Group 1 racing returns to the Hatrick Raceway on Friday evening with two heats for the New Zealand Breeders’ Stakes being decided over 520m with this event being restricted to New Zealand bred Classic Age greyhounds.
Pictured: Last year’s New Zealand Breeders’ Stakes winner Thrilling Flo
The first four finishers in each heat will advance to next Friday’s $45,420m final. Here’s a look at those heats contenders with their respective TAB Futures market quotes – Win option 1967 – Top 3 option 1968
New Zealand Breeders’ Stakes, heat 1 – race 6
1 Bigtime Lily $12 & $3.50: Completely overlook her recent miss in her North Island Stakes heat. Her kind draw here has greatly enhanced her qualifying claims.
2 Bigtime Caleb $16 & $4.50: He is a much better greyhound than what his current form line indicates which has been impacted on from poor draws. Receiving this improved draw can see him featuring at the business end here.
3 Bigtime Zack $26 & $7: Making a tardy start in his last outing in a C4 520m event proved to be rather costly. He cannot afford to make a similar start in this line up.
4 Bigtime Paddy $2.50 & $1.35: This chasing star overcame a moderate start to secure his Tuesday Group 2 457m second. He holds obvious qualifying claims, however he has to miss his railing kennelmate on his outer.
5 No Time Toulouse $21 & $5.50: She kicked on for her Group 2 Tuesday 457m fourth. It’s her hard railing tactics that is the concern for her and those drawn inside her. She can and she must use her known early sharp early pace at trap rise.
6 Idol Tom $10 & $3: This bloke has been Group 1 placed on this track. He is returning following his recent Addington 520m assignments. He tends to settled back in his fields from where he unleashes a powerful finish.
7 Opawa Rooster $14 & $4: He’s returning north following his unplaced Addington Group 2 520m miss. He owns an abundance of ability, however he tends to mix up his race starts. Expect him to finish solidly here.
8 Bigtime Brucie $18 & $5: He has been contesting recent Manawatu open class 457m events. His poor record from this trap is the major worry for him here.
Reserves
9 Opawa Tab $21 & $5.50: She strongly defeated the depleted Auckland Oaks field over 527m on Monday. She is giving away a slice of class to others here being a C3 graded chaser.
10 Zara Zoe $61 & $15: She will face her toughest career task if she’s required for her track debut here. Her current sound form has been in Addington 520m C1 races.
New Zealand Breeders’ Stakes heat 1 contenders includes (from left): Bigtime Paddy; Idol Tom; Opawa Rooster
New Zealand Breeders’ Stakes, heat 2 – race 7
1 Bigtime Liam $21 & $5.50: He was denied a clear racing passage when heading into the first turn in his last 520m outing here. He has drawn to create his own racing luck here.
2 Opawa Abby Joy $26 & $7: She ventures north after delivering her bold Ascot Park feature 457m race second on Tuesday. She is currently graded as a C3 chaser however her sound recent handy to the pace efforts has come from similar draws.
3 Bigtime Forest $16 & $4.50: He owns the ability to hop straight onto the early pace as seen from the 520m traps last Friday and his qualifying claims cannot be ignored owing to that factor.
4 Tyson’s Quest $14 & $4: He’s a recent addition to the open class chasing ranks in this region. He has shown sufficient while racing through the grades to suggest that he can help himself to a final field possie.
5 Bigtime Tears $10 & $2.50: She endured a traffic impeded Tuesday Group 2 457m outing. She is capable of contesting the early pace and she owns sound advancement claims by using that asset here.
6 Bigtime Levi $8 & $2.50: This bloke was brutal in the manner that he disposed of his rivals when winning Tuesday’s Group 2 457m event in a quick 25.75s. He blasted away from trap five then and he can do likewise here.
7 Kia Tere $21 & $5.50: This visiting chaser has no option but to place himself straight onto the pace when heading towards the first turn. His form from this trap is sound, however he’ll need to shave a few tenths of his best 520m winning time (30.62s) around this circuit.
8 Bigtime Wendle $18 & $4.50: She’ll slot away into this trap as the stylish winner of her last two C4 457m and 520m races. She achieved those wins by using pace making tactics and she must use those tactics from out here.
Reserves
9 Bigtime Craig $26 & $7: He took out a C2 520m event here last Friday in 30.48s which he backed up with his Manawatu Tuesday 457m second when running out his C2 noms. This is a tad tougher for him.
10 Zara Zoe $61 & $15: She will face her toughest career task if she’s required for her track debut here. Her current sound form has been in Addington 520m C1 races.
New Zealand Breeders’ Stakes heat 2 contenders includes (from left): Tyson’s Quest; Bigtime Levi; Kia Tere
By Peter Fenemor
