The $15,825 Barron’s South Island Championship is a long established Group 2 Christchurch hosted 520m event that is always keenly contested by the open class 520m chasers. Friday’s line up (race 10) maintains the strong overall field that has characterized this feature event for many years.

Pictured: Dirk Bale delivering his 30.20s Barron’s South Island Championship heat win (pic Dave Robbie)

Two 520m heats held last week finalized the field for the decider which is dominated by classy greyhounds provided from two strong local kennels.

Craig Roberts qualified three runners, plus he also mentors the talented first reserve. His charges hasn’t drawn the best after being allocated the outside three traps. It was his Auckland Cup winner Dirk Bale ($2.80 – TAB Final field, option 993) who posted the quickest of the heat times when he scampered through his assignment in 30.20s.

He dictated the pace throughout when he delivered that win and it those same pace making tactics that will make him tough to haul back in in this final. He will jump from trap six, which is the same trap from where he produced his freewheeling Auckland Cup victory from.

“As usual I’ve come up with poor draws again for a Group race although in saying that Dirk Bale can take his draw out of the equation by starting like he did in his heat (from trap four). His sectionals then was real quick and I expect him to be a fitter dog for the final which says that he can produce a stronger run home time,” advised Roberts.

Rockstar Kobe ($14) really stepped up to the mark when he took on the top line chasers for the first occasion in his heat. After settling in the midfield he finished solidly for his 3.75 length third behind Dirk Bale. He had previously won a C3 520m event in 30.67s.

“I don’t think he is suited by his draw (trap seven). His race will come down to what type of early racing passage he receives. I had some early problems with him which has been sorted out and he’s a much fitter dog now. It will be interesting if he’s handy to the pace when he turns for home as nothing will finish stronger than him,” suggested Roberts.

Umbridge Bale ($18) also finished resolutely when he wound up just 1.25 lengths behind the other heat winner Fair Pippa in third place. He prepared for this task when he delivered his 645m third in his prior outing, while he has previously delivered competitive 520m races around this circuit. “He definitely isn’t suited to his draw (trap eight) on Friday. He’ll need a heck of a lot of racing luck from out there,” said Roberts.

And that brings up to the Roberts prepared first reserve Dyna Dave ($2.20) who despite that position is rightfully being treated with the upmost of respect by the bookies as seen by him maintaining his favouritism for this event. This owner of numerous sharp winning 520m times endured a completely luckless heat outing after he jumped from trap eight.

“He had terrible luck in his heat. He will be a huge chance if he gets a start in the final. He’s capable of picking up a dog like Dirk Bale if he’s a couple of lengths behind him at the back mark as he owns an electric run home time,” stated Roberts who also confirmed all his runners are all set for their Friday outings.

     

The remaining Craig Roberts prepared Barron’s South Island Championship contenders (from left): Rockstar Kobe; Umbridge Bale, along with the Ashley Bradshaw trained Crotty – pics Dave Robbie

The powerful Dave and Jean Fahey kennels provides four finalists with their team being spear headed by the 30.40s heat winner Fair Pippa ($5). She finished third in last year’s South Island Champs final and she showed she’s on track to deliver another competitive effort in this edition. She refused to flinch when she was hotly challenged during the run home in her heat. “If she jumps away okay (trap three) she’ll be right up there as she maintains one pace all the way as seen in her heat,” confirmed Dave Fahey.

Egomaniacal ($4.50) continues to deliver solid races and his heat effort was no different when he was sighted kicking on solidly for his three quarter length second to Fair Pippa. His on the pace racing style always makes him a stakes contender. He must adopt that healthy racing tactic from the four trap on Friday. “He’s racing really good at the moment and he has turned into a consistent dog who races good at Addington,” said Fahey.

Panel Beater ($5) receives a kind draw via trap two, from where he’s proven from, for this assignment. In his heat he boldly led the chase after the pace setting Dirk Bale, ultimately finishing 2.5 lengths behind him. He’s a versatile greyhound as was seen in his prior bold 645m second behind the talented Avenger Bale. “He ran another honest race in his heat. It’s a good draw for him and he can get some of it (stake) especially if there’s any trouble in it,” Fahey said.

Completing the Fahey trained representation in this event is the evergreen chaser Opawa Timo ($12). He continues to front up in big ticket races where he delivers competitive efforts. He did likewise when he earned his final field position when he was sighed finishing solidly from the rear group for his six length heat fourth to Dirk Bale.

This winner of $58,233 has to contend with trap five in this decider. “He never draws any good in his big races, however he always tries real hard. All of our runners are a hundred percent going into the final – there’s no problems with any of them,” advised Fahey.

That brings us to the remaining drawn runner who is Crotty ($16) who is prepared from the Ashley Bradshaw kennels. He has come up trumps by being allocated the one trap to hop away from after his 3.25 length heat fourth to Fair Pippa.

“He’s got a good draw this time. He did more in his heat than what we expected doing very well to make the final. He has good second phase speed and he’ll be okay if he uses that from his draw. He is looking really good for the final after he worked up good this week,” said Bradshaw.

       

The four Dave and Jean Fahey trained Barron’s South Island Championship finalists (from left): Fair Pippa delivering her 30.40s heat win, along with her kennelmates; Egomaniacal; Panel Beater; Opawa Timo - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos

David’s Legacy ($17) occupies the second possie on the reserves bench for his conditioner Mark Robinson. He displayed early pace when he led the initial chase after Dirk Bale before finishing in the midfield. His prior 520m effort contained merit when he was run down late by Egomaniacal.