Four more greyhounds earned exemptions from the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup heats over the weekend following the running of NZ Cup Preludes Hatrick Raceway and Manukau Stadium.
Pictured: Nature’s Gent, who was a stylish winner of the Manukau hosted NZ Cup prelude
Four NZ Cup Preludes will be contested throughout the country with the first two greyhounds to finish in each prelude receiving the opportunity of bypassing the November 2 first round of 520m heats for the nation’s richest greyhound race with the November 16 final at the Addington Raceway carrying a $100,000 stake. Those greyhounds can now advance directly to the November 8 round of Semi-finals if their connections choose to do so.
It was the promising up and coming youngster Bigtime Levi for Lisa Cole and the Peter Ferguson trained dual Group 1 finalist Soaring Hawke who picked up the go directly to the NZ Cup semi finals cards following the Wanganui hosted Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude on Friday evening.
There was an early sensation when the warm Cole prepared race favourite Me Jane dwelt at the 520m start which then saw her copping a decent check when attempting to improve going into the first turn, terminating her race claims. It was the Angela Turnwald prepared Mila Mila who won the break from the Hatrick 520m traps.
She led the field down the back straight with Soaring Hawke chasing her. Bigtime Levi improved after receiving a hindered racing passage when going into the first turn to advance his field position. Bigtime Levi has been sighted finishing powerfully during his lower grade 520m and 457m race wins and that’s exactly how he finished here when he was sighted hitting the line strongly to claim his prelude win in 30.14s and in doing so attained his open class racing stripes.
Soaring Hawke maintained her solid gallop to claim second a length behind with Nitehawk Rose rocketing home for Bill Hodgson for third another 1.25 lengths further back. Unfortunately an injury suffered by Soaring Hawke during the race will prevent her from advancing further in the NZ Cup series.
Wanganui Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude winner Bigtime Levi with race handler Ashleigh Howe; Wanganui runner up Soaring Hawke seen here with Wendy Ferguson (pics Wanganui GRC)
Manukau Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude
Drawing the ace trap presented the Angela Turnwald prepared Nature’s Gent with strong looking qualifying claims in the Auckland hosted Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude on Sunday afternoon.
He stepped away okay and after an early touch up he put a break on his rivals when rounding the first turn. From there it was race over as he cruised to his effortless track debut win, clearing out to win the prelude by an 8.25 length margin clocking 30.47s. It was an impressive effort by this litter brother to the real smart greyhound Ridin’ Shotgun.
What a performance the exciting chaser Cristiane Cyborg produced to claim the second prelude position! She was involved in what could have been considered a race ending first turn incident and was shuffled back into the rear group while also being shunted out wide.
Undeterred, the Hayley Mullane trained chaser knuckled down to her task, which saw her plucking off her race rivals one by one although she was still a forlorn looking qualifying prospect when rounding the final turn. Cristiane Cyborg simply rocketed home which saw her withering finish carrying her into second and therefore direct entry into a NZ Cup semifinal. Her strong finish relegated Kava Blu from the Wayne and Tracy Steele kennels back to third by a neck margin.
Manukau Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude winner Nature’s Gent seen here with handler Mark Smith (right) and Chris, who is one of the numerous members of the owing The Bookie & Us Syndicate; Cristiane Cyborg following her outstanding effort to claim her second
Pawnote: The fourth and final Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Prelude will be held at the Addington Raceway this Thursday evening (race 9).
By Peter Fenemor
