhounds for his NZ debut.
3 Ride Ain’t Over ($16): He tends to move out towards the middle of the track from where he has been known to unleash a strong finish.
4 Botany Allan ($81): He is backing up from his Forbury Park five-length C3/4 545m third on Tuesday. He is another who is giving a slice of class in this event.
5 Goldstar Dallas ($151): His current race fitness cannot be denied after his recent staying assignments, however, he is also stepping up in class here.
6 Vikings ($5): He was handy to the pace when the lure was pulled up in the Group 1 NZ Futurity. He owns a 29.99s best winning 520m clock here which says respect him.
7 Opawa Brad ($10): He was another who was contesting the NZ Futurity no race final. He is likely to be sighted finishing stoutly here.
8 Melan ($61): Drawing out here has made it considerably tougher for this C3 assessed chaser to advance further in this series.
Reserves
9 Opawa Denise ($81): She owns strength, although her latest outings have been at C1 level. That says she faces a hard task if she’s required here.
10 Opawa Cheviot ($81): She is generally sighted doing her best work at the business end. Her lack of early pace will make it tough for her advance.
Active Electrical Christchurch NZ St Leger heat 3 contenders includes Eagle Tee (left – pic Dave Robbie) and Vikings
By Peter Fenemor
