The rich Garrard’s Horse & Hound Canterbury OTB Maiden final has always been a keenly sought after race within the Canterbury region. Traditionally the 520m race has been the launching pad for numerous classy greyhounds who have gone onto bigger and brighter career highlights.
Pictured: Perfect Result delivering the quickest heat time for the Canterbury OTB Maiden Final (pic Dave Robbie)
The $5,000 race dates back to the old Christchurch QE 11 track days. The event has survived the test of time owing to the Canterbury OTB Association tireless fundraising ventures year in and year out to sponsor the event.
Four 520m heats, held at Addington last Friday, decided the final field for this year’s edition on Thursday evening (race 9), which is the third leg of a terminating $20,000 TAB Pick6 during the meeting.
Ray Adcock is enjoying the perfect start to the new racing season. Included in his results is Perfect Result who returned the fastest of the heat times when clocking 31.04s. He achieved that by dictating the pace throughout, which is a tactic he must use here when hopping away from the five trap. If doing so, a repeat win looms for him.
Smash Calling appears to be ideally drawn for his trainer Malcolm Grant in the one trap. He caught the eye in the stylish manner that he completed his heat assignment in 31.56s. This son of the Kiwi bred and owned Australian Group race winner Clone Your Own wouldn’t have to improve much to be sighted featuring at the business end of this event.
A similar comment can be made for the Ray Casey and Suzanne Fagan prepared 31.39s heat winner Aurora. The couple has been producing consistent greyhounds for numerous years and this girl looks to be no exception being sired from their more than handy open class chaser Mamaja.
From left: Smash Calling and Aurora delivering their Canterbury OTB Maiden heat wins and handler Bryce Jordan with the quickest heat winner Perfect Result (pics supplied by Dave Robbie - drobbie@ihug.co.nz – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos)
The Dave and Jean Fahey prepared Trevor Gibbs was warmly supported in his heat when he delivered his 6.5 length second to Perfect Result. He had to overcome an early check to get himself into a chasing position after the heat winner which was a position he duly maintained for the balance of the trip. He is a likely improver from his debut outing.
Steve and Bonnie Evans trekked south to Ascot Park on Tuesday with their three finalists for this event. All three of them are sired by the South Island based sire Yella Mustard. Faring best of them over the 390m dash was Goldstar Lottie who ran on for her third placing after copping an early check. In her previous heat for this, she had gamely chased home Smash Calling, winding up 1.25 lengths behind.
Goldstar Raven was also impeded during her Tuesday 390m sprint which saw her being held in midfield traffic. She was bold in her Addington heat when coming up just a head short of the winner Aurelius Jewel (31.58s). The heat winner was given a period on the side line afterwards. Goldstar Chief endured a luckless Invercargill 457m race when he was checked. His prior heat for this series contained merit when he went under by a length to Aurora.
Completing the drawn field is the John McInerney prepared Dave’s Pick, who pressed on stoutly from out of the midfield pack for his 1.75 length heat third to Smash Calling. He was then held in the rear group throughout when racing over 457m in Invercargill on Tuesday.
The first reserve is another Clone Your Own sired puppy, Cheese Please for Alison Lee who also very successfully raced the sire. She was sighted doing her best work when producing her 1.6 length third to Aurelius Jewel after having settled in the rear group.
Dyna Vikkers, who is the sire of the second reserve Viktoria Vikkers, requires no introduction. His daughter backed up her sound debut heat third, when finishing a five length third to Aurora, with another bold finishing Ascot Park 457m third on Tuesday.
By Peter Fenemor
