A pair of Group 2 457m heats for the 2018 edition of the $15,825 Kamada Park North Island Challenge Stakes features at the Manawatu Raceway on Monday afternoon. A finish in the first four placings is required to return to contest the June 5 decider.
Pictured: Last year’s Park North Island Challenge Stakes winner Allegro Gun
Here’s a look at the heat contenders with their respective TAB Futures quotes – Win option1971, Top Three option 1972
Kamada Park North Island Challenge Stakes, heat 1 race 11
1 Cawbourne Palmer $18 & $4.75: He gained his open class racing stripes when he delivered his strong 26.38s C4 457m win last Monday. He raced handier to the pace in that event which is a tactic he must use in this heat (he raced in a C4 520m at Hatrick on Friday).
2 Bigtime Tears $12 & $3.70: She was run down by half a length by Cawbourne Palmer over 457m last week when she was running out her C4 noms which followed her smart 29.98s Hatrick 520m win the previous Friday (she raced in a C4/5 520m at Hatrick on Friday).
3 Bigtime Vanessa $12 & $3.70: She stylishly won the Group 2 Palmerston North Gold Cup over 457m at this venue in late March. She is a competitive chaser around this circuit and she holds sound advancement claims in this heat.
4 Spare Some Time $31 & $8: This Group 1 520m winner from last season must jump away smartly here if he wishes to return to contest the final after he made an early mistake at trap rise in his last 457m outing here (he raced in a C4/5 520m at Hatrick on Friday).
5 Party Every Day $14 & $4: This former Australian chaser adds interest to this heat by making his NZ debut race here. His owners raced last year’s North Island Challenge Stakes favourite American Warrior. He won on The Meadows (Melbourne) track over 525m in 30.40s two races ago.
6 Ridin’ Shotgun $7 & $2.30: Completely forget about his miss in last Monday’s open class 457m event when he was severely impeded on the turn. He was a powerful 25.61s Cambridge 457m winner in his previous race.
7 Bigtime Brucie $14 & $4.25: He prepped for this series by contesting a pair of 660m and 645m races, being unplaced. He has had a brief freshen up since then which may assist to jump quicker than what he has been.
8 Bigtime Levi $7 & $2.30: He’s bringing solid current 520m and 457m form into this heat. Included is his outstanding 25.89s 457m win at this venue three races ago. He is provided with swooping claims from out here.
Reserves
9 Caveman Sam $41 & $11: He found himself held in the midfield pack throughout when he stepped up to C4 racing over 457m last Monday. He’s giving a slice of class to open class chasers here.
10 Me Jane $26 & $7: She’s a C4 graded chaser these days. She won the Group 2 Waikato Classic over 457m in early January on the similarly shaped Cambridge Raceway (she raced in a C4/5 520m at Hatrick on Friday).
Kamada Park North Island Challenge Stakes heat 1 contenders includes (from left): Bigtime Tears; Ridin’ Shotgun; Bigtime Levi
Kamada Park North Island Challenge Stakes, heat 2 - race 12
1 Bigtime Lily $16 & $4.50: She’s a recent arrival into the C4 chasing ranks following her 26.51s C2/3 457m win last Monday. Remember she has contested two recent Restricted Age finals at Group 1 level (she raced in a C2/3 520m at Hatrick on Friday).
2 Bigtime Doug $18 & $5.20: He has been mixing his recent race distances. The best indicator he has here was his bold three length 457m second to the proven Bigtime Paddy at this venue last Monday.
3 Bigtime Paddy $2.40 & $1.35: This dual Group 1 winning chaser requires no introduction here. He warmed up for this assignment by delivering his strong 26.19s 457m win here last Monday.
4 No Time Toulouse $31 & $8: She owns early pace which is an asset she must use as soon as the traps lift here. She wasn’t able to cross her rivals after she jumped away from trap eight last Monday (she raced in a C4/5 520m at Hatrick on Friday).
5 Bigtime Jason $26 & $7: He’s a proven chaser at this level who must step away smartly from the lousy draw he has been allocated here. He vied for the race lead when he raced against Bigtime Paddy over 520m two races ago (he raced in a C4/5 520m at Hatrick on Friday).
6 Cawbourne Trixy $21 & $6: She’s a smart chaser who was last sighted when she contested a Group 2 457m heat at Cambridge back in March. A competitive fresh up effort by her here certainly wouldn’t surprise.
7 Fusion Cronulla $18 & $4.75: She hasn’t enjoyed a great deal racing luck in her latest 457m outings here. She is a consistent and proven chaser on this track as seen by her handy 25.81s best winning 457m time.
8 Lunch Special $26 & $7: He tried to push forward during the early rush last Monday after he jumped away from this trap, but he wasn’t able to cross the inside traffic. He must do exactly that when the traps lift here.
Reserves
9 Caveman Sam $41 & $11: He found himself held in the midfield pack throughout when he stepped up to C4 racing over 457m last Monday. He’s giving a slice of class to open class chasers here.
10 Me Jane $26 & $7: She’s a C4 graded chaser these days. She won the Group 2 Waikato Classic over 457m in early January on the similarly shaped Cambridge Raceway (she raced in a C4/5 520m at Hatrick on Friday).
Kamada Park North Island Challenge Stakes heat 2 contenders includes (from left): Bigtime Paddy; Cawbourne Trixy; Bigtime Jason
By Peter Fenemor
