Wow! The promising Lisa Cole trained Bigtime Bell had established herself as a powerful finishing greyhound. The finish she delivered to annex her Auckland Oaks title at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday was simply astounding.
Bigtime Bell with Ella Cole following her astounding Auckland Oaks 527 win
Heading down the back straight it was the Ben Craik mentored Bloomingdales who appeared to be cruising to an easy victory in the 527m $8,000 feature event. The field of female chasers had been broken apart by her, with the C1 graded Jinja Bella from the Wayne and Tracy Steele kennels leading what appeared to be the vain chase after the tear away pacemaker. At this stage Bigtime Bell, who was a clear third, was giving away at least around eight lengths to the pace setter.
Turning in for the run to the judge Bloomingdales looked set to safely tuck away the Auckland Oaks trophy into her kennel. That was prior to the final lethal burst that Bigtime Bell put in. That turbocharged finish saw this daughter of Blue Lorian and Lost In Light sensationally snatch the Auckland Oaks title off Bloomingdales’ nose by a head margin.
Bloomingdales must be wondering what the heck else she had to do to win the race after having to settle for the runners-up prize. She held a 4.25 length margin over another promising young chaser Jinja Bella, while there were another four lengths back to the Phil Green trained Good Job.
It sure was a massive weekend for Bigtime Bell. Just two nights earlier she also delivered a power-packed finish to claim her second pacing in The Rock 95.2FM NZ Futurity at Group 1 level in Wanganui. Sunday’s Manukau Stadium win was the eighth in Bigtime Bell’s 37 race career. She has placed on a further 20 occasions which see her stake earnings now standing at $31,126 for her owners Lisa Cole and Craig Rendle. $10,550 of that was won by her over the weekend.
“When Bigtime Bell was going down the back straight I said to Lisa, ‘she can win this’. She said, ‘no way, you’re kidding me’. I could see her in clear racing air and it was her momentum that carried her to her win. She has a big heart and she is going to be a very good dog,” said Brendon Cole.
It sure was a dream weekend for the ‘Bigtime’ kennels.
By Peter Fenemor
