It sure is an extremely evenly matched field that will parade to the Manukau 527m traps to contest Sunday’s running of the $7,340 NZRS Novice final. Three heats held last Sunday has brought together a final field where the winner is likely to be the greyhound who receives the cleanest racing passage.
Pictured: Lucky James, who returned the quickest 31.02s NZRS Novice 527m heat time
It was the visiting Marcie-Flipp-trained Lucky James who returned the fastest of the heat times when he completed his 527m assignment in 31.02s. It was a solid effort that this Opawa Racing owned and bred son of Winsome Bucks and Opawa Michelle produced. He punched forward to get handy to the early pace from trap eight, which he must replicate from the six trap on Sunday.
Maintaining the Canterbury based breeding theme in this final is the 31.08s Jared-and-Denise-Cottam-trained heat-winning Jinja Liv. The couple have only recently taken on the mentoring role for a new owner for this daughter Swift Fantasy and Jinjawinja. It was brave effort by her to qualify, let alone win her heat, after she received an early touch up when leaving the traps. She achieved her heat win from the seven trap and she’ll be wearing the black racing vest again on Sunday.
It was great to see the father and daughter training partnership of Ron and Nyomi O’Regan produce Blocker to take out her heat in 31.26s. She wasn’t required to run a block on her rivals as this daughter of Magic Sprite and Cosmic Pearl controlled the pace throughout from the ace trap when delivering her heat win. She moves out one trap for this decider.
It was good to see Tokoroa trainer Linda Martin qualifying two finalists whom she bred and races with her husband Mike with her pair of Peking Tom and Carmia Matanna litters sisters being sighted finishing solidly for their respective heat placings.
Wee Meredith will jump from the one trap, well at least she will exit from there as she isn’t renowned for her early pace. As usual she was amongst the rear group during the early rush in her heat which led to her being impeded. As expected she strongly completed her task when winding up a 3.75 length third behind Lucky James.
Manukau NZRS Novice finalists includes (from left): Jinja Liv; Blocker, Wee Meredith
Her sister Fushidara generally adopts similar racing tactics – slow early, then she charges home at the business end. That’s what occurred in her heat when she missed by the barest possible margin when finishing second to Jinja Liv. She will be loaded away into the three trap on Sunday.
Another who also isn’t known for any early pace is Midnight Daydream from the Ross and Lynne Udy kennels. Yes, he was the last away in his heat from where he gradually improved his field position, positioning himself so he could unleash his known strong finish. This son of Velocette and Space Race did exactly that when he closed to within a length of Blocker. He then headed down to Wanganui where he delivered a strong 30.74s 520m ANZAC Day 520m win He will be loaded away into trap four for this decider.
Red Dot Special owns the ability to contest the early pace. She must do that from her tricky five trap here. This daughter of Fabregas and Katcha Fire boldly chased after the pace making Aussie Joshy down the back straight before ultimately winding up a 1.5 length heat second to Jinja Liv.
Wayne and Tracey Steele completes the drawn field with Opawa Velocette who earned his place in this field by getting himself handy to the early pace after jumping from trap seven which resulted in his 2.5 length heat second to Lucky James. This son of Velocette and Winsome Uno moves out one space for the final.
Manukau NZRS Novice finalists includes (from left): Fushidara; Midnight Daydream; Red Dot Special; Opawa Velocette
The Steele’s provide the first reserve with Deception Diva occupying that position after this daughter of King Mick and Kiki Rhode wound up 1.75 lengths astern of Blocker in third place. She settled in the rear group from where she gradually improved her field position.
The quickest of the heat fourth place getters was the Steve-Clark-trained Aussie Joshy. Geez, if only this son of Fabregas and Token Kay would race closer to the rail. This noted wide runner would be winning many more races if he did so. For example he posted himself wide in his heat while setting the pace. He peaked late on his gallop when he finished a two length fourth to Jinja Liv.
By Peter Fenemor
