A handy field of intermediate graded chasers will feature during this afternoon’s Southland meeting where they will contest their $8,400 NZRS Graduation final (race 9). Four competitive 457m heats held on Ascot Park in the middle of May decided the final field.
Pictured: Ascot Park NZRS Graduation finalist Dave’s Dot brings tidy winning form into NZRS Graduation final, seen here winning her heat (pic Dave Robbie)
The John McInerney Canterbury based kennels has been on a current winning spree, dominating the southern region Tuesday race meetings, while landing regular Addington winners. Team McInerney have now blasted through the 500 training wins for the season (525 winners starting Monday’s racing) and they have become the second kennel this season the crack the magical $1,000,000 stakes earning barrier.
McInerney has qualified five contenders for this final, spearheaded by the inform Dave’s Dot. She stylishly won her heat in 26.32s and this daughter of Cosmic Rumble and Memphis Hotcakes then went onto the finish a bold third in the Active Electrical New Zealand St Leger final at Group 2 level. She had won her heat for that series prior to contesting her Southland heat here.
Dave’s Dot has since easily won a C3 Forbury Park 545m (32.22s) then she delivered a strong pace making Restricted Age Addington 520m (30.19s) win. Dave’s Dot is generally sighted racing on the pace and she is provided with sound looking claims of being able to adopt those racing tactics from the eight trap in this decider.
Kennelmate Princely Gold controlled the pace throughout when this son of Fast Archer and Homebush Violet slipped through her heat assignment in 26.24s. He has been active since when missing next up over 520m in a C2/3 race at Addington. He then went down to Dunedin where he delivered a freewheeling, effortless 6.25 length Forbury Park C3 310m win (18.31s). He will be sighted wearing the green racing vest in this final.
The other three team McInerney finalists were heat second place getters. Cosmic Stu pressed on soundly in his heat finishing a length behind Princely Gold. This son of Cosmic Chief and Boostin’ hasn’t enjoyed a great deal of racing luck since his heat having had a pair of Addington C2 520m and a Forbury Park 545m misses. He hasn’t received any favours for this final, being allocated the tricky five trap to step away from.
Luciastar is a known strong chaser as seen when this son of Sergio and Homebush Iris contests staying events. In his heat here he kicked on stoutly for his length second to Opawa Abbie Joy, however he didn’t feature in his subsequent Addington 520m and Forbury Park 545m outings. He will exit from the seven trap here, which isn’t exactly his favoured trap.
Homebush Miles was involved in a torrid on the pace battle in his heat. It was this son of the resilient former chaser Homebush Chopper and Joyville who led his heat rivals around the big, sweeping Ascot Park bend and he kicked on gamely from there where he yielded by a neck margin to Opawa Brad. He then went onto to land a Forbury Park C2 310m win in 18.64s which was followed by an Addington 295m second when running out his C2 nominations. He will be loaded away into trap four on Tuesday.
Delivering their respective Ascot Park NZRS Graduation heat wins were (from left): Princely Gold; Opawa Brad (green); Opawa Abbie Joy - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
It was the Dave and Jean Fahey kennels who provided the other two heat winners. The evergreen chaser Opawa Brad finished resolutely when he nailed his 26.43s heat win. It was a solid effort by this son Winsome Opawa and Opawa Andrea when he posted his second Ascot Park 457m win. His recent outings has seen him delivering an Addington C2/3 second which was followed by a distant Forbury Park C3 545m fourth to race rival here Dave’s Dot. He will exit from trap three here.
Kennelmate Opawa Abbie Joy seized the race lead on the turn in her heat from where this daughter of Velocette and Opawa Peekay maintained a solid gallop to secure her 26.41s win. She has had one outing since then which saw her leading the chase home four lengths behind Dave’s Dot in an Addington C3 520m event. Her claims in this final was further enhanced when she drew the ace trap.
The Fahey’s also provide the first reserve with Opawa Tab, who finished a 1.5 length heat third to Princely Gold. However this daughter of Fabregas and Token Kay certainly won’t be making the trip down to the deep south as she’ll contest Monday’s transferred Auckland Oaks up at the Manukau Stadium.
The drawn field is completed by the Robin Wales prepared Opawa Robynann who boldly chased home Dave’s Dot when she finished 2.25 lengths astern of her in her heat. This daughter of Fabregas and Opawa Gem then contested an Addington C2 520m event where she wound up a 2.5 length third after racing handy to the pace throughout. She will be sighted wearing the striped racing vest on Tuesday.
It is the Wales kennel who provides the second reserve with Opawa Racer. She kicked on solidly in her heat when going under by a neck and a head margin to her litter brother Opawa Brad. She has since delivered unplaced Forbury Park (545m) and Addington (520m) races.
By Peter Fenemor
