It’s a real stretch of the imagination to compare the dainty 25.6kg greyhound Blocker with her namesake Steve “Blocker” Roach who was tough, uncompromising Australian rugby league prop during the 1980’s. What can be said about Blocker the greyhound is that she owns a fair degree of determination and that’s where the “Blocker” comparisons ends.
Pictured: Blocker following her pace making NZRS Novice Sunday win
It was the early pace that this Ron-and-Nyomi-O’Regan-trained Blocker used to defy her opponents to run her down in Sunday’s running off the $7,340 NZRS Novice final. She displayed that asset when winning her 527m heat the previous Sunday and repeating those healthy pace making racing tactics which saw her claiming the biggest victory of her career, plus also for her trainers (although they rightfully rate their recent third placing in the Group 1 Railway Sprint with Obstinatus as their best training result).
Blocker is a member of the January 2016 whelped Magic Sprite – Cosmic Pearl litter, who was bred and is raced by northern trainer Denis Schofield, who therefore secures the major portion of the Breeders bonus dollars attached to this NZRS final.
Schofield is a keen follower of Australian rugby league, while Ron O’Regan requires no introductions about his Kiwi rugby league achievements. Therefore it was a logical move by Schofield to name the bulk of this litter with rugby league themed racing names when he turned them over to the father and daughter training partnership for their conditioning.
As mentioned, Blocker came away humming from the 527m two trap and she was never seriously challenged afterwards during her 30.95s gallop. Lucky James, who was the quickest of the previous week’s three 527m heat winners, gamely chased after the pacemaker for visiting trainer Marcie Flipp. This son Opawa Racing bred and owned son of Winsome Bucks and Opawa Michelle wound up 1.25 lengths behind Blocker.
The Ben Craik prepared Red Dot Special slipped just in behind the pace setters during the initial rush for positions and this daughter of Fabregas and Katcha Fire maintaining her solid gallop which saw her claiming third a further two lengths back for her owners and breeders, the Katcha Jordana syndicate. She shaded the Jared Udy and Denise Cottam trained Jinja Liv (Swift Fancy – Jinjawinja) by a head margin for that placing.
Blocker has now attended the races on 26 occasions, resulting in four wins and six minor placings adding up to just on $8,000 in stake earnings (excluding her bonus payment from this race).
Sunday’s NZRS Novice winner Blocker, with her breeder and owner Denis Schofield, along with trainers Ron and Nyomi O’Regan; runner up Lucky James and third placed Red Dot Special
By Peter Fenemor
