Palmerston North conditioner Bill Hodgson has steadfastly stuck to his long-held belief that the stayer Nitehawk Rose he conditions is right up there with the very best of the staying canine athletes. Last Friday night at the Hatrick Raceway the veteran trainer was rewarded for his perseverance when his charge powerfully won the $11,455 NZRS Distance final over the 755m journey.

Pictured: Wanganui NZRS Distance winner Nitehawk Rose seen here with her owner Kim Frazer following her earlier NZRS Advanced final victory

Hodgson had been actively seeking out staying races for the Kim Frazer owned stayer. She had endured a luckless Cambridge outing in the recent Theresa McDonald Cup at Group 2 level over 747m. Undeterred, Hodgson returned Nitehawk Rose to Hatrick to give her a lead in 520m race to complete her preparation for last Friday’s assignment. She was sighted finishing solidly in that event.

It was the Dave-and-Jean-Fahey-trained Opawa Timo (Fabregas – Opawa Eye) who led out the field of Kiwi bred stayers from the two trap. Slotting just in behind was Bigtime Lonestar, with this daughter of Blue Lorian and Lost In Light checking out an extreme race distance for the first time for her trainers Gary and Sandra Fredrickson. Nitehawk Rose was punching forward from her wide trap and she slotted into a nice handy rails possie, while Pacific Sunrise (Dyna Lachlan – Sahara Storm) had settled in behind her on the rail for Marcie Flipp. Settling in the rear group was one of the more warmly supported contenders Translator from the Fahey kennels.

With a lap of the track to run it was Opawa Timo who was freewheeling sweetly along, being chased by Bigtime Lonestar with Nitehawk Rose slipping underneath her along the rail to chase after the pacemaker. It was pretty much the same order down the back and it was while rounding the final turn when Nitehawk Rose railed underneath Bigtime Lonestar. Starting to make a significant forward move from the rear group at that point was Translator.

Nitehawk Rose struck decisively when turning in for the home and she cleared out to claim her feature staying victory by an effortless five length margin, clocking 44.95s. Translator had also secured a rails racing passage from where this daughter of Bekim Bale and Delusionist extend strongly to snatch the runner’s up prize by half a length. Bigtime Lonestar was real gallant when she kicked back strongly to shade Opawa Timo for fourth by the same margin.

For Nitehawk Rose it was a thoroughly deserved win for the Brent Johnston bred stayer. It was the second occasion that Hodgson had produced the 30kg greyhound to victory for Frazer in a NZRS final as it was back in September when she delivered a potent finish to annex her NZRS Advanced win over 457m at the Manawatu Raceway.

Nitehawk Rose will now be looking forward to hopefully contesting 755m heats (subject to sufficient nominations) back at Hatrick this Friday evening for the Wanganui Distance at Group 1 level. If doing so she can further add to the $47,519 in stakes earning that has so far come her way via her 14 wins and 24 minor placings from her 75 career race day outings.

 
Earlier pic of Nitehawk Rose with owner Kim Fraser and trainer Bill Hodgson; Mark Lin with Hatrick NZRS Distance runner up Translator who he bred and part owns

By Peter Fenemor