The late Quaddie at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday afternoon will be guaranteed to $10,000. Realistically that Quaddie has turned into a Treble owing the presence of the exciting chaser Cristiane Cyborg lining up in the second leg of it (Race 11).
Pictured: Cristiane Cyborg will start as a hot favourite in Sunday’s $8,000 NZRS Graduation final
It was a massive difference between the race times recorded in the two 527m heats last week for Sunday’s $8,000 NZRS Graduation final. Cristiane Cyborg scorched through her heat assignment to clock a seriously swift 30.34s making it four wins from as many races at the Auckland headquarters.
Hayley Mullane applies the finishing touches to this daughter of Bekim Bale and Nina’s Girl who will be chasing after a second set of Breeders bonus dollars for her breeder Ray Amer after she strongly won a recent Waikato hosted NZRS Novice final.
Lisa Cole is no stranger to training NZRS final winners and three greyhounds mentored by her will contest this final. Included is her 30.80s heat winner Bigtime Phantom who will hop away from the eight trap on Sunday after this son of Collision and Darlyne Ottey delivered his heat win from trap seven.
Bigtime OnFire was a Group 1 finalist last season (NZ Oaks). The daughter of Bigtime Kinvara and Bigtime Karen hasn’t featured in three previous Manukau 527m outings and she cops a tough draw being in the five trap here after her 11.8 length heat fourth behind Cristiane Cyborg.
Bigtime Power was also a heat fourth place getter when this son of Cosmic Rumble and Darlyne Ottey occupied that position 5.75 lengths behind his kennelmate Bigtime Phantom. He must jump away smartly from trap four here.
The three Lisa Cole trained NZRS Graduation finalists (from left): Bigtime Phantom, Bigtime OnFire; Bigtime Power
There are three members of the Texas Gold and Trident Lotto litter contesting this final. Carolyn Henley has been enjoying success with Princess Alea. Her on-the-pace racing style has seen her being a frequent attendee on post race podiums. Using that asset here can see her securing another placing after her 4.75 heat third behind Bigtime Phantom.
Peter Fergusson mentors the other two litter siblings who have contrasting racing styles. Electric Lotto, who was a Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar finalist (fourth), rocketed home late to lead in the “second division” 10.5 lengths behind the freewheeling Cristiane Cyborg. He will again most likely be sighted charging home late. On the other paw, kennelmate Strike Lotto is generally seen racing handy to the pace just like he did when seen closing to within half a length of Bigtime Phantom in his heat.
Gee Thunder will be wearing the red racing vest on Sunday for his trainer Rob Roper. This son of Magic Sprite and Secret Sprite refuses to flinch in his races as he keeps on stoutly grinding away throughout in his 527m races. We saw that when he delivered his 11.75 length heat third behind Cristiane Cyborg.
The three Texas Gold – Trident Lotto littermates who will contest the NZRS Graduation final on Sunday (from left): Princess Alea; Electric Lotto, Strike Lotto, plus Gee Thunder
Both reserves are worth more than a passing glance in the unlikely event they gain a race start here. Opawa Kuru was the victim of a traffic impeded racing passage in his heat. The son of Velocette and Miss Idol showed his true ability when leading a Cambridge 457m field all the way for his 25.89s win on Thursday for his trainers Wayne and Tracy Steele.
Bloomingdales, from the Ben Craig kennels, was expected to contest the pace throughout in her heat. She did lead her heat rivals out, however, this daughter of Snicko and Fancy Milly was caught when racing down the back straight, then she was jostled when turning in for the run home.
By Peter Fenemor
