“I’m really, really stoked – she was amazing,” commented in form greyhound trainer Hayley Mullane after her exciting chasing prospect Cristiane Cyborg stylishly won Thursday’s $7,000 NZRS Novice final at the Cambridge Raceway.
Pictured: Hayley Mullane with her Cambridge NZRS Novice winner Cristiane Cyborg
The Waikato-hosted Novice Final had plenty of action throughout the 457m race, especially as the race saw various race leaders within it. Drama surrounded the race with half of the field having to be drawn by ballot following one of the previous week’s heats being declared a no-race.
It was the Steve Clark prepared Atomic Missile (Peking Tom – Atomic Claim) who vied for the early race lead with Zimmer Frame (Dashing Corsair – Yorklea Beauty) from the Ross and Lynne Udy kennels. Unfortunately Atomic Miss went amiss when rounding the turn and Zimmer Frame was stomped on by a trailing greyhound.
The visiting Dave and Jean Fahey trained Opawa Rooster (Fabregas – Token Way) was left on the pace, prior to the race favourite Thrilling Billy (Collision – Thrilling Quest) pushing up to claim the race lead for Karen Walsh when swinging in for the long grind up the Cambridge straight.
Stalking this pair into the straight was Cristiane Cyborg. She threw down the gauntlet to them, which resulted in this nicely bred daughter of Bekim Bale and Nina’s Girl extending strongly to dash clear and claim her feature race victory by a 1.25 length margin, clocking a handy 25.72s.
Thrilling Billy kicked on soundly to claim second, while Opawa Rooster was bold when arriving home another 3.25 lengths further behind for his third placing. There was the same margin back to the fourth placed Gee Thunder (Magic Sprite – Secret Sprite) for Rob Roper.
The Waikato Thursday NZRS Novice post race podium with Haley Mullane and Cristiane Cyborg being flanked by runner up Thrilling Billy with handler Sophie Whittaker, while the third placed Opawa Rooster was handled by Cory Steele; Mum Nina’s Girl after her 2011 Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar victory
The Haley Mullane kennels has been churning out a stream of recent winners, which also includes training the race trifecta on a couple of occasions. Her patience and astute race placement has seen the Mullane, Clevedon-based kennel owner reaping deserved current rewards.
“She had shown us plenty when trialing. I intend to take her along quietly with a view to stepping her up to staying races later in her career. She is from a nice strong line,” commented her conditioner about the Ownagreyhound Breeding 1 owned greyhound.
Mullane is spot on about the staying potential owned by Cristiane Cyborg, who incidentally is named after the current Mixed Martial Arts star, as she is a litter sister to the recent NZ Stayers Cup finalist and heat winner Waimac. Gentleman Tim is another litter member who is displaying genuine staying potential. Mum Nina’s Girl was the winner of the 2011 Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar over the grueling 779m distance.
Thursday was only the third race day outing for Cristiane Cyborg and it was her second race victory after she fell during her debut race. The win also saw Canterbury breeder Ray Amer deservedly rewarded with fifty percent of the winning stake ($1950) as the breeder of the litter.
“Mr. Amer has been wonderful towards us and we are thankful to receive the opportunity of being able to race a greyhound of her quality bred by him. We will take her along quietly as she is also a good future breeding prospect," added Mullane.
That patient attitude will see the current winning streak being enjoy at the Mullane kennels continuing for a very long time.
By Peter Fenemor
