Two races, one emphatic, and one a narrow victory, wrapped up the Christchurch Club’s 2016/17 season feature racing on a very chilly Thursday evening.
Pictured: Tom Tee dashing to his easy Kolorful Kanvas Garden City Classic win (photo by Dave Robbie)
Tom Tee absolutely crushed his rivals when delivering his powerful gallop which led to his effortless $7,500 Kolorful Kanvas Garden City Classic win. Earlier, Fair Pippa gamely responded to fend off a strong late challenge to annex her $7,500 Flair Canterbury Laurels win.
Tom Tee put the issue out of the reach of his opponent’s paws shortly after leaping away from the Addington 520m eight trap. From that point the exciting Ray Adcock prepared greyhound was in cruise mode. He slipped through his 520m assignment in a tidy 30.20s, easily the meet best 520m time during an evening that would have made Eskimos feel at home.
Mazu was really gallant in the manner that he gamely stuck to his task when leading the vain chase after the freewheeling pacemaker. The Dave and Jean Fahey trained greyhound greeted judge Peter Rosanowski four lengths behind Tom Tee.
Running the race of his career was the Craig Roberts prepared Shady Snapper. He lined up in this feature event holding a C3 grading. He got himself into third when heading into the first turn, which was position he held for the balance of the trip when arriving home a further 6.5 lengths behind. He held a 1.25 length margin over the strong finishing Draxler who is a litter and kennel mate to runner-up Mazu.
This race was all about Tom Tee, who has his paws firmly locked on top of the Addington Formpro Amazing Chase leaderboard. He now holds the top three Addington 520m times since the qualifying period commenced, with obviously his 29.99s Garden City Classic heat time being his recognised time.
Tom Tee, who is raced by his trainer and Jose Arthur, is a member of the very talented Fabregas – Mini’s Fantasy litter the pair bred (his sister Rosa Tee won a C5 295m dash in 17.33s). He has won ten of his last eleven races, which now sees his career earnings sitting at $38,761, the result of 14 wins and five minor placings from just 22 race day appearances.
It was a crowded Kolorful Kanvas Garden City Classic podium for winner Tom Tee; Tom Tee flanked by minor place getters Mazu and Shady Snapper (photo by Dave Robbie)
FLAIR CANTERBURY LAURELS
It was a ‘white knuckle’ finish to the Flair Canterbury Laurels. Prior to that the first greyhound into the first turn was as expected the John McInerney trained NZ Oaks winner Cosmic Odette. She led into the back straight, but was being ominously stalked by Fair Pippa.
Fair Pippa took control of the race going down the back straight and she looked set to deliver an easy victory her conditioners Dave and Jean Fahey. Well that was until the blue racing vest being carried by the Gary Cleeve prepared Kay Bomb loomed up to get into a challenging position.
Rounding the final turn, it initially looked like Kay Bomb had built up sufficient momentum to carry her through to the race win. Not so, said Fair Pippa, who dug in deep and doing so, repelled the challenge that ultimately saw her claiming her gutsy feature race win by a head margin. She stopped the clock in 30.75s.
Kay Bomb, by finishing second provided her Bekim Bale – Delusionist litter with the runner up position in both of the Addington features with her brother Mazu finishing second in the Garden City Classic.
Opawa Racer extended nicely during the run home for the Fahey’s to claim third, a further 2.25 lengths behind, and in doing, relegated a gallant Cosmic Odette back to fourth by a three quarter length margin.
Fair Pippa has been contesting strong recent feature race events so her win in this race was thoroughly deserved. She is raced by high profile, long-term Fahey kennel owners with her ownership being split between the I Pave Concrete and Opawa Racing teams – hence the owning I Pave Opawa Syndicate amalgamation. She has now been to the races on 29 occasions, resulting in 13 wins, six minor placings and $32,382 in stake earnings.
Flair Canterbury Laurels winner Fair Pippa (red) gamely holding off the challenge thrown at her by Kay Bomb; Co-owner Robin Wales with handler Katie Wyllie and Fair Pippa; Fair Pippa flanked by minor place winners Kay Bomb and Opawa Racer. (Photos supplied by Dave Robbie - drobbie@ihug.co.nz – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos.)
By Peter Fenemor
