Queen’s Birthday Monday sees the Ashburton GRC occupying the Addington Raceway as the country club host their annual TAB meeting. As usual the $6,245 Garrard’s “Connie Smallbridge” Memorial Ashburton Cup is their feature event.

Pictured: Letron James winning last year’s Ashburton Cup (pic Dave Robbie)

The 520m race has drawn only a seven dog field, however what the line up lacks in numbers is certainly made up with a field that goes deep in quality. The current Addington 520m open class races has been absolute crackers and this event is a continuation of those competitive affairs.

Craig Roberts mentored Letron James to victory in last season’s Ashburton Cup and he holds a strong hand on this edition having accepted with two potent chasers. Dyna Dave has really come of age lately. Three races ago he skipped through his Hatrick 520m assignment in a swift 29.99s. After a traffic impeded NZ St Leger heat miss he then scored in a slippery 29.83s over 520m at Addington.

He defeated most of his Ashburton Cup rivals then and did exactly the same again when he thundered home to nail his 520m Thursday afternoon 520m win in 30 seconds flat. In doing so, he ran down his kennelmate Avenger Bale which in no mean achievement especially as Avenger recently ran an exceptionally quick 645m time around this circuit.

Avenger Bale requires no introduction here. He has been contesting group race finals and yes it was slightly surprising to see him going under by a half length margin to Dyna Dave on Thursday after setting up the pace. He owns the ability to push his way forward after jumping from trap eight on Monday and he can set up another paw wrestle by using that healthy tactic in this event.

Dave and Jean Fahey have three runners engaged in this event. Egomaniacal has really developed into a competitive chaser at the higher levels lately. We saw that when he delivered his first open class win over 520m here four races ago. He then went onto contest the recent Active Electrical New Zealand St Leger series. He proved to be competitive in the Group 2 series when running second to the talented Cawbourne Krusty in both his heat and also in the final. He then kicked on soundly for his eight length Thursday third behind Dyna Dave.

Opawa Timo was held in traffic when he returned to open class racing in Thursday’s assignment. He does own strength, however drawing the seven trap here certainly hasn’t enhanced his prospects in this event. Kennelmate Panel Beater ducked inwards when heading towards the first turn on Thursday which effectively ended his claims. He exited from the seven trap then – on Monday he receives an improved draw as he’ll be loaded away into trap one. He potentially can inject some value into the minors combo’s from his kind draw.

Tom Tee owns a stack of sub 30 second Addington 520m times for his conditioner Ray Adcock with his best coming in a smart 29.82s. He didn’t received any racing favours on Thursday when he was denied racing room going into the first turn. Posting 18 520m wins at this venue from his 28 races says he commands total respect here.

Completing Sunday’s line up is the Jason Dunn prepared Bookie Monster. He has recently attained his open class chasing stripes. He hasn’t picked the jump since he secured his C5 status which has led to traffic issues for him as seen in his Thursday outing. He jumped from the two trap then, which is the same trap from where he must make a better start from on Monday.

Garrard’s “Connie Smallbridge” Memorial Ashburton Cup contenders on Monday includes (from left): Dyna Dave; Egomaniacal; Tom Tee

By Peter Fenemor