The $6,000 Peter Earley Classic has cemented its place as the main support race on the Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar race card. The feature 527m event recognizes the long association that the colourful northern greyhound commentator Peter Earley has had with the great race with Sunday’s edition being the 46th occasion he has delivered the commentary of the stamina sapping 779m staying test.
Pictured: Peter Earley with last year’s Peter Earley Classic winner Lochinvar Brogue who was handled by David Campbell
Sunday’s field features the presence of three Canterbury trained greyhounds. Ray Adcock is venturing north with his classy open class chaser Tom Tee. He has visited the Auckland headquarters on three previous occasions having contested the Amazing Chase, then he finished fourth in this year’s Auckland Cup. He brings sound Addington 520m form north with him and he certainly won’t be fazed about being required to jump away from the eight trap on Sunday.
The two Dave and Jean Fahey acceptors will both be making their Manukau track debuts. Egomaniacal is a chaser who quickly moved through the grades and he has quickly adapted to the rigours of open class chasing as seen by his bold recent Addington 520 efforts behind the current low flying Dyna Dave. He is compiling a consistent record from all traps therefore exiting from trap six here shouldn’t worry him.
Panel Beater has been held in the midfield pack in his latest Addington open class 520m assignments. Strength at the business end of his races appears to be his best asset, especially as he’s proven over the longer distances. He hasn’t received any favours after being allocated the tricky five track to exit from here.
Cawbourne Palmer is another track debuting visitor being from the Matt Roberts Marton based kennels. Geez, this bloke can make a complete hash of his race starts as seen when he literally walked away from the eight trap in his Tuesday Manawatu 457m outing. It was a massive effort he delivered to get up for his third placing. He does own a power packed finish although bombing the start from the one trap here will likely make life rather tough for him here.
That brings us to the four locally trained contenders. Zipping Vito will require a new trainer before he fronts up on Sunday from the kennel that won last year’s Peter Earley Classic. He brings solid Manukau 527m form into this event having won two races prior to him delivering his third last Monday when he was sighted running on. He didn’t pick the jump from the four trap then; he must do so from the same trap in this event.
The Ben Craik prepared Cameo Syd is just a youngster who has really quickly propelled through the grades. He has been compiling a respectable record over this 527m trip which he further enhanced when he sloshed his way around Monday’s rain sodden track when posting his pace making 527m win (no time was taken). He shouldn’t have too many concerns about hopping away from the seven trap here.
Very Choosy has also recently developed into a strong Manukau 527m chaser for his trainer Peter Henley. He finished resolutely from a midfield position for his Monday 527m second a neck behind Cameo Syd. His stakes earning claim, particularly if he can position himself handy to the early pace, in this event from the three trap cannot be lightly dismissed.
Uno Twenty Five is a Glenys Farrell prepared recent addition into the northern open class chasing ranks. He has won one Manukau 527m race and he has finished just in behind race rivals here Zipping Vito and Cameo Syd in his latest 527m assignments around this circuit. He warmed up for this engagement when he endured a luckless Cambridge 375m Thursday evening sprint.
Peter Earley Classic contenders includes (from left): Tom Tee; Zipping Vito; Cameo Syd
By Peter Fenemor
