The box draw for this evening’s running of the $45,420 The Fitz Sports Bar New Zealand Oaks over 520m certainly has thrown up a number of possible scenarios on how this Group 1 Blue Ribbon event is likely to unfold.
Pictured: Cawbourne Krusty delivering her New Zealand Oaks heat win (pic Dave Robbie)
Five competitive 520m heats held at the Addington Raceway last Thursday has brought together a talented field of female greyhounds who will chase after a once in a life time opportunity of winning a national NZ Oaks title.
Unfortunately the Dave and Jean Fahey prepared Sheza Rippa strained a hip support after producing the quickest of the heat times (30.15s) and she has been scratched from the final.
Marton conditioner Matt Roberts has given himself a decent shout of securing a first New Zealand Oaks title for his kennel after he qualified two finalists, plus his first reserve will now take up the vacated five trap.
Cawbourne Krusty ($2.60 – TAB Final Field, option 993) has made a great start to her racing career and she maintained that momentum when she seized the race lead when going down the back straight from where she scampered clear to clock her 30.17s heat win. She is likely to have to navigate a clear racing passage into the first turn. If doing so using her known strength down the back straight will see her making her presence strongly felt at the business end.
“I guess she’s going to have to do the ‘dirty’ work in getting herself up handy, as I was thinking that Sheza Rippa would give her a passage into the first turn. Yes, she went great in her heat, but you also have to remember that this is a massive task as she’s only had eight races (six wins). She has been going great guns, but it is the experience (lack) factor that concerns me. She has come through her heat really good,” confirmed Roberts.
Earlier her kennelmate Cawbourne Taber ($7.50) also displayed strength when she produced similar strong late race tactics to claim her heat win in 30.49s. She scooted around the outer after jumping from trap seven. On this occasion she’ll exit from the two trap.
“Her draw isn’t ideal, although in saying that it can work out okay for her if she can take up an early sit. She likes to use a bit of the track which we saw when she stayed out in her heat. I think after having looked at the track twice now will hopefully help her. She’s all set for Thursday,” added Roberts, who had brought his trio of NZ Oaks girls to trial around Addington prior to the heats.
Gaining a race start from off the reserves bench for Roberts is Cawbourne Taylor ($12). She booked her place there when she was sighted finishing solidly, 5.25 lengths behind Hilton Forabet. Prolific New South Wales breeder and owner Stu Dickenson certainly will be hoping he can go one better with any of his girls in this edition after having owned the NZ Oaks runner up on numerous occasions.
“Taylor’s future is in longer distance races, however I do expect significant improvement from her in the final. It’s probably best if she misses away slightly, then try to finish over top of the others for a minor placing. She has done okay since her heat,” said Roberts about his charge who will carry the nine racing vest in this decider.
The three Matt Roberts trained NZ Oaks finalists (from left): Cawbourne Krusty with Matt Roberts; Cawbourne Taber deliver her heat win; Cawbourne Taylor after her heat second (pics Dave Robbie)
The huge beneficially from the box draw is unquestionably the Ashley Bradshaw prepared Hilton Forabet ($3.80). She will be paraded to the 520m traps wearing the red racing vest. She has compiled a compelling record from that desired trap – five wins and a minor placing from her six previous races from the ace confirms that factor.
She owns early pace which was an asset she used to telling effect when she seized the early initiative to lead her heat rivals all the way when delivering her 30.35s win. Understandably her trainer is ecstatic about her kind draw. “I’m really stoked with her draw. No pressure, but I guess it’s over to her now to make full use of it.
“She didn’t have the best prep going into it (heats) so for her to pull away like she did and put in a performance like that was great to watch. Hilton is feeling really, really well within herself. She is all prepped up and ready to go,” confirmed Bradshaw.
Lisa Cole is chasing after the national Blue Ribbon Classic Age double after having mentored Bigtime Paddy to victory in last month’s Mike Stent Decorators New Zealand Derby final. She will be represented in this decider by two New Zealand Oaks finalists, after narrowly missing with a couple of other prospects.
Bigtime Lily ($5) ensured her return for the decider when she delivered her freewheeling effortless 30.53s heat win. Sure, her time may have been a tad slower than the other heats, however it was her on the pace racing tactics that impressed. She will load away into the eight trap on Thursday and she brings solid looking wide trap form into this final.
“I thought her heat effort was full of merit, especially as it was her first race down there. Her draw can work out okay for her and she travelled back home in good nick,” said Brendon Cole who remembers back to the 2013 edition of the NZ Oaks when Aeroplane Ritzy stylishly prevailed from the eight trap after she benefited from an inside melee on the first turn.
Bigtime Mia ($16) was bold when she gamely led the chase after Sheza Rippa which saw her kicking on soundly for her 5.75 length heat second behind the pacemaker. “She was bold in her heat and she’ll take improvement from that race. She also arrived back home in good order,” added Cole.
Hilton Forabet in full stride winning her NZ Oaks heat; as is Bigtime Lily; while Bigtime Mia will join her kennelmate in the final (pics Dave Robbie)
Goldstar Marvely ($21) snatched her final field position in the very final bound for her conditioners Steve and Bonnie Evans when she wound up three lengths astern of Cawbourne Taber.
“I’m very happy with the way she ran out her heat, however her draw (seven) is definitely not what we wanted. Realistically she will have to lead them out to feature on Thursday. With that in mind we have been giving her plenty of box work. She has come through her heat super so it’s all forward now to the final,” said Steve Evans.
Completing the drawn field is the Ray Adcock prepared Invincible Sue ($10.50) who was gallant when, after leading early, she knuckled down to her task when winding up 6.75 lengths astern of Cawbourne Krusty. “She’ll have to jump straight onto the pace if she’s going to feature in that field as there’s some strong dogs lining up in it. She is all good for Thursday,” advised Adcock.
Robin Wales provides the remaining reserve with Dream Kay ($14). In her heat she slotted in behind Bigtime Lily which resulted in her six length heat second to her. She does own the ability to race handy to the pace which is exactly what she must do if she gains a race start here.
NZ Oaks finalists (from left): Goldstar Marvely; Invincible Sue and reserve Dream Kay - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
By Peter Fenemor
