Pictured: The strong Wanganui Distance winner Dusty Gambler
Leading out from the Hatrick Raceway 755m one trap was the Bill-Hodgson-prepared Nitehawk Rose. That lead was short lived as quickly asserting his authority for northern conditioner Karen Walsh was Dusty Gambler.
Nitehawk Rose settled just in behind on the rail, which saw the Ray-Adcock-prepared Ring The Bell having to check himself as he also tried to secure the rail. Pushing forward wider out was Cristiane Cyborg for her trainer Hayley Mullane.
With a lap of the track to run it was Dusty Gambler who was bowling along in front, while Cristiane Cyborg created a fair degree of interest by positioning herself in a handy enough position to challenge. They were followed through by Nitehawk Rose and Ring The Bell.
It was the same order that was maintained down the back straight and while momentarily it looked like Cristiane Cyborg was going get herself into a close challenging position, it was Dusty Gambler who stronger kicked away to record his fourth New Zealand staying victory from as many race day outings for his owner Gary Harding when holding a two length margin over Cristiane Cyborg, clocking 44.52s.
It was a bold effort by the Ownagreyhound Breeding 1 owned Cristiane Cyborg in what was just her second attempt over the extreme race distances by this daughter of Bekim Bale and Nina’s Girl. It also ensured that her breeder Ray Amer received the $1,000 NZ Breeders’ bonus payment which is paid to the first Kiwi bred greyhound to finish in Group 1 events.
Nitehawk Rose kept up her solid gallop to claim her third placing a further six lengths behind, while the ageless Ring The Bell maintained a sound gallop throughout to arrive home another 1.25 lengths further back.
Trainer Karen Walsh with her Wanganui Distance winner Dusty Gambler; Hayley Mullane with runner-up Cristiane Cyborg; owner Kim Frazer undertook the handling duties for third placed Nitehawk Rose
“Yes, I was pleased to see him begin so well and stay out of any early trouble although I don’t like seeing stayers leading all the way over a distance like 755m. However I would rather see him out in front, than caught up in any traffic. I didn’t relax until he won it, as I was especially concerned to see Cristiane Cyborg racing just behind Dusty – it was case of him holding her off.
“Gary was really pleased with him, especially as Dusty had an interrupted preparation heading into this race. We’ll now aim his prep towards the Silver Collar. He is getting stronger, however I want to give him a solid lead into it, but whether that includes racing or trialing remains to be seen,” advised Walsh who admitted, “I got lucky in securing Dusty for Gary. Seona (Thompson, leading Victorian trainer and friend), rang me saying that Dusty’s owner was looking to sell him – would I be interested (buying him). The answer was obvious!”
Mullane was ecstatic with Cristiane Cyborg’s gallant second placing, saying, “She gave it everything she had and then some. I couldn’t have wished for any better from her. She confirmed she can run out the longer distances, so now I’ve have to find a staying race for her to win, so at least she’ll get a Silver Collar heat start (she’s currently graded as a C0D stayer).”
Bill Hodgson is also Silver Collar bound with Nitehawk Rose. “She kept on running and she’ll do that all day. Rose will lap up the opportunity of being able to race over 779m,” he stated.
There was also a number of competitive races held on the Group 1 evening undercard. Included was the open class 520m event which saw the Lisa Cole mentored Bigtime Paddy carry on his winning ways when he finished strongly for his 30.05s win. It was a stylish lead in race heading towards this Friday’s set of New Zealand Futurity heats at Group 1 level.
Brendon Cole brought the inform open class 520m winner Bigtime Paddy back to the Hatrick podium; it was an open class training double for the Cole kennel when Bigtime Pink prevailed in the C5 305m dash, clocking the meet best 305m time at 17.51s. She is raced by the Bigtime Sophia Syndicate, which includes the Tetraplegic sufferer Sophia Malthus, who was introduced to her greyhound by Craig and Morag Rendle. Bigtime Pink is pictured here with handler Wendy Kite. Bigtime Thinker hopped into trap one from off the reserves for Cole to land her 17.71s 305m C4 win, while Cole also produced Bigtime Wendle to win her C3 520m assignment in 30.37s
It was great to see a number of trainers who aren’t regularly seen in the headlines securing race wins on a Group 1 night of racing. Veteran trainer Brian Hunt kicked off proceedings by producing his sprinter De Blonde to win the opening class C2 305m dash; Wanganui Chairman Brian Marsh is pictured here with the C2 30.40s 520m winner Rapper Tilly who he races in partnership with trainer Suzie Kite; The father and daughter training partnership of Gary Ross and Sarah Voyce has their C2 chaser Jinja Loren ticking over very sweetly, as seen with her 30.29s 520m win. Also enjoying training success on Friday evening was Carol Morris who produced her sprinter Kirkham Jasper to win his C3 305m sprint in 17.72s.
Tom McCracken brought back the other C3 17.71s 305m winner Cawbourne Dora for trainer Marcie Flipp; The current NZ Cup title holder Nature’s Gent regained winning form when he claimed the C4 520m race in 30.30s for his conditioner Angela Turnwald, while it was her daughter Courtney who returned with the last race C2 17.59s 305m winner Clover Victoria
By Peter Fenemor
