Enthralling – that best describes the two sets of Addington Group race heats for the Christchurch Casino NZ Stayers Cup over the 732m.
Pic: The NZ Stayers Cup and dress rug won by Shandell in 2015
Christchurch Casino NZ Stayers Cup heats
How are they going to beat him? The short answer would be only if the Aussie star stayer Ring The Bell endures shocking racing luck in next Friday’s $25,000 decider at Group 1 level. Ring The Bell, who is now under the tuition of master-conditioner Ray Adcock, could not have been more impressive when he cruised to his effortless 7.25 length track debut win, clocking a tidy 43.55s which was considerably quicker than the other heat.
Translator caught the eye in the strong manner that this, Dave and Jean Fahey-trained, stayer found the line. After settling in the rear group he improved his field position going down the back straight the last time. From there he extended nicely which saw him claiming the runners-up position.
Know Jinx led the field away from the 732m traps. She led with a lap of the track to run, then she handed up to Ring The Bell. The Gary Cleeve prepared stayer gamely chased the freewheeling pacemaker from there and she only yielded second place late when she was run down by 1.75 lengths by Translator.
Whacking away solidly throughout the heat was the Steve and Bonnie Evans trained Goldstar Coco and she booked her return for the decider when clinging onto fourth a further 7.25 lengths astern. Securing the first place on the reserves bench was Opawa Plum for the Fahey’s after she arrived home another half a length behind in fifth.
The race before we saw Waimac really stepping up to the mark as a stayer for his trainer John McInerney when he outstayed his rivals to claim his 44.28s heat victory. It was a solid 3.25 length staying win by him.
Last year’s NZ Stayers Cup victor, Can’t Catch Tim, will return to defend his title for Adcock. He raced in the midfield pack for the greater part of the journey from where he extended during the run home to nail second when snatching that placing by a head margin over the final few bounds.
It was the 2015 NZ Stayers Cup winner Shandell who he cut out of second. The Arch Lawrence prepared stayer had led the field away from the 732m traps and she set up the tempo prior to being passed by Waimac when heading into the final turn, then obviously by Can’t Catch Tim late. She will be returning for her third NZ Stayers Cup final on Friday.
Without detracting anything from the first three finishers, the run of the heat certainly belonged to Tranquil Blossom. She was massive in the manner that she qualified for the decider for her trainer Angela Turnwald. She was slow early, then got tangled up in a fair degree of jostling when in the rear group and was pushed wide. She then collided with another competitor further on, then was denied a clear racing passage when attempting to improve. She simply flew home along the rail to nail her fourth placing 1.5 lengths behind Shandell.
Meanwhile, another 1.7 lengths further back a real paw wrestle unfolded to decide who was going to occupy a place on the reserves bench. Judge Peter Rosanowski wasn’t able to separate Opawa Cheviot (Evans’s) and Mandy Junior (Fahey’s) who he dead-heated for the fifth heat placing. A coin toss between the pair resulted in Mandy Junior being allocated the second reserve position.
Christchurch Casino NZ Stayers Cup heat winners Ring The Bell (left) with handler Graham Tapiki and Jonathon McInerney is with the team McInerney heat winner Waimac (pics Dave Robbie)
