The Manukau Sunday afternoon 318m sprint specialist Just One Smile scampered through her Denis Cole Memorial Sprint heat in a slick 21s for trainer Ben Craik during the Waikato hosted Christmas Eve meeting. Earlier it was the Dave and Jean Fahey trained Opawa Purdie who set the time standard from the four Ollie & Hazel Lawrence Maiden 457m heats when he clocked 25.76s.

Pictured: Just One Smile following her Denis Cole Memorial Sprint heat

It was the white racing vest worn by Just One Smile that was first sighted from the Cambridge 375m traps in the first of the Denis Cole Memorial Sprint heats. She cleared out for her easy 2.5 length heat win. Danny Dee ready stuck to his task to claim second for Karen Walsh and he held a two length margin over the third placed Hypocritical from the Matt Roberts kennels. Claiming the final spot for the $6,000 January 5 final was Birdie Tee for Ray Adcock who was a further length behind. Earning the reserve position from this heat was the Walsh prepared Thrilling Zap.

Winning the break in the second heat was the Roberts prepared Cawbourne Mezza who then proceeded to control his rivals when leading throughout to claim his heat win 21.17s. Zipping Gabby provides Walsh with a second finalist after she arrived home 3.5 lengths in second, while holding a quarter length margin over the Hayley Mullane prepared Bruce Banner. There was the same margin back to the fourth placed Lisa Cole trained Bigtime Jane. It was Raging Demon who finished fifth for Ross and Lyn Udy, meaning he’ll occupy a place on the reserves bench for the final.

  
Denis Cole Memorial Sprint finalists includes (from left): Danny Dee; Cawbourne Mezza; Bruce Banner

Ollie & Hazel Lawrence Maiden heats

Opawa Purdie cemented favoritism for the January 5 running of the nation’s richest Maiden greyhound race, the $6.000 Ollie & Hazel Lawrence Maiden final. He was the only heat runner to dip under the 457m 26s barrier when he clocked a handy 25.76s. He dictated the pace throughout when leading home Fancy Fox from the Denis Scofield kennels by a rather comfortable 11.75 lengths. Claiming third in the heat was the Jared Udy and Denise Cottam trained Hot Mayhem who was a further two lengths behind.

It was an upset result in the second heat which saw the Hayley Mullane trained Stensness, who after setting just in behind the early pace, extended nicely over the later stages to nail his win in 26.17s. Race favourite Thrilling Major was sighted doing his best work at the business end for Karen Walsh when delivering his heat second a length behind. It has been the Schofield trained Zipping Andre who had set the early pace before yielding during the run home when winding up a another 1.25 lengths in third.

The Thayne Green prepared Hitch A Ride confirmed his promise when he produced his 26.09s winning gallop to secure the third heat by 1.25 lengths. Lisa Cole trained maidens occupied the next two placings with Bigtime Serena leading home Bigtime Clyde with half a length separating them.

The final heat also went to the Canterbury region this time courtesy of the Ray Adcock conditioned Lord Louie. It was his second win for the week after having prevailed over 545m on Tuesday. Lord Louie completed his 457m Sunday assignment in 26.14s. Cole qualified another finalist via Bigtime Tears who was the next to greet three lengths adrift, while holding a 5.5 length advantage over the third placed Fancy Chap for Scofield.

 
  
Ollie & Hazel Lawrence Maiden heat winners (from left): Opawa Purdie; Stensness; Hitch A Ride; Lord Louie

By Peter Fenemor