It’s all about the Kiwi bred endurance based canine athletes at Cambridge on Friday evening as they embark on their 747m marathon in the $11,455 NZRS Distance final. It’s tough assignment on this big, sweeping circuit which requires the contenders to draw deep on their stamina reserves.
Pictured: The now retired outstanding stayer Shandell after winning last year’s edition of the Cambridge hosted NZRS Distance final
Before we take a look at the contenders we have to throw in a trivia question here. When was the last occasion that an Arch Lawrence bred, co-owned and trained stayer didn’t contest a NZRS Distance final at this venue?
Here’s a look at the contenders for Friday’s NZRS Distance final.
Without being disparaging to her two contenders here, northern trainer Hayley Mullane is lining up what could be considered her “B” team stayers with her star kennel act Cristiane Cyborg being allowed to bypass this event. Pretty In Pink does provide her will sound claims here as this daughter of Piggy Back and Dee Kay Em checks out an extreme trip for the first time. She keeps on being sighted doing her best work at the business end of her shorter distance events. It will be interesting to see how she handles the extra distance here.
The other Mullane prepared runner is Wairoa Racer who certainly faces a tough task in this event with it being this son of Piggy Back and Who Bobby’s first ever attempt at any staying distance. Making it even tougher for him is him still being a maiden graded greyhound over all race distances.
The local Cambridge trainers will be represented by a contender with Peter Ferguson lining up his Plasterboard Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar finalist Electric Lotto here. This daughter of Texas Gold and Trident Lotto ran a real brave fourth, a neck away from third in the Silver Collar decider. Her sole career staying win came in a Hatrick 645m event. She isn’t renowned for her early pace however drawing the rail here is likely to see her pushing her way forward to position herself for a strong late charge to the judge.
Marcie Flipp is trekking up north from her Foxton base with her stayer Pacific Sunrise. She is proven at the extreme race distances, however this railing daughter of Dyna Lachlan and Sahara Storm was dealt a cruel blow when she was allocated the eight trap to hop away from here. She will be reliant on early racing luck as she attempts to position herself handy to the rail. She is one of only two open class assessed stayers in this field.
The balance of the field comprises of Canterbury trained stayers all of whom are bred and owned by the Opawa Racing team. Dave and Jean Fahey apply the finishing touches to Opawa Plum who has been contesting recent staying events over various distances. A glimpse into the claims held by this daughter of Barcia Bale and Opawa Secret over this 747m trip can be gauged by her powerful finishing second in the feature I Pave Concrete Sockburn Cup over the 732m trip on New Zealand Cup night.
The Robin Wales kennels provide the remaining three runners. Opawa Racer is the only other C2D assessed stayer in this field. This daughter of Winsome Opawa and Opawa Andrea illustrated why she holds her open class staying grading when she delivered her emphatic Ascot Park 630m win when completing her preparation for this final. A repeat of the effort will make her awfully hard to head off here.
Opawa Sophie is a litter sister to Opawa Racer who was sent over the Ascot Park 732m journey in her last outing prior to this assignment. She gamely chased the pace making winner for the greater part the trip then and she plugged on bravely for her third. She would have derived considerable benefit from that experience.
Peekay Shout had her first taste of the longer trips when this daughter of Velocette and Opawa Peekay kicked on stoutly for her 8.75 length fourth behind kennel mate Opawa Racer in that recent Southland hosted 630m event. She will strip a fitter greyhound following that outing.
Cambridge NZRS Distance contenders includes from left: Pretty In Pink; Electric Lotto; Opawa Plum
By Peter Fenemor
