Promising lower-graded, Kiwi-bred greyhounds will contest their $7,000 NZRS Novice Final at the Cambridge Raceway on the afternoon of Thursday 6 July.
Pic: Thrilling Quest, who will be represented by her son Thrilling Billy in Thursday’s NZRS Novice Final
Two 457m heats were drawn for last Thursday’s event to decide the finalists, however, only one of them was completed. A box malfunction, followed by a mechanical fault during the attempted restart, led to the second heat to be declared a no-race. A ballot was subsequently conducted by a stipendiary steward to determine the four greyhounds who advanced to the final from that second heat.
Thrilling Billy, trained by Karen Walsh, finished strongly to claim his heat win by a 3.5 length margin, clocking 26.19s. The promising son of Collision and Thrilling Quest, Thrilling Billy has won both of his 457m assignments on this track, with the other win being delivered in a tidy 25.71s. He will wear the white racing vest for this final.
Steve Clark has two finalists in the running. Firstly, Sings Like Elvis, son of Magic Sprite and Swift Fantasy, led his heat rivals until the sweeping Cambridge turn where he yielded to Thrilling Billy. He is likely to enjoy hopping away from trap two here on Thursday.
Kennelmate Atomic Missile went onto contest a Manukau C1 527m event on Sunday after her aborted Thursday heat. She endured a luckless early racing passage which led to an impeded outing for this daughter of Peking Tom and Atomic Claim. Her race prior to that saw her delivering a handy to the pace 2.5 length 527m second. She must break quickly from trap six here.
Zimmer Frame placed himself handy to the early pace in his heat after jumping away from the eight trap. He angled inwards, jostled briefly, then he was sighted pressing on stoutly which saw him claiming his 4.5 length heat third to Thrilling Billy. This Ross and Lynne Udy prepared son of Dashing Corsair and Yorklea Beauty then hopped away from the same trap at Manukau on Sunday from where he boldly led all the way to land his 31.05s C1 527m win. He’s required to slot away into trap five for this final.
Dams represented in Thursday’s Cambridge NZRS Novice final include (from left): Swift Fantasy (Sings Like Elvis); Nina’s Girl (Cristiane Cyborg); Yorklea Beauty (Zimmer Frame)
Fushidara (daughter of Peking Tom and Carmia Matanna, trained by Linda Martin), made the drawn field via her 6.25 length heat fourth behind Thrilling Billy. Fushidara overcame a hindered early racing passage before receiving clear air, enabling her to kick on to nail her final field place here. She has no option but to hop away smartly from trap eight on Thursday.
Hayley Mullane has her team ticking over very sweetly at the moment and has a promising contender taking her place in this field. Cristiane Cyborg was a stylish 25.93s 457m Maiden winner at this venue in just her second race day start. She has strength through her blood lines being a daughter of Bekim Bale and Nina’s Girl, which makes her a litter sister to last Friday’s Group 1 NZ Stayers Cup finalist Waimac. She will be loaded into the four trap for the final.
Gee Thunder (son of Magic Sprite and Secret Sprite), was in a “qualifying position” at the finish of the no-race heat for his conditioner, Rob Roper. Though Gee Thunder isn’t known for his quick race starts, he has been getting underway slightly better lately, which will help him deliver the strong finishes he is known for. He must do this while hopping away from the seven trap in the final.
Opawa Rooster (son of Fabregas and Token Kay), was a stylish Addington 520m debut winner when he cruised to his effortless 30.72s win three races ago. Trained by Dave and Jean Fahey, this youngster was left in the north after his abandoned heat run. He adds real interest to the final after being allocated the ace trap to step away from.
Robin Wales and Josh Lane prepare Opawa Rooster’s litter brother Aussi Joshy, who contested the only heat here, resulting in him being held in the midfield pack throughout. This led to him being made the first reserve. He had made a promising start to his career by winning his first two Addington 520m races. He would have benefited from his first look at the Cambridge track.
Kennelmate Patty Boy (son of Swift Fancy and Opawa Patty), was involved in the no-race, and has had a ‘race day’ look at this venue. He won his Maiden race on the similarly shaped Ascot Park track when he completed his 457m gallop there in a sound 26.35s.
By Peter Fenemor
