Pre-race discussions for Thursday’s Christchurch hosted NZRS Advanced final centered on the claims held by the previous week’s two 520m heat winners Tom Tee and Vikings. The pair of talented chasers certainly didn’t disappoint with both of them dominating the $11,470 final throughout.

Pictured: Thursday’s NZRS Advanced winner Tom Tee leading home Vikings (pic Dave Robbie)

The Ray Adcock prepared Tom Tee had delivered a slick 29.88s 520m heat win, while Vikings had recorded 30.28s when winning his heat for his trainers Dave and Jean Fahey.

On Thursday it was Vikings who won the break from the Addington four trap and this son of Barcia Bale and Jinja Power led into the first turn. Accelerating strongly to take up a handy forward position after jumping from trap seven was the son of Fabregas and Mini’s Fantasy in Tom Tee. From that point it sure was race on!

Vikings’ kennelmate Junk Mail from trap one, plus also Opawa Timo (Fabregas – Opawa Eye), who was wearing the pink racing vest, positioned themselves just in behind the leading pair. Streaming down the back straight it was Vikings who maintained a solid gallop with Tom Tee stalking him.

Slowly but surely, Tom Tee bridged the gap when turning in for the run home from where he put in the telling late bounds to claim his feature race victory by a 1.25 length margin. Tom Tee returned a rather sedate 30.51s (for him), although that time was more of a reflection on the wet track owing to constant rain. Three quarters of a length behind it was Opawa Timo who out finished Junk Mail for third by a 3.75 length margin.

For Tom Tee, it was his 17th career win for his owners and breeders Jose and Donald Arthur. It was his 31st race day outing and after adding in a further nine minor placings, now sees his stake earnings sitting at $51,615 (excluding Breeders’ bonus payments).

Right from the start of his career Tom Tee has always identified himself as an above-average greyhound. Breaking the Addington 520m 30-second barrier on six occasions (his best being his 29.88s heat win for this final) certainly confirms the abundance of talent he owns.

It hasn’t been an easy task of preparing Tom Tee for Adcock. However the astute Hall of Fame conditioner continues to apply his skills in bringing him back as a sound, competitive racing proposition. There is no doubt we will get to see Tommy teeing off from the traps to deliver more potent race victories in the future.

  
Tom Tee following his NZRS Advanced win and with from left Jordan Bryce, Dan Lane, Jose and Donald Arthur, Ray Adcock; The NZRS Advanced podium with race winner Tom Tee flanked by the minor place getting kennels mates Vikings (Dave Fahey) and Opawa Timo (Mark Lin) - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos

By Peter Fenemor