It’s $100,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup time again with the series getting underway slightly earlier this year with four NZ Cup Preludes being contested.
Pictured: American Warrior following his Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup victory last year
It is a great initiative by the Christchurch GRC to introduced NZ Cup Preludes. It is a system that is commonly used across the Tasman. Four preludes will be held around the country with the first two greyhounds to finish in each prelude being seeded directly into the 520m NZ Cup semifinals (November 8), therefore avoiding the need to contest one of the November 2 scheduled NZ Cup heats.
Preludes will be hosted this Thursday at Addington (520m), Friday evening at Hatrick (520m), the Manukau Stadium (527m) on Sunday afternoon and back at Addington (520m) next Thursday
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude (race 9) – Addington Raceway (520m), Thursday TAB Final Field – option 909
1 Opawa Timo $10: He became tangled up in traffic and was jostled when heading into the first turn, losing all claims in Thursday’s Robinson Rosebowl. He certainly will appreciate this improved draw.
2 Watta Gun $26: His Forbury Park 545m race last week was all over during the early rush when he copped a check. This recent C5 graduate receives an improved draw here from where he must push up onto the early pace.
3 Cosmic Odette $16: This girl owns slippery early pace which she used to win last season’s 520m NZ Oaks at this venue. She has no option but to use that asset to build herself an early race lead in this event.
4 Fair Pippa $4.50: There’s no denying her race fitness heading into the event following her stylish pace making 38.41s win over 645m last Thursday. She is just effective when seen racing over this 520m trip.
5 Opawa Brad $8: He’s fronting up after his professional 30.51s Robinson Rosebowl 520m win last week. He cops a tough draw for this assignment, however this bloke owns volumes of track sense to negate that.
6 He’s All Power $6: He didn’t receive any early racing favours from an inside trap in the Robinson Rosebowl. He’s better placed out here and this fella certainly can make his presence felt here.
7 Harry Fields $5.50: That was a bold one length Forbury Park 545m second he delivered last week after being checked during the early rush. He ran away and hid from his rivals when delivering his previous 30.33s 520m win around this circuit.
8 Shantui $2.60: He charged home powerfully for his Robinson Rosebowl third after being impeded during the early stages. He is going to enjoy jumping away from this trap as seen by his proven stats from this trap.
Reserves – 9 Letron James $15: He received no favours over the initial stages in the Robinson Rosebowl when he was denied early racing room. He can feature here from an inside trap.
10 Epic Dream $10: She dictated the pace throughout when she delivered her last start 30.41s 520m C4 win at this venue. She must adopt those same racing tactics if she’s required to race here.
Addington Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude contenders (from left): Opawa Brad, Watta Gun, Cosmic Odette
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude (race 9) – Hatrick Raceway (520m), Friday TAB Final Field – option 937
1 Bigtime Levi $5: He’s an exciting chasing prospect who is facing his toughest career test here. He’s generally a tardy starter however he owns a power packed finish. His draw may assist him
2 Bigtime Fred $6.50: He didn’t receive any racing favours when he was impeded from a poor draw in Monday’s Manawatu Cup. He has no option but to hop straight onto the early pace here.
3 Nitehawk Rose $10: Forget about her recent Manawatu 457m misses which came in strong fields. She owns a powerful finish and she’s likely to be sighted hitting the line strongly here. The small field size can help her racing style.
4 Mila Mila $16: She’s checking out the 520m trip at this venue for the first time after recent C5 305m and 375m sprints. Her only middle distance win came in Manawatu 457m Maiden event when she clocked 26.50s.
5 Box Vacant.
6 Me Jane $2.50: She strongly announced her arrival into the open class chasing ranks when delivering her pace making 30.14s 520m win on Friday. She has won all five of her 520m assignments around this circuit.
7 Bigtime MacDaddy $6: He was sighted making a fair bit of territory when finishing 7.5 lengths behind Me Jane in third place last Friday after making a tardy start. He can’t afford to use that tactic here.
8 Soaring Hawke $5.50: Northern visitor who has contested Group 1 races. She was completely luckless in her last start Manukau 527m outing. She owns early pace which we saw by her two races ago when she gamely chased after a smart local chaser over 520m.
Hatrick Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude contenders (from left): Nitehawk rose, Bigtime MacDaddy, Soaring Hawke
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude (race 11) – Manukau Stadium (527m), Sunday, TAB Final Field – option 938
1 Nature’s Gent $3: This litter brother to the talented Ridin’ Shotgun has drawn nicely for his Manukau track debut. His two bold 457m races since he crossed the Tasman suggests that he shares the ability that his Bro owns.
2 Soaring Hawke $9: She’s backing up from her Hatrick Friday NZ Cup prelude. She has contested two Group 1 527m finals at this venue and she has drawn to utilize the known early pace she owns from this trap.
3 Kava Blu $15: He owns the ability to contest the pace which is a tactic that this proven Group 1 winning chaser must adopt here. That was a stylish 30.72s 527m win he secured here two races ago.
4 Jimmy’s Rocket $17: He contested the recent Waterloo Cup final here where he delivered a sound fourth. He is a strong chaser who will tough out this assignment throughout the entire journey here.
5 Pat Tama $21: He has been sighted racing handy to the pace in his latest 527m outing here - he must do the same from this poor draw. He’s backing up from his Cambridge 375m Thursday afternoon sprint.
6 Cristiane Cyborg $2: Her connections will be relieved that she has drawn wider here. Expect her normal race to unfold here – slow during the initial stages, then watch her flick on the turbo chargers during the run home.
7 Beautiful Boy $9: He’s returning to 527m racing here following on from his luckless 318m sprint last Sunday. He led his C4/5 rivals all the way when delivering his prior 30.80s 527m win here.
8 Beaumont $18: He took on open class graded chasers for the first when, while C4 assessed, when he delivered his brave last start Cambridge 457m fourth. He has no option but to push forward during the early rush from out here.
Reserves – 9 Clockwise Rap $26: She’s a C4 graded chaser who has struck first turn traffic problems in her latest 527m outing around this circuit.
Manukau Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude contenders (from left): Kava Blu; Cristiane Cyborg; Beautiful Boy
By Peter Fenemor
