It was a smile a mile wide that owner and handler Kim Frazer was sporting when he proudly placed his greyhound Nitehawk Rose on top of the Manawatu Raceway podium after she had delivered her powerful win in Monday’s $11,470 NZRS Advanced final.
Pictured: Monday’s NZRS Advanced winner Nitehawk Rose with her owner Kim Frazer (Pic by Georgie Clark, Palmerston North GRC)
It was a remarkable victory by the Bill Hodgson prepared daughter of Spring Gun and Real Clever which came when she cut out her 457m assignment in a tidy 26.08s.
Remarkable because Nitehawk Rose was up against seven smart Lisa Cole trained greyhounds. Remarkable because when heading into the big sweeping bend Nitehawk Rose had all seven of her rivals in front of her after jumping from the eight trap.
Unfazed she slipped down onto the rail and started to push through underneath her other opponents. She was still back when turning in for the run home which at that point saw a couple runners in front tangling.
Nitehawk Rose maintained a strong rails gallop and, when it was looking like she was running out of racing room over the later stages, she simply indicated a right hand turn, moved away from the rail and extended powerfully in clear air which saw her snatching a truly amazing win by a neck margin.
Bigtime Paddy (Kilty Lad – Romberg Lass) punched home solidly to claim second, while Allegro Gun (Spring Gun – Hifi Allegro), who was hindered during the early run home incident, kicked on stoutly for his third placing another length behind.
Hodgson has always held Nitehawk Rose in very high regard and his opinion certainty is justified as she has won over all four (305m, 520m, 645m & 755m) Hatrick race distances. She came into this event on the back of a strong staying preparation, which included a Group 2 755m second behind the potent stayer Ring The Bell two races before.
For Kim Frazer this feature race win was thoroughly deserved. The big fella is always seen happily helping out other trainers when handling other dogs at the Hatrick and Manawatu venues. And, by judging this victory, Frazer will be seen leading his pride and joy back displaying that deserved huge smile on many more occasions in the near future.
In her 51st race Nitehawk Rose advanced her career stake earnings out to $33,193 (excluding Breeders bonus payments). It was her twelfth win, and she has placed another 14 times. Nitehawk Rose will jump from the one trap in Friday’s Hatrick C4/5 520m event and then she will return to the Manawatu Raceway next Monday afternoon where she’ll contest a heat for the Nancy Cobain Memorial over the 660m staying journey at Group 2 level.
Nitehawk Rose and Kim Frazer is flanked by runner up Bigtime Paddy and Allegro Gun after her NZRS Advanced win; Nitehawk Rose with owner Kim Frazer and trainer Bill Hodgson after her bold recent Wanganui Distance second, while also attending the podium
By Peter Fenemor
