Wow! What an absolute quality field of greyhounds that will be loaded away into the Hatrick 520m traps for Friday’s $27,465 Hatrick Classic at Group 1 level. It is a field that simply oozes class as illustrated by last Friday’s three quickly-run 520m heats.
Pictured: Race day handler Georgie Cole with the Hatrick Classic heat winner Bigtime Paddy
There have been three Group 1 520/7m finals decided so far this season. Three different winners emerged from those events. Amazingly, those three race winners have been allocated the inside three traps for Friday’s decider.
Bigtime Paddy emphatically announced his return to top form at the elite level when he flew his heat assignment in a slippery 29.86s for his conditioner Lisa Cole. What impressed the most about his heat performance was the powerful manner in which the Waterloo Cup winner dictated terms to his opponents after jumping from trap eight.
Bigtime Paddy ($3.40, TAB Final Field, option 995) owns a stack of sub-Hatrick-30-second 520m winning times, with the best being a swift 29.79s. He will be loaded away into the one trap for the decider. “I reckon that was the Paddy of old last week and his draw now says it’s all over to him as he must punch up onto the pace from the one. If he does so, then yes he will be right in contention.
“We had to treat him with some antibiotics after his return from Melbourne, and what he has produced since then has been great. We’re happy with the way he has come through his heat,” advised Brendon Cole about their charge who understandably was the quickest to the back mark (18.34s).
Craig Roberts is trekking back up north with his pair of classy littermates Allen Ablett ($3) and Dirk Bale ($10). Both brothers impressed in the stylish manner they took out their respective heats. Allen Ablett produced a professional heat effort when he stalked the pacemaker prior to gaining control of his heat rivals during the run home when claiming his 30.05s heat victory. In doing so he had to steady himself when he came off the hind paws of the pacemaker on the home turn.
Last month’s Spion Rose Cup winner (achieved in a smart 29.88s) at this venue delivered his win from the five trap. On Friday he will be wearing the white racing vest. “I was really happy with his heat win, especially the way he responded when he got slightly held up on the final turn. He has developed into such a professional race dog who is really prepared heading into Friday,” suggested Roberts.
Dirk Bale made it four trap-one wins, from as many races from that trap, when he dictated the pace to his race rivals, striding to his freewheeling victory in a tidy 29.95s. It is his early pace that always makes him a sound prospect in his races. It is that tactic that he must employ when hopping away from the seven trap here.
“I was really stoked with the way he won his heat and even more rapt with the way he ran home, which tells me he’s getting stronger. His draw shouldn’t worry him as long as he displays the same early pace. He has come though his heat really well and is all set for his return back up there,” confirmed Roberts.
The two Craig Roberts trained Hatrick Classic heat winners Allen Ablett (left) and Dirk Bale seen here with Roberts’ kennel “transport manager” Bobby Blackburn (pics Wanganui GRC)
Nature’s Gent ($3.50) is the finalist that his opponents needs to be very weary of. There’s no denying his class, as we all witnessed when he delivered his power packed Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup victory for his trainer Angela Turnwald.
It is his tardy starting habits that he has been using since that will be the concern for him, which is the reason he has finished third in his last three outing since his withering 29.68s Spion Rose Cup 520m heat win. Put simply, if this bloke picks the jump, then he obviously looms as a strong winning candidate.
“His run last week was pleasing as it was his first race for a while and we thought he was a fair way off the mark (fitness). We were surprised at just how forward he was, although I didn’t expect him to bulls up the start as badly as he did. It is a concern that he has run into the back of others, plus also looking at going around them, instead of underneath them when he has the opportunity of doing so.
“He has the draw, he has a speed dog drawn inside him, so hopefully he can take a sit on the rail handy to the pace. If doing so, then yes he has to be right in it, especially when considering there should be natural improvement in him after his heat. He has come through that in good style,” said Paul Freeman.
The kennel has also qualified Fusion Cronulla ($26) who bravely stuck to her task when delivering her bold 1.25 length heat second to Allen Ablett. She enjoyed jumping away from the eight trap then and she won’t object about being required to carry the pink racing vest again here.
“At least she has drawn from where she races best, as she’s more comfortable being out there. Realistically, there has to be a fair amount of trouble involving others if she’s going to feature here. She has come through her heat okay,” added Freeman.
The presence of any Karen-Walsh-mentored greyhounds in a Group 1 decider automatically commands respect. After all, she produced the potent greyhound Thrilling Boris to win the inaugural running of the Hatrick Classic last season, when he delivered a searing 29.56s 520m gallop.
Two greyhounds from the Tirau based kennels will venture south for this assignment. Thrilling Raider ($14) has been a competitive chaser at the top level for a long time. He stylishly confirmed that fact when he wound a length behind Bigtime Paddy in his heat or, in other words, he actually clocked the second quickest overall heat time.
Drawing trap four isn’t exactly where he wants to be as he’s a dead set railing chaser, who completely refuses to go around another greyhound as his trainer confirms. “Raider is so frustrating as he will sit behind another dog and just wait for an inside opening to present itself. I’m proud of what he has achieved and in him making this final. He is good enough to feature here, it’ll come down to what sort of racing passage he gets (or takes). He has pleased me since his heat,” said Walsh.
Right from his very first race day outing Ridin’ Shotgun ($12) has always stamped himself as an exceptionally talented greyhound. Fourteen races into his career, this litter brother to Nature’s Gent has yet to miss attending the post race podium. That says this recent Waikato Cup winner has every right to be respected in this event where he will be sighted wearing the green racing vest following his sound 2.25 length heat second behind Dirk Bale.
“He’s a fantastic dog, although I feel he’ll need a few favours in this final from his draw. It’s tough getting him race-fit as he continues to pick up niggles after each race. He’s never really been able to be fully work between his races – it’s a balancing act in keeping him sound, yet fit enough to race. Consequently he goes into his races slightly underdone, like he did for his heat after his Waikato Cup win. He is all good to go on Friday,” advised Walsh.
Quistis Bale ($18) has been maintaining a consistent run of form in strong competitive fields for her conditioner Matt Roberts. She did likewise in her heat here when she pressed on stoutly when winding up 3.5 lengths behind the freewheeling Bigtime Paddy. She hasn’t been provided with any favours here, being required to jump away from the five trap.
“Actually her draw probably isn’t that bad with Thrilling Raider drawing inside her. She normally holds a reasonably straight early racing line, although she can be a bit slow at trap raise. She has been running some nice placings in nice fields. She has come through her recent racing really well – the question for her hinges on where she settles early on. I’m picking she’ll need some early racing luck,” said Roberts.
Hatrick Classic finalists includes from left: Nature’s Gent; Thrilling Raider; Quistis Bale
Lisa Cole provides both of the reserves, with the recent Group 2 Waikato Classic winner Me Jane ($21) occupying the first possie on the bench following her 2.5 length heat third to Allen Ablett. Her greatest asset is her known early pace and it is that asset she must use if she secures a race start here.
There is no doubting the powerful finish that second reserve Bigtime Levi ($16) owns. It’s the sluggish starting tactics that he uses that’s a concern for him at this level of racing. He was the quickest of the heat fourth place getters when he was sighted finishing solidly 3.90 lengths behind Dirk Bale.
By Peter Fenemor
