Absolute quality Group 1 chasing action is assured at the Hatrick Raceway after eight high class greyhounds booked their final field positions for Friday’s $27,465 Hatrick Classic after three swiftly run 520m heats held last Friday decided the finalists.
Pictured: Allen Ablett who is seeking back to back Hatrick Group 1 victories in the Hatrick Classic
Kicking off proceedings in the first of the heats was the series favourite Allen Ablett for Canterbury trainer Craig Roberts. He got himself handy to the early pace after jumping from the five trap. The recent Spion Rose Cup winner stalked the pace making Timma Turtle from the Hayley Mullane kennels down the back straight from where he asserted his authority to scamper clear for his 1.25 length heat win, clocking 30.05s.
Finishing stoutly, after hopping away from the eight trap, was the Angela Turnwald prepared Fusion Cronulla, while the recent Waikato Classic winner Me Jane kicked on soundly to claim third the same margin behind. That effort placed this Lisa Cole trained runner in the first possie on the reserves bench for the final.
Roberts loaded away Allen Ablett’s litter mate Dirk Bale into the one trap for the second heat which led to him making it four wins from as many races when he was sighted carrying the red racing vest. He controlled the pace throughout to deliver his tidy 29.95s heat win.
The Karen Walsh mentored Ridin’ Shotgun had secure a podium position in all 13 of his previous career races. He maintained that healthy stat by bolding chasing home Dirk Bale when claiming his heat second placing 2.25 lengths behind. Rattling home late just a head further back to nail a final field position was the current Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup title holder Nature’s Gent for Turnwald. Bigtime Levi from the Cole kennels booked the second reserve position for the final when he delivered his normal strong finish for his heat fourth placing, with him being the quickest of the fourth placed finishers.
The explosive early action in the third heat was provided by the Cole prepared Bigtime Paddy who fairly hummed away from the eight trap to seize the race lead when rounding the first turn. It was a bold freewheeling on the pace display Bigtime Paddy produced as he charged through his assignment to record the heat best 520m time when stopping the clock in a swift 29.86s. In achieving his win Bigtime Paddy took the Cole kennel stake earnings for the season through the million dollar stakes barrier, a remarkable achievement with the current season not ever halfway completed.
Thrilling Raider provides Walsh with a second finalist as he boldly stuck to his task along the rail when he finished just a length behind, meaning that he actually clocked the second fastest overall heat time. Quistis Bale maintained her current solid run of form which sees her being rewarded with a final field position when finishing 2.5 lengths further behind for her trainer Matt Roberts.
Hatrick Classic finalists includes (from left): Ridin’ Shotgun; Nature’s Gent; Bigtime Paddy
Bigtime NZRS Sprint Heats
It was a full on evening of heat racing as six 305m heats of Kiwi bred sprinters decided the finalists for next Thursday’s $8,400 NZRS Sprint final. The heats turned into a complete benefit for the Lisa Cole kennels as four of their home bred sprinters prevailed in their respective heats. She qualified a further two finalists, along with both reserves with those four kennel sprinters claiming the quickest second placed heat times.
One of the Cole kennel stars Allegro Gun set the time standard for the heats when he took out the first of the heats in a quick 17.36s. Kennel mate Bigtime Stu was the faster of the second placed heat finishers when he arrived home 2.5 lengths behind.
Bigtime Blackie was produced to easily win her heat in 17.57s by a comfortable 6.5 length margin. That meant that the Marcie Flipp trained runner up Opawa Crystal completed her involvement in this series.
The northern Haley Mullane prepared Highland Laddie maintained his solid current form at the elite level by pinging away from the five trap to lead throughout for his bold 17.52s heat win. Bigtime Ottey nailed the final drawn field position for Cole when finishing three quarters of a length astern.
Gary and Sandra Fredrickson will be represented in the final courtesy of Thunderation who led throughout to complete her heat assignment in 17.61s. Homebush Minnie, from the John McInerney kennels won’t be required for the final as she was a further 2.25 lengths behind.
It was back to the Cole domination for the final two heats where the promising Bigtime Narelle completed her heat assignment in 17.54s when leading home Bigtime Sugar, who will be the first reserve for the final, by three quarters of a length.
Wrapping up the heat action was Bigtime Jane who got up late to nail her kennel mate Bigtime Shaker by a neck margin. The 17.59s wining time means that the runner up will occupy the second possie on the reserves bench.
NZRS Sprint finalists includes (from left): Allegro Gun; Highland Laddie; Thunderation
By Peter Fenemor
