Competitive Friday evening racing is assured during the four 520m heats that will decide the finalists for the $27,465 New Zealand Futurity at the Hatrick Raceway. The heats brings together the leading male and female Classic Age greyhounds, many of whom having just completed their respective Mike Stent Decorators NZ Derby and The Fitz Sports Bar NZ Oaks commitments.
Pictured: Spare Some Time after winning last year’s New Zealand Futurity
The New Zealand Futurity always ensures competitive chasing action, which was even more pronounced in last year’s edition when a rerun of the final was required after a fallen greyhound turned back into the face of the field necessitating the lure having to be pulled up.
Here’s a look at this year’s NZ Futurity heat contenders, together with their respective TAB Futures (option 1979) and Top 3 (option 1980) quotes.
New Zealand Futurity heat 1, race 6
1 Bigtime Mia $61 & $16: She’s returning here after contesting last week’s NZ Oaks final. She must push forward straight onto the early pace.
2 Bigtime Wendle $61 & $16: She has compiled sound lower grade 520m stats around this circuit, including her best 30.37s 520m C3 win here last Friday.
3 Kia Tere $26 & $7: Canterbury chaser who won his only previous 520m race at this venue in 30.62s. He’s a likely improver after that assignment.
4 Bigtime Caleb $31 & $8: He hasn’t enjoyed any recent racing luck lately. He’s an open class assessed chaser who isn’t the worse qualifying prospect in this heat.
5 Opawa Tab $41 & $11: She’s a C3 graded Canterbury visitor who has been tossed a rather tough draw to make his track outing from.
6 Bigtime Zack $51 & $13: He was held in midfield traffic throughout when he contested a C4 520m event here last Friday. He must get himself onto the pace going into the first turn.
7 Dirk Bale $5 & $2: Auckland Cup winner who set the pace, then was run down late by a classy type over 520m Friday. He holds obvious claims in this heat.
8 Edge Of Town $31 & $8: He has trekked north from his Canterbury base over the last two Friday’s to contest C4 520m races. He was completely luckless last Friday.
Reserves
9 Cawbourne Taber $51 & $13: She’s the New Zealand Oaks winner who is C2 graded, hence the reason she’s sitting on the reserves bench. Minors look best if racing.
10 Cawbourne Symsy $101 & $26: C2 graded chaser who is likely to be safely held if he’s required in this heat.
New Zealand Futurity heat 1 contenders (from left): Kia Tere; Bigtime Caleb; Dirk Bale
New Zealand Futurity heat 2, race 7
1 Opawa Rooster $14 & $4.25: His race start will decide his fate in this heat. He’s a Group 2 Addington 520m winner who tends to be hit or miss at the jump. He’s good when he hits.
2 Invincible Sue $61 & $16: She contested last week’s NZ Oaks final. She owns early pace which is an asset that she must use at trap rise here.
3 No Time Toulouse $18 & $5.25: She’s at her best when sighted contesting the early pace. She’s likely to apply that healthy tactic for a long way in this heat.
4 Dyna Dave $26 & $4.50: He’s an exciting Canterbury trained chaser who gained his C5 racing stripes when delivering his meet best C4 30.11s last start Addington 520m win.
5 Bigtime Paddy $4 & $1.75: He’s a dual Group 1 winner who warmed up for this mission when delivering his stylish 30.05s 520m win here last Friday.
6 Cawbourne Krusty $16 & $4.75: She was bold when finishing second in last week’s NZ Oaks final. She has clocked respectable lower grade winning 520m times on this track.
7 Bigtime Bucko $31 & $8: He’s a C4 graded chaser who lost all claims when he copped a decent early check over 520m last Friday. He must get handy to the early pace.
8 Bigtime Fred $81 & $21: He has been freshened since his February C3 457m and 520m misses. Drawing out here isn’t likely to appeal to him.
Reserves
9 Cawbourne Taber $51 & $13: She’s the New Zealand Oaks winner who is C2 graded, hence the reason she’s sitting on the reserves bench. Minors look best if racing.
