The running of Sunday’s $32,780 Waterloo Cup was a race all about two contrasting racing styles - sheer early pace verses a power packed finish. Bigtime Paddy produced the early pace, while Cristiane Cyborg provided the rocket like finish.
Pictured: Bigtime Paddy with his Waterloo Cup trophy
The Waterloo Cup, which is the nation’s oldest racing trophy first contested for in 1878, has been steeped in intrigue throughout the centuries. It is unique in its format with four qualifying races being held at four different venues. Sunday’s Group 1 edition at the Manukau Stadium saw another colourful edition unfolding.
There is a cliché in greyhound racing that ‘box speed is gold’, especially at Group race level. On Sunday the box speed was supplied by Bigtime Paddy where he stepped smartly from the five trap. The Lisa Cole trained greyhound seized the early race lead to defy his rivals to run him down. They couldn’t.
Cristiane Cyborg wasn’t expected to be sighted anywhere near the early pace after being loaded away into trap one for her conditioner Hayley Mullane. She wasn’t. Her red racing vest was the last sighted from the 527m traps. Heading into the first turn and when moving out wide she saw the hind paws of all her seven opponents in front of her.
Heading down the back straight Bigtime Paddy had opened up the field via his freewheeling racing style. Heading the chase a margin back was the Peter Ferguson trained Soaring Hawke. Behind her and out in the center of the track we saw Jimmy’s Rocket in third for his trainer Steve Clark. Pushing forward and out extremely wide was the Dave and Jean Fahey mentored current Auckland Cup title holder He’s All Power. Cristiane Cyborg was nowhere to be sighted.
Bigtime Paddy was reveling in his work when racing around the final bend. He’s All Power led the chase at that point when in second, while rapidly improving her field position was Cristiane Cyborg. Bigtime Paddy set sail for home holding a comfortable margin.
Bigtime Paddy was to hold for his Group 1 victory, cutting out the 527m trip in 30.40s. He had employed the perfect set of racing tactics to achieve his victory. The run home produced by Cristiane Cyborg was nothing short of sensational. She flicked on a set of after burners, scorching home in a phenomenal last sectional when coming up just three quarters of a length short.
He’s All Power is no slouch whatsoever. He is also known to hit the line strongly. He was left 4.25 lengths behind in the slipstream of Cristiane Cyborg. And arriving home in fourth, a further 2.75 lengths astern of him was a gallant Jimmy’s Rocket.
At the end of the day it was a complete racing package delivered by Bigtime Paddy, who led home a New Zealand bred quinella, in the Group 1 event. The son of Kilty Lad and Romberg Lass, being an August 2015 whelp, was the youngest greyhound in the field by a considerable margin. He has it all in front of him, including all the big ticket Restricted Age races like the NZ Derby for example this season.
However Bigtime Paddy as a bigger assignment in front of him as his connections advised immediately following the Waterloo Cup. They will accept the prized invitation issued by the Melbourne based Sandown Park GRC for direct entry into a heat of the world’s richest greyhound race, the A$600,000 Melbourne Cup.
The Waterloo Cup winner Bigtime Paddy pictured here with (from left): Sam, Brendon and Georgie Cole along with co-owner Craig Rendle; Waterloo Cup runner up Cristiane Cyborg with Hayley Mullane’s mum Maria; Tracy Steele brought the third placed He’s All Power back to the podium
“A lot of emotion kicked in when I realized he won it. I had thought he was safe (winner) when he cleared out down the back straight. I knew he had to jump and it was great to see him doing so. He’s had previous track experience and that experience paid off for him today,” commented Brendon Cole adding, “This win was all about team work and it is a win for the team at home. They all work really hard, both family and staff. Without them I wouldn’t be here today.”
Cole placed a phone call to a training mate of his in Melbourne making preliminary inquiries about the Melbourne trip. “I’ll probably look at taking Allegro Gun and perhaps Bigtime Crackem over with Paddy. I believe those speed based Melbourne tracks will really suit their racing styles.”
It was also a very enjoyable afternoon for co-owner Craig Rendle (Lisa Cole is the other owner). It was his first taste of Group 1 glory at his home Manukau track. “This win is huge for me. I view the Waterloo Cup as our version of the Australian National series, with heats held throughout the country. He was the youngest dog in the field who had a top preparation for in. It’s huge congratulations to the entire Cole team, both family and staff. They really get stuck in and get the job done.”
Rendle is also rightfully excited about the Melbourne venture, saying. “I believe in ‘horses for courses’ with getting the right dog onto the right track and I believe Paddy with his box speed is the perfect dog to race at Sandown.”
For Cristiane Cyborg a possible New Zealand Cup campaign looms for her. “I’ll look at the options and speak with Adam (Smith, manager of the owning Ownagreyhound Breeding 1 syndicate). Emma (kennel name) was broken in on Addington so she knows the track down there. I’m absolutely stoked with what she produced today – she is truly amazing,” said Mullane.
However, Sunday was all about Group 1 glory for Bigtime Paddy. His 14th career victory took his stake earnings up to $55,820. He has placed a further 11 times, meaning he has missed attending the post race podium on only seven occasions throughout his 32 race career too date.
The full Waterloo Cup podium with Bigtime Paddy being flanked by Cristiane Cyborg and He’s All Power; Trackside TV presenter Elizabeth Whelan interviewing co-owner Craig Rendle
By Peter Fenemor
