Thursday’s running of the $15,825 Active Electrical New Zealand St Leger final at Group 2 level looms as a potential family contest between father Craig Roberts and son Matt after they prepared 520m heat winners last week from their respective kennels. However the John McInerney training team kicked in to provide the third heat winner, while the stakes earning claims of the other five finalists cannot be lightly dismissed.
Pictured: Avenger Bale delivering the quickest of the Active Electrical New Zealand St Leger heat times (pic Dave Robbie)
Somewhat surprisingly Avenger Bale ($2.20 TAB Final Field – option 991) is the only member of the three Craig Roberts trained litter brothers who hasn’t so far tasted success at Group race level. Dirk Bale and the now retired Allen Ablett both have Black type titles listed beside their names.
Avenger Bale receives an opportunity of being able to join his siblings by taking this event out. He thumped his heat rivals when he cruised to his effortless heat win, easily taking the time honours via his smart 30.03s clock. Increditably Avenger Bale has drawn the four trap yet again making it the fourth occasion in his last five races (trap five in the other) that he’s required to carry the blue racing vest.
“Hopeless, I just can’t get a decent draw for him. Hopefully he does what he did from that trap last week and takes bad luck out of it. I’ll be as happy as if Avenger is sitting on the tail of anything that’s leading on the home bend – in fact I’ll be confident of him winning it if he is. He has worked up nicely since his heat,” confirmed Roberts.
Roberts has also qualified Dyna Bart ($21) for this decider. He gamely chased after the pace setting Dave’s Dot prior to losing the runners up position by the barest possible margin to the strong finishing Opawa Rooster. It was a bold effort by this C3 assessed chaser to make this final.
“Obviously he’s not as good as Avenger and he’s going to need a clear early racing passage. He is a strong dog and I expect him to be running on okay. His work has been good during the week,” added Roberts.
Matt Roberts produced the recent New Zealand Futurity winner Cawbourne Krusty ($2.40) to stylishly take out her heat in 30.21s. She also dictated the pace to her heat rivals when delivering her freewheeling win from the one trap. Don’t forget that this girl was the recent The Ftiz Sports Bar New Zealand Oaks runner up at this venue and drawing the two trap here certainly hasn’t harmed her winning prospects.
“I’m pretty happy with her inside draw, which should work out okay for her. She did everything right in her heat and I expect her to use the same tactics on Thursday. I’ve left her down with Dad for the week – he tells me she’s all peaches and cream for the final. Hopefully the old man has done the job right,” chuckled Roberts junior.
Dave’s Dot ($26) make it a hat trick of pace making wins from the heats when she completed her assignment in 30.49s for John McInerney. She then headed down to Ascot Park where she contested Tuesday’s NZRS Gradation heats over 457m where she stylishly completed her assignment winning in an okay 26.32s. She has won out in the box draw stakes, having been allocated the one trap to step away from.
“That’s a perfect draw for her – in fact she needed to draw there in that field if she’s is to have a shot at a stake, especially as she’s an on the pace greyhound. She is growing in confidence as seen by the way she won on Tuesday. She travelled back from Invercargill,” advised Jonathon McInerney.
Delivering their Active Electrical New Zealand St Leger heat wins are Cawbourne Krusty (left) and Dave’s Dot (pics Dave Robbie)
Dave and Jean Fahey are returning with a pair of contenders. Egomaniacal ($8) boldly chased after Cawbourne Krusty throughout when he finished 1.5 lengths behind her. He will be paraded to the traps with the black racing vest on. “He goes his best races around Addington and he’s a stakes chance if he comes out good, although it got tougher for him with that draw,” said Dave Fahey.
Kennelmate Opawa Rooster ($10) has tasted Group 2 520m success at this venue. He’s returns to contest this final after he was sighted finishing strongly to snatch his place in this field when winding up 1.25 lengths astern of Dave’s Dot. He has no option but to do everything right when hopping away from trap five on Thursday. “He has a poor draw here. I’ve been doing some box work with him during the week. He’s capable but it’ll depend on what happens from the traps. Both of ours are all good going into Thursday,” added Fahey.
Goldstar Ashton ($26) finished up leading the chasing pack home behind the disappearing Avenger Bale for his conditioners Steve and Bonnie Evans. He picked up a couple of placings over the later stages when landing his ten length heat second. His co-trainer isn’t overly rapt with his trap eight draw for Thursday.
“His draw certainly isn’t what we wanted, however you can’t do anything about that. He’ll need things to go his way and against others if he’s going to be a top three chance – he’ll go around with our fingers crossed. In saying that he’s a nice dog who has done a great job in qualifying for another Group race final. We’re really happy with his heat effort and he’s come through that great. He’s had an easy week leading into Thursday,” commented Steve Evans.
Ray Adcock qualified Invincible Sue ($21) to contest the New Zealand Oaks final here and he is returning with her here for this final after she kicked on resolutely for her 7.5 length heat third to Cawbourne Krusty. She owns the ability to contest the early pace which is an asset that she must use when she exits from trap three here.
“I guess at best third looks the best for her behind those other two. She’s a good wee dog who will give it all. She has worked up good during the week – all she needs to do is to put herself onto the early pace,” said Adcock.
Adcock also applies the finishing touches to the second reserve Lord Louie ($18) who settled just in behind the pace being set by Dave’s Dot. He kicked on from there in what turned into a blanket finish for the minor placings which resulted in him finishing 1.3 lengths behind the pacemaker.
Geez, if the Marcie Flipp prepared first reserve Idol Tom ($10) ever manages to place himself handier to the early pace, then this bloke will be winning plenty of races. The recent New Zealand Futurity runner up occupied the rear group during the initial rush for positions. Again he produced a whirlwind finish that carried him to his 12 length heat third behind Avenger Bale.
Active Electrical New Zealand St Leger finalists (from left): Dyna Bart; Egomaniacal; Opawa Rooster; Goldstar Ashton; Invincible Su - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
By Peter Fenemor
