The Formpro Amazing Chase northern leader board saw positions change on the last day of qualifying at the Manukau Stadium and the race favourites won the AGRC Board 527m and 318m feature races on Sunday.
Pictured: Thrilling Raider after he forced his way into Amazing Chase final field inclusion on Sunday.
Six Amazing Chase contenders solo trialed over 527m, while five eligible greyhounds contested 527m races on what was officially described a dead Manukau track on Sunday afternoon.
Karen Walsh fronted up with three greyhounds, with two of them looking to dislodge those sitting in the three Manukau qualifying positions, while her third trialist was seeking to cement his place on top of the leader board.
First up was Thrilling Raider who slipped through his 527m trial in 30.35s. In doing so he took over second place on the Manukau table and obviously into a final field selection position.
Next up was the top of the table Ridin’ Shotgun, who confirmed his position on top of the board when he stylishly completed his 527m trial assignment in 30.27s. He has held the Manukau top spot since his remarkable 30.22s Maiden 527m June 25 race win.
Thrilling Flo, who had an earlier 31s time listed beside her name, then completed her 527m trial in 30.51s which equaled the time held by the Denis Schofield prepared Lochinvar Brogue. It also meant these greyhounds were tied for the final Manukau qualifying spot.
Schofield then elected to withdraw Lochinvar Brogue, who was to go on to win the feature AGRC Board Cup later in the race meeting, from the Amazing Chase. That negated the need to conduct a ballot between the two greyhounds for the final possie, while it also confirmed the Ben Craik trained Westworld as the second reserve for the final.
None of the five Amazing Chase nominated greyhounds who raced during the afternoon returned a time that threatened the top on the newly shaped Manukau leader board. The Hatrick qualifier Cawbourne Trixy, from the Matt Roberts kennels, was brought north to trial after the race meeting. She completed her 527m trial in 30.72s when checking out the Manukau circuit for the first time. None of the other pre-race meeting trial greyhounds came close to recording a time that challenged the leading chasers’ times.
The required ballot between the holders of the third fastest Hatrick and Addington Amazing Chase 520m times was held during the race meeting. Stipendiary Stewart Warrick Robinson drew ‘Wanganui’, which means Lisa Cole will have a second Amazing Chase runner with Bigtime Bell. It also meant Translator from the Dave and Jean Fahey kennels became the event’s first reserve.
Therefore, after a month of qualifying attempts at the three venues the $30,500 Formpro Amazing Chase final field is: Ridin Shotgun, Thrilling Raider, Thrilling Flo, Cawbourne Trixy, Bigtime Paddy, Bigtime Bell, Tom Tee, Shantui, Translator (r1) and Westworld (r2).
Formpro Amazing Chase confirmed runners includes from left: Thrilling Flo, Cawbourne Trixy, Tom Tee
AGRC Board Cup & AGRC Board Sprint
The Board of the Auckland Greyhound RC didn’t draw down their entitled board fees during the 2016/17 racing season, deciding to divert those fees into a pair of feature races. That decision saw the running of two feature races during the Auckland hosted Sunday meeting.
Lochinvar Brogue was installed as the race favourite for the $5,500 AGRC Board Cup and the consistent Denis Schofield trained Manukau 527m chaser duly obliged. It was Clockwise Rap from the Phil Green kennels who led the field into the first turn with Lochinvar Brogue stalking him. His kennel mates Beltom and Gold Class were in close attendance.
Lochinvar Brogue took control of the race when heading down the back straight. He was never going to be caught from that point which saw him claiming his 11th Manukau 527m win (from 23 races) by a length and half margin, stopping the clock in 30.76s.
Beltom pressed on solidly to provide a kennel quinella by claiming the runners up prize when edging out Clockwise Rap from that placing during the run home by a length. Gold Class was a further length back in fourth.
Nitrology exited the Manukau 318m two trap as the favourite for the $3,500 AGRC Board Sprint for his conditioner Steve Clark. He had an initial paw wrestle for the early race lead with the Hayley Mullane trained Jump Up. The talented sprinter shook off that challenge when scampering clear to secure his 1.75 length feature win in 18.40s. In doing so he added to the tidy Manukau 318m record he is compiling with this win being his sixth from just eight races (two minors) over the 318m dash.
Jump Up maintained his bold sprint for his second placing and he held the same margin over the third placed Ross and Lynne Udy prepared Racing Demon, who is currently sprinting in career best form. The consistent Sunday afternoon Manukau 318m sprinter Obstinatus from the Ron and Naomi O’Regan kennels arrived home another 1.25 lengths astern in fourth.
Lochinvar Brogue after his AGRC Board Cup win and with AGRC Chairman John Roberts and race day handler David Campbell; Nitrology after his AGRC Board Sprint win
By Peter Fenemor
