It’s an interesting field of open class greyhounds who will line up to contest the $6,000 Anniversary Day Cup at the Manukau Stadium during Monday’s Auckland holiday weekend meeting. Included in the field are two of the finalists from Friday’s enthralling Group 1 Hatrick Classic decider.
Pictured: Bigtime Paddy following his ultra brave nose Hatrick Classic second
Bigtime Paddy did everything but to win the Hatrick Classic having led the event for 519.5m of the 520m trip for his trainer Lisa Cole. It took the exceptionally smart greyhound Allen Ablett to dive bomb Paddy in the very final bound. It was a “small” nose margin called by judge Jack Cooper who studied the photo finish print for quite a while prior to making his call.
Bigtime Paddy was a big time Manukau 527m winner in October where he stylishly won the Waterloo Cup at Group 1 level. He will be jumping from trap eight on Monday which was the trap he exited from when he delivered his strong 29.89s Hatrick Classic 520m heat win from.
His kennelmate Me Jane is also a Group race winner this season after she recently annexed the Waikato Classic over 457m at the Cambridge Raceway. She won that Group 2 event when leading throughout and it is those same racing tactics she must use here when she leaps from the two trap for her Manukau track debut assignment.
Local trainer Denis Schofield is aiming a three prong attack on this feature event. Wearing the red racing vest will be the impressive recent New Zealand debut winner Nangar Rock. He achieved his smart 25.54s Cambridge 457m win from the one trap, therefore he looms as serious winning prospect from the same trap in his race day track debut outing here. He demands obvious respect here.
Zipping Arnold received no racing favours when he contested the open class 375m sprint at Cambridge on Thursday evening. He will be making his Manukau track debut appearance from the tricky five trap. He is a recent open class graduate and he bound up 5.75 lengths behind a race rival here Beautiful Boy over 457m when having his first taste of open class racing over 457m.
Completing the Schofield representation in this event is his litter brother Zipping Vito who actually chased home Beautiful Boy in that same Cambridge 457m event when finishing 2.5 lengths behind him. He has raced at the Auckland headquarters before and he owns a sound 30.39s best winning time over the trip. He will hop away from trap seven on Monday.
Jumping from the trap in between the two litter and kennel mates will be the current Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup title holder Nature’s Gent from the Angela Turnwald Foxton based kennels. He is also backing up from Friday’s Hatrick Classic final where he produced a bold fourth placing. His sole Manukau 527m outing resulted in a rather tidy 30.48s win for him.
Beautiful Boy has been delivering competitive recent races for his conditioner Ben Craik, along with his daughters Lisa and Tracy. Included in his current form line is his recent Cambridge 25.53s 457m win which was a preceded by his bold Waikato Classic third placing (to Me Jane). He owns a proven Manukau 527m record and his three trap draw says that he can take up a handy forward early position from where he can make his presence felt.
Completing the drawn field is the Peter Ferguson prepared Soaring Hawke who is resuming from a three month spell from the four trap here. She is picking on a handy overall field to return in, however don’t forget she is a dual Group 1 527m finalist at this venue.
Auckland Anniversary Day Cup contenders include from left: Zipping Vito, Nature’s Gent, Beautiful Boy; Soaring Hawke
Ferguson, who is enjoying considerable current success from his Cambridge kennels, also provides the second reserve Thrilling Billy. He has quickly charged through the grades and he did make an immediate when he made his open class debut three races ago when delivering his smart Cambridge 25.48s 457m win.
The first reserve Kava Blu will be returning from a spell if he’s required here for his trainers Wayne and Tracy Steele. He was last sighted back in October when he finished a distant 527m third to race opponent here Nature’s Gent. This noted railing chaser will be very grateful if he is provided with an inside trap to be loaded away if gaining race start here.
By Peter Fenemor
