Amazing is the best way to describe the outstanding victory the inexperienced greyhound Cawbourne Krusty produced when the Matt Roberts conditioned youngster flew to her slick 29.80s Friday evening victory in the New Zealand Futurity over 520m at Group 1 level.

Pictured: Cawbourne Krusty following her astounding NZ Futurity victory

The Classic Age feature brought together the leading Restricted Age greyhounds from both sexes. The talented field of greyhounds was treated with total contempt by the two-year-old Cawbourne Krusty, who was having just her eleventh race day outing.

She rocketed away from the seven trap and she was never going to be caught once she easily secured the race lead when going into the first turn when delivering a 4.96s first sectional. She maintained her freewheeling, power gallop right through to the judge Jack Cooper, who was able to confirm her win when declaring a 3.5 length margin in her favour.

Idol Tom had produced a real strong finish to claim his place in this decider in the previous week’s heats. He did likewise for his trainer Marcie Flipp in this final when he rattled home in 11.27s (the winner came home in 11.40s) to claim his strong second placing. In doing so this son of Fabre Gas and Idol Girl annexed the $1,000 Breeders’ bonus that is awarded to the first Kiwi bred greyhound to finish in the Group 1 event for his breeders and owners Opawa Racing and Tom Rodewald.

There was a further 4.25 lengths back to the third placed Bigtime Tears from the Lisa Cole kennels. She had settled in an early midfield position from where she extended to claim her Black type placing.

There had been an early sensation when the Craig Roberts prepared second favourite Dirk Bale was an injury enforced late scratching just prior to the race. Then the race favourite Bigtime Paddy seemed to rock back on his paws when the traps lifted which resulted in both him and another favoured contender Avenger Bale being comprehensively squeezed up and denied racing room during the early charge for positions.

However, this race was all about Cawbourne Krusty and the demolition job she produced against her other six race rivals. As indicated it was just her eleventh race appearance for this Stu Dickinson, Australian bred greyhound who he part owns with Warren Bronson. Earlier she had contested the Group 1 The Fitz Sports Bar New Zealand Oaks final where she finished second behind another Dickinson bred and owned youngster Cawbourne Taber.

Cawbourne Krusty will now head back down to Addington where she’ll contest this Thursday’s heats for the Group 2 Active Electrical New Zealand St Leger over 520m. It’s a fair bet to suggest that she’s likely to expand on her career seven wins and four minor placings which has already contributed $34,020 to her owners during this forthcoming series.

  
Trainer Matt Roberts and his partner Sarah Clausen with their NZ Futurity winner Cawbourne Krusty; handler Tom McCracken was all smiles when he brought Idol Tom back to the podium as the runner up; while Bigtime Tears occupied the third place possie

By Peter Fenemor