10 Midsomer Magic $126 & $31: Being a C2 assessed chaser says that he’ll be giving a slice of class to others if he’s required to contest this heat.
New Zealand Futurity heat 2 contenders (from left): Opawa Rooster; Dyna Dave; Bigtime Paddy
New Zealand Futurity heat 3, race 8
1 Bigtime Phantom $61 & $16: He’s a C3 graded chaser who is resuming from a spell. He has been provided with a kind draw from where he has compiled a tidy record from.
2 Ask King Jeff $11 & $3.50: This bloke adds intrigue to this heat by making his NZ debut outing. He’s racing from a strong kennel which says respect him even though he’s C3 graded.
3 Shallay Pallay $8 & $2.75: He was dropped back to 295m sprinting which he stylishly handled to complete his prep for this event. Likely to strongly feature in his track debut.
4 Bigtime Eve $61 & $16: She owns a fair degree of early pace which suggests she can make things look rather interesting for a long way by using that asset from the traps.
5 Avenger Bale $21 & $6: This bloke owns a touch of class who must be considered here despite his poor draw and even though he has missed in his previous two 520m races here.
6 Tyson’s Quest $61 & $16: He’s a more than handy locally prepared chaser who has been racing handy to the pace in his latest C4 520m races. He must do likewise here.
7 Bigtime Forest $26 & $7: His biggest claim to fame was his defeat of Bigtime Paddy here four races ago. He used early pace then and he must do likewise in this event.
8 Bigtime Lily $26 & $7: She didn’t receive any favours whatsoever in last week’s NZ Oak final from this trap. She is capable of swooping around the outer back on this track.
Reserves
9 Cawbourne Taber $51 & $13: She’s the New Zealand Oaks winner who is C2 graded, hence the reason she’s sitting on the reserves bench. Minors look best if racing.
10 Cawbourne Symsy $101 & $26: C2 graded chaser who is likely to be safely held if he’s required in this heat.
New Zealand Futurity heat 3 contenders (from left): Shallay Pally; Avenger Bale; Tyson’s Quest
New Zealand Futurity heat 4, race 9
1 Me Jane $26 & $7: She didn’t enjoy her last start visit to Addington for her NZ Oaks heat attempt from this trap. Completely forget that and include her back at this venue.
2 Bigtime Craig $61 & $16: He pressed on soundly for his C3 520m second last Friday. He faces an obvious tougher task here, however his lower grade 520m form here is rather solid.
3 Bigtime Tears $51 & $13: She owns volumes of early pace and she can make her presence felt by using that asset. She owns a tidy 30.07s best winning 520m time here.
4 Lord Louie $18 & $5.25: He’s an exciting chasing prospect as seen by his emphatic last start C4/5 32.26s Forbury Park 545m win. Being on track debut is the only concern.
5 Bigtime Levi $18 & $5.25: He’s a strong proven 520m chaser around this circuit. He isn’t the quickest into stride, however he does own a power pack finish.
6 Egomanical $26 & $7: He endured lousy racing luck when he copped a decent check while making his track debut here last Friday. He was also stepping up to C5 racing then.
7 Idol Tom $21 & $6: He has proven to be a competitive 520m greyhound at this venue as seen by the tidy record he has built here. He also owns sound wide trap form.
8 Bigtime Liam $61 & $16: He warmed up for this event by delivering his C3/4 26.07s Manawatu 457m Monday win. He has no option but to get handy to the early pace here.
Reserves
9 Cawbourne Taber $51 & $13: She’s the New Zealand Oaks winner who is C2 graded, hence the reason she’s sitting on the reserves bench. Minors look best if racing.
10 Midsomer Magic $126 & $31: Being a C2 assessed chaser says that he’ll be giving a slice of class to others if he’s required to contest this heat.
New Zealand Futurity heat 4 contenders (from left): Me Jane; Lord Louie; Idol Tom
By Peter Fenemor
