Either Thrilling Carly or Thrilling Talk will lose their unbeaten race record at the Cambridge Raceway on Thursday evening – that is unless there is a kennel dead heat. Both promising greyhounds stylishly won their 457m heats for the $7,340 NZRS Novice final that will be decided during the meeting (race 6).
Pictured: Thrilling Talk who won his NZRS Novice 457m heat in a smart 25.72s
Both greyhounds are members of the talented November 2016 whelped Fabregas – Thrilling Ella litter, bred and raced by Gary Harding and mentored by Karen Walsh from their Tirau racing base.
It was Thrilling Talk who returned the quickest of the three 457m heats times from last Thursday. He has been to the races on just three occasions stylishly winning 457m and 527m Maiden races, then he cruised to effortless 457m heat win, clocking a tidy 25.72s. He is required to leap from the six trap in the final.
His sister Thrilling Carly has been just impressive during her four race career too date. She also delivered an easy heat win when she clocked 25.94s for her assignment. She had previously won two other 457m races, plus also her sole Manukau 527m outing. She secures the draw advantage for this decider after being allocated the one trap to be loaded away into.
The third heat winner Draxler arrives into this final on the other side of the race experience equation. Glennis Farrell applied the finishing touches to this son of Bekim Bale and Delusionist when he landed his first Cambridge 457m win in 25.99s, which came in his 82nd career race. He then headed up to the Manukau Stadium on Sunday where he took out a C1 527m event in 30.83s. He will be wearing the white racing vest for this outing.
The three Cambridge NZRS Novice heat winners with (from left) Thrilling Carly; Draxler; Thrilling Talk (pics Waikato GRC)
Drury trainer Gordon Wilson has his team of home bred Jetsun named greyhounds ticking over sweetly at the moment. Included is Jetsun Swan who boldly chased after the freewheeling Thrilling Carly when this daughter of Banjo Boy and Jetsun Flame delivered her 2.75 length heat second. She will exit from trap two on Thursday.
Jinja Liv provides Jared Udy and Denise Cottam with a finalist which came when this daughter of Swift Fancy and Jinjawinja completed her heat outing 8.75 lengths astern of Thrilling Talk. She achieved her heat second placing from trap one – on Thursday evening she moves out to the eight trap.
It was local trainer David Ray who produced the third heat runner up when his charge Snoopy’s Bro set up the pace prior to being hauled back in by Draxler by a length margin. This son of Exact Master and Working Twinkle is required to wear the blue racing vest in this final.
Opawa Velocette was sighted doing his best work at the business end of his heat when he pressed on for his 12.5 length heat third behind Thrilling Talk. This son of Velocette and Winsome Uno is prepared from the inform Wayne and Tracy Steele kennels. He hasn’t been provided with any favours here after being allocated the five trap to contend with.
Steve Clark provides the remaining drawn finalist with Opawa Loyal who gamely stuck to his heat task which saw this son of Fabregas and Token Kay winding up 9.5 lengths behind Draxler. He delivered his heat placing from the seven trap and he’ll be exiting from the same trap in this final.
Cambridge NZRS Novice finalists includes (from left): Jinja Liv; Opawa Velocette; Opawa Loyal
Foxton conditioner Marcie Flipp provides the first reserve with Zara Zara after this son of Winsome Opawa and Opawa Zara settled just in behind the early pace being set by Thrilling Carly which led to his 12.25 length heat third to her. He then lined up at the Manawatu Raceway on Monday afternoon where he delivered an on the pace 1.75 length 375m second.
Bigtime Jacob is these days being mentored in the north by Halley Mullane. The son of Jarvis Bale and Real Clever was the quickest of the heat fourth place getters, earning him the second reserve possie. He missed direct entry into the drawn field when he yielded third place in his heat by a head margin when he was dive bombed late Opawa Velocette. .
By Peter Fenemor
