The rush into the all-important first turn is likely to have a strong bearing on the race outcome in Tuesday’s $7,340 NZRS Novice final at Forbury Park. Five 545m heats held two weeks ago has brought together a field that contains a mixed blend of experience at the C0/1 level.
Pictured: Opawa Purdie delivering the quickest NZRS Novice heat time (pic Dave Robbie)
Greyhounds who qualified for the race 6 (1:46pm) decider have racing experience ranging from between 94 race day outings, down to just five race day appearances. The greyhound having just his sixth career race in this final is Opawa Purdie who returned the quickest of the heat times when running 33.04s.
He is a son of Fabregas and Opawa Rosie who is prepared by Dave and Jean Fahey. He controlled the pace throughout when delivering his heat win from the two trap. He must adopt the same racing tactics after jumping away from trap eight on Tuesday.
His kennelmate Peekay Shout won his heat in 33.27s. His racing style is the opposite as this son of Velocette and Opawa Peekay is generally sighted doing his best work at the business end of his races. He can be expected to be seen charging home late in this event.
Canterbury breeder and trainer Gary Cleeve will trek south with three contenders. Included is the stylish 33.07s heat winner Classy Witch. This daughter of Know Class and Know Witch found the line solidly when claiming her heat win. She went onto to contest an Addington 520m event, where she was involved in a tight battle for the minor placings, a fair margin behind the tear away pace making winner.
Know Leave, son of Dyna Tron and Know Which, took out his heat in 33.62s when he claimed the pacemaker over the concluding stages. He wasn’t the quickest away in his heat, however being provided with the one trap to jump from here can see him pushing up along the rail. It would pay to overlook his Addington 520m outing last Tuesday when he was denied racing room when going into the first turn.
Know Conclusion finished solidly when chasing home Opawa Purdie for his 2.5 length heat second. This litter brother to Classy Witch has been a Forbury Park 545m winner (33.74s) who was then badly impeded when racing into the first turn when backing up at Addington three days later. He created his own racing passage when he placed himself handy to the pace at the same venue last Tuesday which translated into his 30.75s 520m win.
Dave Kingston has been a long time industry participant and it was great to watch his charge Gorm The Great taking out his heat in 33.43s. This son of Gordon Bale and Black Emily was involved in a pace-making dual with Aroha which ultimately saw him gaining the upper paw during the run home to claim his heat win. He didn’t receive many racing favours during his pair of Addington 520m assignments since then.
Yes, Aroha set up the pace in her heat for her conditioner Ray Adcock, before yielding over the concluding stages to Gorm The Great when she stepped up in race distance. It was an eye catching effort that this daughter of Shakey Jakey and Alisaray used then and she is likely to have benefited from her first attempt over the Forbury Park 545m distance. She must use those same on-the-pace racing tactics after jumping away from the five trap on Tuesday.
Steve and Bonnie Evans provided a pair of heat second place getters. Goldstar Jagger brings volumes of racing experience into this final, with this being his 95th race. It was the strength that this proven staying son of Know Peace and Forever Loyal used that saw him advancing into this final when he finished solidly for his 2.5 length heat second to Classy Witch. He will be reliant on racing luck when looks to pick his way past his rivals over the later stages here.
Goldstar Chief occupies the first position on the reserves bench following the 4.5 length heat second that this son of Yella Mustard and Know Love Affair produced to Peekay Shout. He has contested a pair of Addington 520m events since then where he was contained in the midfield pack.
Homebush Boden boldly tried to lead his heat opponents all the way for his trainer John McInerney. It took Know Leave the greater part of the 545m journey to gather him in when this son of Cosmic Chief and Boostin finished up running a half-length heat second to him. He didn’t receive any racing luck when he was forced wide around the first turn when backing up over 520m later in the same week.
The other Forbury Park NZRS Novice heat winners were (from left): Classy Witch; Know Leave; Peekay Shout; Grom The Great - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
By Peter Fenemor
