All roads lead to the Addington Raceway over the next three weeks as the rich Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup series gets underway again with five 520m heats to be decided at the Christchurch headquarters on Thursday evening.
Pictured: American Warrior last year’s NZ Cup winner is back to defend his title
Here’s a look at the heat contenders with their respective TAB Futures market quotes – win option 980, Top Three option 981.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup heat 1, race 7
1 Spring Sam $201 & $41: His draw is likely to assist him here, however he’s giving away slice of class, being C3 graded.
2 Shreddin’ $18 & $5: He has quickly advanced into the open class chasing ranks as seen in his tidy 30.45s C3/4 520m win last Thursday.
3 Epic Dream $41 & $10: She owns early pace, which is an asset that she must use here. Going close to her 30s 520m best will see her advancing.
4 Avenger Bale $7 & $2.40: He’s absolutely flying, as can be seen by his slick 29.82s best winning 520m time here, which he backed up with a swift 29.96s 520m clock last week.
5 Letron James $81 & $18: He has contested previous Group 1 finals. He must use his known early pace from his poor draw here.
6 Resident Djay $101 & $22: He was last sighted July 6 over 520m. He owns strength at the business end. The wider he draws the better he is suited.
7 Opawa Brad $61 & $16: He was the recent Robinson Rosebowl winner 520m, plus he is a Group 2 527m winner. He’s likely to looking for the rail early.
8 Opawa Cheviot $151 & $31: He’s a staying greyhound who, although drawn okay, is likely to be outpaced during the early rush for positions here.
Reserves
9 Hard Questions $126 & $26: He’s a C3 assessed chaser who lacks early pace; in saying that, he does own a tidy 30.01s best winning 520m time here.
10 Dyna Boomer $151 & $31: This bloke is out-graded for this series, holding a current C3 grading.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup heat 1 contenders (from left): Epic Dream; Avenger Bale; Opawa Brad
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup heat 2, race 8
1 Sadder Nation $61 & $16: His was a stylish last start C2 30.24s 520m win. His time was okay, however this represents a huge rise in class for him here.
2 Fair Pippa $21 & $6: She is race fit and match hardened heading into the heat after her recent pace making 645m win here. She was badly checked during her last 520m outing here.
3 Botany Alan $151 & $31: He has been known to upset around here before when he has been sighted using his known early pace.
4 Opawa Norris $151 & $31: He was trying to push up onto the early pace when he was shuffled back to the rear group during his Tuesday Ascot Park 457m assignment.
5 Penalty Bale $101 &22: He cops a rough draw here after recent C3/4 520m races, which includes his last start impeded outing.
6 Zipping Clyde $201 &$41: This Southland visitor has been 310m & 390m sprinting lately. He missed in his only previous 520m race at this venue.
7 He’s All Power $21 & $6: He’s a proven performer at the elite level as seen by his current Auckland Cup title. He was badly impeded in his last 520m race here.
8 Allen Ablett $7 & $2.40: He’s an exciting young chasing prospect as seen by his slippery best 29.83s 520m best time. He can slip around the outer from out here.
Reserves
9 Hard Questions $126 & $26: He’s a C3 assessed chaser who lacks early pace; in saying that, he does own a tidy 30.01s best winning 520m time here.
10 Dyna Boomer $151 & $31: This bloke is out-graded for this series, holding a current C3 grading.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup heat 2 contenders (from left): Botany Alan; He’s All Power; Allen Ablett
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup heat 3, race 9
1 Tom Tee $18 & $5: He has endured his recent issues. He’s owns a touch of class and he has drawn to make his presence felt in this event.
2 Runway Bono $21 & $6: He’s a strong staying type as in his Group 2 660m victory two races ago. He can feature at the business end here.
3 Cactus Jack $18 & $5: He owns plenty of early pace and he’s in current career best 520m form as seen in his stylish 30.06s 520m win here two races ago.
4 Nozzno Fear $81 & $18: He downgraded back to C4 after he lost all claims when he was hindered during his 520m outing here last Thursday.
5 Opawa Shackley $27 & $7: She’s a multiple Group race winner who is resuming here. She commands respect for her fresh up assignment here.
6 Mina Allen $101 & $22: She owns early pace which is an asset that she has no option but to use to put herself in the early lead group here.
