It is entirely appropriate in the week that we remember our ANZAC heroes that we can use the adage of “Age shall not wary them”. On Friday evening at the Hatrick Raceway the ageless powerful stayer Ring The Bell will return to have another lick at Group 1 staying glory.
Pictured: The current Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar title holder Ring The Bell, seen here winning the demanding 779m race, will return to seek another Group 1 title in Wanganui on Friday
The Ray-Adcock-prepared stayer was back to his potent best when Ring The Bell ($3 – TAB Final Field, option 994) delivered his thoroughly professional Wanganui Distance 44.81s heat win over the demanding 755m trip last Friday.
“He’s a one pace dog who is such a true, genuine stayer and he proved that again in his heat. The harder they go early the better he will be suited as he’ll use his strength during the run home – he has the genetics to keep on running. He’s great and he’s on track for Friday,” said Adcock about the winner of $395,480.
“Unbelievable, that was a great win by the old boy. He simply loves his racing and I was so proud of him when watching win his heat like his old self,” said Glenn Prask, the manager of the Victorian based owing Four Frothey’s syndicate about their four and a half year old stayer.
Disco’s (kennel name) heat win sets up an intriguing looking final with the 45.07s other heat winner Dusty Gambler, who is prepared by Karen Walsh. Dusty Gambler ($2.20) has won all three of his staying races over 650m, 747m and now 755m since he crossed the Tasman. He jumped handy to the pace in his heat from where he simply outstayed his rivals when delivering his 3.25 length win.
“He had a minor injury and I had to ease his work load going into his heat. He has responded really well since then and I’m confident he’ll improve for this Friday as he has come through his heat perfectly. I was concerned about him being flattened from his heat, however he has pulled up as bright as a button. I’m still learning about him – he’s such a cool dude,” confirmed Walsh.
The two Wanganui Distance heat winners with Ring The Bell and his trainer Ray Adcock, along with race handler Dan Lane; Karen Walsh with her heat winner Dusty Gambler (pics Wanganui GRC)
Ensure that the nicely drawn Nitehawk Rose ($5.50) is included in all combinations from her kind one trap draw. The Bill-Hodgson-trained stayer will stick to the rail and she will keep up a solid gallop over the entire trip here as seen in her latest pair of bold 755m efforts. She backed up her prior NZRS Distance victory with her solid finishing 3.5 length heat second to Ring The Bell.
“I couldn’t be happier with her or her draw which means she’ll stick to the rail all the way instead of having to go looking for it and that can be sufficient see her turning the tables of the heat winners. She has come through her heat pretty well – in fact I couldn’t be happier with her,” suggested Hodgson.
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The owning Punters HQ syndicate will be hoping for some compensation with Vicky Keeping ($16) in this event after their charge Sheza Rippa was scratched from the previous evening’s NZ Oaks final. She is prepared for them by Dave and Jean Fahey, who have qualified four contenders here.
“I expect her normal race as Vicky Keeping will keep on whacking away all the way over 755m. I guess we’ll be looking for some trouble involving those up front to help her,” said Dave Fahey about the six length heat third place getter to Dusty Gambler. Incidentally her litter brother Simon Keeping was a recent strong Group 1 winner over 720m on Sydney’s Wentworth Park.
Translator ($12) just keeps on delivering strong finishes from her unsuitable wide draws. She is again afflicted by the eight trap in this decider after wearing the pink racing vest in her heat. One thing is for sure is this Fahey trained stayer will won’t flinch at any stage here.
“She just can’t draw a trap. She will maintain a strong run all the way, but how she’ll get down onto the rail is anyone’s guess,” Dave Fahey queried about his charge who finished solidly for her 4.5 length heat third to Ring The Bell. She had previously produced a bold second to race rival here Nitehawk Rose in the prior 755m NZRS Distance final.
Little Bit Funny ($26) gamely stuck to her task throughout in her heat when racing just in behind the pace setters. She pressed on stoutly for her 3.25 length second to Dusty Gamely. She must employ the same handy racing tactics after she steps away from trap seven. “Getting up onto the early race lead will definitely help her, but it’s hard to see how she can do that from her draw,” said Fahey.
Peekay Shout ($26) completes the Fahey representation in this final. He was sighted grinding away stoutly when he hauled himself into his heat fourth placing, 7.25 lengths astern of Dusty Gambler. “I expect a similar race from him with him plugging away during it. All four of our stayers would have benefited from their heat run and are pretty fit and ready to go,” confirmed Fahey.
Cristiane Cyborg ($11) adds a degree of intrigue into this final and she is likely to have benefited from her first taste of an extreme race distance for her conditioner Hayley Mullane. She caught the eye when she quickly improved her field position down the back straight, then when turning for home, she monumentality got tangled up in traffic from where she extended to claim her 4.6 length heat fourth to Ring The Bell.
“I liked her turn of foot going done the back, then she made a silly mistake later on. In saying that, she will be much better off after that run. She is as good as gold and I’m very happy where she is at the moment both physically and mentally. I think she can give them something to think about on Friday,” suggested Mullane.
Wanganui Distance final contenders includes (from left): Nitehawk Rose; Translator; Cristiane Cyborg
Bigtime Welldone ($31) is the first reserve for Lisa Cole. He occupied the midfield pack for the majority of his heat outing when having his second look at 755m racing after having delivered a similar race in his prior NZRS Distance final.
Gary and Sandra Fredrickson provide the second reserve Bigtime Lonestar ($41), who after showing up during the early rush for positions, also found herself held a heat midfield position. She did deliver a bold 755m debut effort the previous week when finishing third in the NZRS Distance final.
By Peter Fenemor
