The final South Island Group race set of heats for the 2017/18 greyhound season will be contested at the Addington Raceway this Thursday evening. Included in the heat chasing action are two 520m heats for the $15,825 Barron’s South Island Championships at Group 2 level.
Pictured: Last year’s Barron’s South Island Championships winner Tom Tee
As per usual those heats has attracted strong, competitive fields which is a continuation of the spirited recent Addington Thursday open class 520m events. Here’s a rundown on those two heats with their respective TAB Futures market quotes – Win option 1963, Top 3 option 1964
Barron’s South Island Championships – heat 1, race 9
1 Must Be Rusty ($81 & $13): He is the current Dunedin and Invercargill Cups title holder who is likely to relish jumping away from this trap. He must jump onto the pace and hold the rail here.
2 Crotty ($81 & $13): He warmed up for this via his unplaced 645m outing last Thursday. His prior 520m second came in a C3/4 field. This is a tougher assignment for him here.
3 Egomaniacal ($6 & $2): He returns to his home track after his bold Manukau track debut feature 527m third. His prior 520m effort contained merit and he looms as a sound looking qualifying prospect.
4 Fair Pippa ($31 & $6): She finished third in last year’s South Island Champs final. She will approaching race fitness after having been sparingly raced lately. She owns the ability to contest the pace.
5 Umbridge Bale ($26 & $5): He set the pace over 645m when having his first look at a staying event, then he peaked late on his gallop last week. He was forced wide in his previous 520m race when he was running out his C4 noms.
6 Dave’s Dot ($26 & $5): It would pay to overlook her Thursday 645m miss. Her previous 520m form around here has been solid which includes her previous pace making C3/4 30.31s 520m win.
7 Allen Mack ($31 & $6): He was sighted doing his best work at the business end for his 6.3 length C4/5 520m third last Thursday behind his kennel mate Dyna Dave. That was a bold effort by a C4 graded chaser in a C4/5 field.
8 Dyna Dave ($2.10 & $1.20): He’s a freakish chaser as seen by his recent potent 520m wins around this circuit. Only bad racing luck from out here will deny him in this heat, however the great track sense he displays is likely to negate that possibility.
Reserves
9 Full Speed ($31 & $6): He’s a C4 graded chaser who has been finishing just in behind the place getters in strong recent 520m fields around here.
10 Opawa Rooster ($26 & $5): He has been contesting recent Group race events where his tardy starting habits has been letting him down. He certainly wouldn’t be the worse place chance if he races here.
Barron’s South Island Championships heat 1 contenders includes (from left): Must Be Rusty; Fair Pippa; Dyna Dave
Barron’s South Island Championships – heat 2, race 10
1 Panel Beater ($18 & $4): He warmed up this assignment by delivering a bold 645m second last week behind a strong chaser. His qualifying claims has been enhanced by receiving this trap.
2 David’s Legacy ($41 & $7.50): He has gradually worked his way up into the open class chasing ranks. He was brave when he tried to lead throughout in his last (May 10) C4/5 520m outing when he was run down late.
3 Rockstar Kobe ($41 & $7.50): This event represents an appreciable rise in class for him following his Thursday 30.67s C3 520m win. He must shave a few tenths off that time here.
4 Dirk Bale ($12 & $3): Completely forget about his luckless resuming 520m outing around here last Thursday. This bloke is proven at the elite level as seen by his pace making Auckland Cup 527m victory.
5 Dyna Vernon ($51 & $9): He got involved in a degree of jostling when trying to push forward early during his open class 520m debut outing last Thursday. He cops a tough draw for this race.
6 Opawa Timo ($25 & $5): He’s a proven chaser at this level, however he would have preferred drawing closer to the rail. His Thursday miss was over 645m where he was denied early racing room.
7 Tom Tee ($3.50 & $1.40): Last year’s South Island Camps winner commands obvious respect in this heat. His last start miss was in a Manukau feature 527m event where he received an impeded racing passage. He has compiled a super 520m record around this circuit.
8 Think Tank ($101 & $16): His lead in racing to this series has been in 310m and 390m sprints. His lack of 520m form, plus also trap eight form is a worry for him here.
Reserves
9 Full Speed ($31 & $6): He’s a C4 graded chaser who has been finishing just in behind the place getters in strong recent 520m fields around here.
10 Shreddin’ ($16 & $3.50): His current C4 grading is the reason why he’s sitting on the reserves bench. He’s capable of qualifying for the final if he gains a race start in this heat.
Barron’s South Island Championships heat 2 contenders includes (from left): David’s Legacy; Dirk Bale; Opawa Timo
By Peter Fenemor