7 Dave’s Dot $201 & $41: He was denied early racing room and was held in the midfield pack throughout when he was running out his C3 nominations here last week.
8 Rover Bale $26 & $7: He’s still a C3 graded chaser who won his only previous race when he was sighted wearing the pink racing vest.
Reserves
9 Hard Questions $126 & $26: He’s a C3 assessed chaser who lacks early pace; in saying that, he does own a tidy 30.01s best winning 520m time here.
10 Dyna Boomer $151 & $31: This bloke is out-graded for this series, holding a current C3 grading.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup heat 3 contenders (from left): Tom Tee; Runway Bono; Opawa Shackley
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup heat 4, race 10
1 Must Be Rusty $201 & $41: After jumping from this trap he dug in real deep when he prevailed in a torrid finish when delivering his 26.13s Ascot Park C2/3 457m Tuesday win.
2 Crotty $126 & $26: He’s a C3 assessed chaser, who after leading out, gamely came home a promising chaser in his C3 520m race here last Thursday.
3 Mazu $21 & $6: Drawing closer to the rail after his recent trap 8 misses is likely to greatly assist him here. He owns strength, which can see him featuring at the business end here.
4 Jimmy’s Rocket $81 & $18: He’s the only northern trained chaser who is contesting the heats. He finished a bold fourth in the recent 527m Waterloo Cup final.
5 American Warrior $10 & $3: Last year’s NZ Cup winner requires no introductions. He was a very stylish last start Ascot Park 390m winner.
6 Quistis Bale $51 & $12: She hasn’t enjoyed recent 520m racing luck around here. She must hop straight onto the early pace to change that luck factor.
7 Allen Hadrian $101 & $22: He dashed home late for his Southland 457m third in a special event on Tuesday. He also must quickly push forward at trap rise.
8 Opawa Jimbo $126 & $26: Resuming from a spell here after he was last presented on 7 September over 520m. Again, the early rush for positions will determine where he finishes.
Reserves
9 Hard Questions $126 & $26: He’s a C3 assessed chaser who lacks early pace; in saying that he does own a tidy 30.01s best winning 520m time here.
10 Dyna Boomer $151 & $31: This bloke is out graded for this series, holding a current C3 grading.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup heat 4 contenders (from left): Mazu; Jimmy’s Rocket; American Warrior
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup heat 5, race 11
1 Ride Ain’t Over $18 & $5: There is no denying his class, however, he has gone through a run of luckless races since winning at Group 1 level. His draw is a worry as he will go out wider.
2 Shantui $18 & $5: He has also drawn upside down for his racing style, as he also prefers the wider draws. His qualifying claim here certainly cannot be dismissed.
3 Homebush Feud $251 & $51: She’s a C3 graded chaser who will check out her first career middle distance (457m) race on Ascot Park on Tuesday where she copped an early check.
4 Opawa Timo $51 & $12: He stylishly won a recent NZ Cup 520m prelude in 30.45s from trap 1. He was then held in midfield traffic throughout in last week’s NZ Cup prelude.
5 Harry Fields $12 & $3.50: He received no early racing favours during last Thursday’s NZ Cup prelude. He is smart enough to lead this heat all the way.
6 Sea Fever $301 & $61: He’s a Southland based chaser who has been 310m & 390m short course sprinting lately. His three 520m races here have yielded him with on-placing.
7 Helski Bale $151 & $31: This is the third consecutive occasion he has exited from this trap at this venue. He must make a quicker exit from it.
8 Panel Beater $16 & $4.50: He’s making his NZ debut here from a powerful kennel after completing a satisfactory trial here last week. He’s strong finishing chaser.
Reserves
9 Hard Questions $126 & $26: He’s a C3 assessed chaser who lacks early pace; in saying that, he does own a tidy 30.01s best winning 520m time here.
10 Dyna Boomer $151 & $31: This bloke is out graded for this series, holding a current C3 grading.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup heat 5 contenders (from left): Ride Ain’t Over; Shantui; Sea Fever
Pawnote: In addition to the above heats, there are four greyhounds in the TAB Futures market who have taken up their NZ Prelude heat exemption options. Dirk Bale $6 & $2.10, Cosmic Odette $101 & $22, Nature’s Gent $14 & $4 and Cristiane Cyborg $14 & $4 will join this series at the semi-final stage next Wednesday evening.
By Peter Fenemor
