It’s a competitive field of restricted age female greyhounds who will contest the $5,000 Auckland Oaks at Manukau on Sunday afternoon (race 12). The line-up is headed by the Matt Roberts trained recent dual Group race winner Cawbourne Krusty, although the other greyhounds drawn in the 527m event are more than capable of making their presence felt.
Pictured: Cawbourne Krusty who is the likely favourite for Sunday’s Auckland Oaks
Cawbourne Krusty trialed over 527m at Manukau last Sunday, clocking a respectable 30.57s in preparation for her track race debut. The New Zealand Oaks runner up arrives at the Auckland headquarters holding a C3 grading after having stylishly won the New Zealand St Leger (Group 2) and the New Zealand Futurity (Group 1) in her latest races. She has drawn nicely in trap two.
The powerful Lisa Cole kennel provides five Auckland Oaks contenders. Bigtime Wendle is her highest assessed runner, being open class graded. She attained that status when she stylishly won a pair of 457m and 520m races in her latest assignments. She secured those wins by setting the pace which is tactic she must use from her tricky five trap while having her first look at the Manukau track.
Cole also provides the C4 graded pair of Bigtime Lily and Bigtime Mia. Both greyhounds has had previous 527m racing experience at this venue. Bigtime Lily ran a creditable fourth in the recent New Zealand Futurity final after having previously traveled down to Addington where she was a New Zealand Oak finalist. She has since landed two Hatrick 520m wins and she will go to the traps on Sunday wearing the blue racing vest.
Bigtime Mia was required to contest a strong Hatrick C4/5 520m event in her last outing. Prior to that she contested Group 1 heats which also saw her racing in the Addington hosted New Zealand Oaks final. She will be loaded away into trap three for this event.
Securing the draw advantage via the one trap for this feature is the now C3 assessed Bigtime Eve. She dropped back in class after racing in a C4/5 (while C4 graded) 520m event at Hatrick in her last assignment. She does own early pace which is an asset that she must use from her kind draw.
Me Jane won the Group 2 Waikato Classic over 457m back in January, however she now holds a C3 grading. She has lined up in two previous Manukau 527m races. Her earlier career strength was her sharp early pace and must rediscover that skill when she exits from trap seven on Sunday.
Adding interest to this field is the track debut appearance of the Dave and Jean Fahey prepared Opawa Tab, who also is C3 graded. Her last start Addington 520m outing her saw her flying home late for her C2/3 520m second. Prior to that she wound up third in a heat of the NZRS Graduation series on Ascot Park over 457m. She has been a consistent place getter from trap six which is where she’ll hop away from in this feature.
The only northern trained greyhound drawn in the field is the C4 rated Denis Schofield prepared Nangar Dream. She has contested recent Cambridge C3/4 375m sprints which yielded her with minor placings. She has won over 527m (31.06s), while she has earned a stake in all three of her races from the eight trap (one win) where she’ll be loaded away into on Sunday.
Auckland Oaks contenders on Sunday includes (from): Bigtime Wendle; Opawa Tab; Nangar Dream
The reserves are both lower graded. The first reserve Jinja Bailey will firstly seek to improve on her C2 grading when she contests a C2 527m event during the Auckland Thursday twilight meeting for her trainers Jared Udy and Denise Cottam. Matt Roberts provides the second reserve with Cawbourne Zulu, who was a recent 30.56s Hatrick 520m C1 winner.
By Peter Fenemor
