The promising Dirk Bale and the pacey Cactus Jack received their go directly to the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup semifinals pass cards at the Addington Raceway on Thursday evening, which was also an evening of celebration for the Christchurch GRC.
Pictured: Dirk Bale winning his Addington Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude (pic Dave Robbie)
The fourth and final Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude saw the Craig Roberts prepared Dirk Bale seizing the early race lead after hopping away from the 520m seven trap. He was never seriously challenged when he cruised to his effortless 30.12s prelude win, scoring by a 3.75 length margin.
Cactus Jack slipped into the trailing position when rounding the first turn and that was where this Dave and Jean Fahey trained chaser remained throughout to book his NZ Cup semifinal possie. He had a length to spare over Harry Fields from the Ray Adcock kennels, who after overcoming some early jostling, found the line stoutly for his third placing.
Trainer Craig Roberts with his Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude winner Dirk Bale wearing the special 20 year commemorative Golden Muzzle. In attendance is Doug Schultz who for many years was the Canterbury OTB President; NZ Cup prelude runner up Cactus Jack with handler Katie Wyllie - pics supplied by Dave Robbie - drobbie@ihug.co.nz – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
Dirk Bale is a member of the very exciting Fernando Bale – Langi Bale litter that Roberts is enjoying considerable current success with. For example it was his litter brother Avenger Bale who returned the meeting best 520m time when he came out to deliver a slick 29.96s gallop in the race 10 C3 520m event.
That now concludes the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude series which sees eight greyhounds now being eligible to bypass next Thursday’s round of NZ Cup heats should their connections chose to do. The semifinals are set down for November 8 with the rich $100,000 520m final to be decided on November 16.
The Christchurch GRC hosted two 520m preludes with Opawa Timo (Dave & Jean Fahey) and Cosmic Odette (John McInerney) now being joined by Dirk Bale and Cactus Jack from their Addington preludes. The Hatrick 520m prelude saw Bigtime Levi (Lisa Cole) and Soaring Hawke (Peter Ferguson) advancing, while up at the Manukau Stadium it was Nature’s Gent (Angela Turnwald) and Cristiane Cyborg (Hayley Mullane) who secured their pathway directly to the NZ Cup semis from the Auckland GRC hosted 527m prelude.
Thursday’s Christchurch meeting celebrated 20 years of greyhound racing at the Addington Raceway. Accordingly, the bulk of the races contested carried the names of the greyhounds who had been declared the Canterbury Greyhound of the Year winners over that 20-year period. All race winners throughout the evening was presented with a specially made commemorative golden muzzle.
There was also special acknowledgement of the increditable 30 years that intrepid South Island race photographer Dave Robbie has invested in taking greyhound finish and podium photos. His weekly trek from his Invercargill home base to Christchurch, occasionally stopping off at Forbury Park, is nothing short of remarkable.
As commentator Trevor Wilkes, who himself is the veteran of 39 years of race calling, said during the Trackside TV lead into the Dave Robbie 30 Years Photography Sprint, “I wish I could have a dollar for every photo Dave has taken or a dollar for every kilometer Dave has driven.” Geez, Trev, you’d be able to buy the greater part of Christchurch (well not quite) if that happened!
Dave himself says, “I been through around twelve vans and estimate I’ve driven around 4,500,000 kilometers over the years. I use about $15,000 of diesel a year (that’s $450,000 over 30 years of driving)!”
So how photos has Dave Robbie taken over the years? “I have no idea – you can say millions. It’s all changed these day with digital cameras (he alternates between five cameras). It’s a lot easier now after the old days of film, developing and processing them,” he recalled.
Veteran South Island greyhound photographer Dave Robbie seen here in his normal stance taking a post race podium shot - something he has done on countless thousands of times; for a change it was Dave Robbie who had his pic taken with him seen here with Gary Cleeve after Know Hassle won the Dave Robbie 30 Years Photography Sprint; all Thursday race winners were presented with a special Golden Muzzle, which commemorated 20 years of greyhound racing at the Addington Raceway by the Christchurch GRC
By Peter Fenemor
