It was a respectfully muted Matt Roberts who placed his greyhound Hypocritical on top of the Hatrick winners’ dais following the running of last Friday’s $15,825 Dash For Cash sprint final.
Pictured: Trainer Matt Roberts with his Dash For Cash winner Hypocritical
Muted owing to Roberts recognizing that his training success in the Group 2 305m final came when his charge benefited from the misfortune of another finalist.
Race favourite One Cold Foot made a brilliant start from the four trap for her conditioner Karen Walsh. She was blazing away for what looked like a comfortable race victory when she went amiss on the turn.
Capitalizing on the opportunity presented to him was the Roberts prepared first reserve Hypocritical who, along with Bigtime Stu from the Lisa Cole kennels, had made quick starts. The lead trio of sprinters had slipped clear of their rivals, aided by some of the inside drawn runners getting involved in some jostling during the vital early rush for positions.
Hypocritical pushed around the outside of Bigtime Stu to seize control of the sprint when turning in for the run home. He maintained his strong sprint to nail his biggest career win in 17.56s with the judge Jack Cooper confirming a length and a quarter margin in his favour.
Bigtime Stu kicked on solidly which saw him claiming the runners up prize by the same margin. In doing so this son of Collision and Allegro Lily earned the Breeders’ bonus payment which is awarded to the first Kiwi bred greyhound to finish in the Group race feature.
It has been a great three week period for northern trainer Hayley Mullane and her sprinter Highland Laddie who backed up his tidy The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint second placing to finish third in this Black type event, when winding up another length and a quarter further behind.
Hypocritical with his trainer Matt Roberts and partner Sarah Clausen following his Dash For Cash victory; Sam Lozell handled runner up Bigtime Stu, while Marie Prangley (Hayley’s mum) once again returned to a Group race podium with third placed Highland Laddie
“I guess someone had to win it – I really feel for Karen. We were comfortably going to run second after my fella had put himself in the right place at the right time. He’s a strong dog over 305m and once he was handy to the pace I knew he’d be right in it. You can call this a bittersweet win for us.”
“I was over the moon when I got the phone call late on Thursday night advising me Hypocritical had a start in the final (from trap eight). I was slightly worried about him having to start from trap eight – it turned out that didn’t faze him when he jumped nicely and avoided the incident, which left him in front and he got the job done from there,”
“He had had some issues after tearing a gracilis muscle, then he had a setback when returning when had an altercation with another dog at home, which required him having to be stitched. I was able to get two races under his belt prior to this series where he really hit his straps. It was perfect timing for him (race wise) as he was getting right up there race fitness wise,” confirmed Roberts.
Hypocritical had always displayed ability as seen when he won nine of his first eleven career races. “He started his career with a hiss and a roar, but until now he hasn’t really kicked on with it which is similar to his litter mates Cawbourne Trixy and Cawbourne Buckle.”
Roberts then advised, “I’ll keep him ticking over now with the Denis Cole Memorial heats at Cambridge (December 24, over 375m) being his immediate target. He has raced okay up there before.”
Replicating his Hatrick Friday form on the northern track can see him positively building on his career stats which now stands at 15 wins, 13 minor placings and $27,486 in stake earnings from his 46 race day outings.
Oncourse patrons at the Hatrick Raceway on Friday evening were treated to an undercard of strong support racing to the two Group 2 finals where numerous stylish performances were witnessed. Here’s a pictorial round up from those events.
The meeting kicked off with the promising Angela Turnwald trained Blitzing Arbee winning the opening 305m sprint, seen here with her daughter Courtney; The Hatrick 305m track record holder Allegro Gun was next up who completed his 305m assignment in 17.38s with Brendon Cole being joined by owners Cyril and Robyn Evans; It was a strong effort that the Maree Gowan trained Thrilling Eddie produced to win the evening’s first 520m event – he’s pictured here with handler Arnie Clark, while a large group of his owing Wanganui East Bowling Club syndicate members were in attendance
Santa’s tip in the race 4 open class 305m sprint was Danny Dee who duly obliged when delivering the meet best 305m time when clocking 17.34s for Karen Walsh; Lisa Cole provided the C3 520m race trifecta, with Bigtime Caleb prevailing – he’s seen here with handler Ashleigh Howe; Lana Pearce returned her sprinter Cheap Shot Matty to the winner’s circle when he won his C3 305m dash
Last year’s Dash For Cash finalist Lover won his C3 305m dash for Angela Turnwald – he’s pictured here with some of his owning Lover Boy syndicate members, which includes Trackside TV presenter Liz Whelan (center), while Courtney Turnwald undertook the handling duties; It was the Lisa Cole kennel back at the winners podium again, this time with reserve Bigtime Flyer who took out the C4 520m event, pictured with Brendon Cole; Opawa Crystal was the stylish winner of the C4 305m sprint for Marcie Flipp, seen here with her and Opawa Racing kennel rep Josh Lane; It was Wendy Kite who brought the last race Santa’s pic winner Bigtime Thinker back to the podium who also was the fourth winner during the evening for Lisa Cole
By Peter Fenemor
