Allen Ablett really threw down the gauntlet to his rivals when delivering his powerful 25.30s $20,825 Farmlands Waikato Classic 457m heat win. It certainly was a stylish track debut effort. Earlier it was Quistis Bale who impressed when he delivered his sharp 25.38s Waikato Cup heat win, also over 457m.

Pictured: Strong Farmlands Waikato Classic winner Allen Ablett

It was an entertaining afternoon/evening of chasing action that unfolded during the twenty races decided at the Cambridge Raceway. The greyhound action was supported by an eleven race Harness card.

Yes, Allen Ablett was all class when delivering his heat win for Craig Roberts. He was made to work hard for his victory as it was the Lisa Cole prepared Bigtime Patty who set up the initial pace. He was real bold when he only yielded late to Allen Ablett by a 1.5 length margin.

The Ben Craik prepared Beautiful Boy had settled just in behind this pair and he pressed on stoutly to be rewarded with his heat third placing another 4.25 lengths behind. Claiming the final qualifying position from this heat was another Cole trained contender in Me Jane who arrived home next, the same margin further behind. Her kennel mate Bigtime Levi will occupy the reserves bench following his heat fifth placing.

The first of the Group 2 heats had seen Bigtime Caleb stylishly annexing his heat win in 25.60s for Cole. He had pushed forward during the early rush for positions from trap eight to chase the pace setters into the first turn. Kennel mate No Time Toulouse had set up the early pace, while the Steve Clark trained Pat Tama then took over when rounding the big, sweeping bend.

Pat Tama led into the straight, from where he was claimed by a length by Bigtime Caleb. Kicking on solidly in behind this pair was Not Time Toulouse who arrived home a further 1.5 lengths behind. Avenger Bale for Roberts dug in real deep during the run home, which resulted in him claiming a final field position for the January 5 final another three quarters of a length back. Cole provides the other reserve for the final from this heat with Bigtime Eve.

  
Farmlands Waikato Classic finalists includes (from left): Bigtime Caleb; Beautiful Boy; Pat Tama

Waikato Cup heats

It was Matt Roberts who produced Quistis Bale to scamper clear to deliver his effortless 25.38s Waikato Cup heat win. He was always in control of the pace when leading home a pair of Karen Walsh conditioned runners by 5.25 lengths. Light ‘em Jax, overcame some early jostling to gamely chase after the freewheeling pacemaker for his runners up possie. Ridin Shotgun emerged from an early midfield position to secure his heat third. There was 2.75 lengths between the kennel mates.

Westworld, who had settled in the rear group after jumping from trap eight, was sighted finishing stoutly another 2.75 lengths further back in fourth. Taking out the reserve positon for the final from this heat was Map My Run from the Lisa Cole kennels.

I t was a complete Cole and Walsh domination of the second Waikato Cup heat. Vying for the pace throughout was the Cole prepared pair of chasers Spare Some Time and Allegro Gun with the former prevailing in 25.69s by 1.75 lengths.

The ever resilient Timmy Trumpet will take his place in the $10,245 January 5 final. After settling in the midfield he pushed his way forward to complete his assignment a length further behind the pace setting kennel mates. Thrilling Raider was bold in recovering from an early hindered racing passage which resulted him winding up a further three lengths back in fourth. It will be local trainers Wayne and Tracy Steele who provides the reserve from this heat with Opawa Jimbo.

  
Waikato Cup finalists includes (from left): Quistis Bale; Spare Some Time; Light ‘em Jax

By Peter Fenemor