It certainly isn’t a surprise to see the Lisa Cole kennels providing nine of the ten listed runners for Friday’s $11,470 NZRS Advanced final. Her locally bred kennel runners dominated the two 520m heats held last Friday.
Pictured: Once again the Lisa Cole prepared Bigtime Paddy will start was a warm favourite in a Hatrick feature 520m race final
It was the “Bigtime” kennel star Bigtime Paddy ($1.90 TAB Final Field, option 991) who easily returned the fastest of the two heat times when he slipped through his assignment in a swift 29.92s. This son of Kilty Lad and Romberg Lass achieved that after leaping from the five trap – he’s required to exit from that trap again in the decider.
The concern for him on Friday is his kennelmate Bigtime Wendle ($9), who tends to move out wide, drawing on his immediate inside. It was an astute and what turned into a winning move by Bigtime Paddy in his heat when Bigtime Wendle moved out after jumping from trap three. Paddy ducked in behind her hind paws during those initial strides which resulted in him securing a clear racing passage into the first turn. Very smart racing tactics indeed, which he must replicate in this event in order to secure his 38th career win here.
After making her right hand turn, Bigtime Wendle undertook the pace making duties down the back straight until this daughter of Fabregas and Allegro Star was firstly passed by Bigtime Paddy and then by Bigtime Tears when she wound up a 3.75 length third. She is capable of securing another podium possie in this event.
Bigtime Tears ($6) has developed into a more than handy chaser at the elite level. We saw that when this daughter of Fabregas and Marlisa secured her recent NZ Breeders’ Stakes victory at Group 1 level, when she led home Bigtime Paddy. She owns sufficient early pace to make her presence felt after jumping from trap seven here. Completely overlook her Manawatu Raceway 457m Monday miss where she was the victim of a luckless racing passage.
Finishing fourth in Bigtime Paddy’s heat, 13 lengths astern of him, was the only outsider in this field Idol Tom ($10). Completely overlook the heavy margin that this Marcie Flipp prepared son of Fabregas and Idol Girl went under by as it was a gutsy effort from him just to make it into this final field. He was all but wiped out in a first turn incident, therefore for him to pick himself up and qualify was a real brave effort. As expected he can be sighted rushing home at the business end of this event.
Friday Hatrick NZRS Advanced finalists includes (from left): Bigtime Wendle; Bigtime Tears; Idol Tom
Bigtime Twinkle ($12) stepped up to 520m racing after having advanced throughout the grades via a series of short course sprint wins. It was a tough grinding effort she produced after she settled just in behind the early pace which ultimately saw this litter sister to Bigtime Wendle prevailing in 30.51s. She is a likely improver following that effort, although she has no option but to jump straight onto the early pace owing to her eight trap draw here.
As usual Bigtime Levi ($8) was sighted finishing strongly for his three quarter length second to Bigtime Twinkle. This son of Spring Gun and Bigtime Karen had made a moderate start from the one trap and that is a potential worry for him in this final as he’s required to exit from that trap here. His stake earning claims here certainly cannot be lightly dismissed.
No Time Toulouse ($10) is also capable of delivering a podium finish, although her claims in being able to do so will depend on what she does after leaping from trap three. This daughter of Fabregas and Ocotillo owns sufficient early pace which can see her leading into the first turn. If she does so and if there’s any trouble in behind her, then yes she’s capable of enough of being able to sneak the win here.
Bigtime Liam ($14) didn’t make the best of starts in his heat from the two trap and he was impeded when racing into the first turn. From there he improved his field position throughout to finish up 2.1 lengths behind Bigtime Twinkle at the judge. This son of Magic Sprite and Hello Ello must break quicker from the same trap on Friday.
Occupying the first possie on the reserves bench is Bigtime Jason ($18) following his heat fifth placing behind Bigtime Twinkle. This son of Cosmic Rumble and Darlyne Ottey did show up during the early rush for positions when he angled inwards after exiting from trap seven. He has the ability to contest the pace which is a tactic he must use if he’s required here.
Bigtime OnFire ($31) is the second reserve which came via her heat fifth placing to Bigtime Paddy. It was a bold effort by this daughter of Bigtime Kinvara and Bigtime Karen after she was badly impeded in the same first turn incident that saw Idol Tom being checked. She then onto to deliver an on the pace 1.5 length Manawatu 375m C3/4 second on Monday.
Trainer’s Record Charge
It’s appropriate that we take a look at a possible looming national training record with this NZRS Advanced feature event being utterly dominated by Lisa Cole prepared home bred greyhounds.
Cole heads into Friday’s meeting with 768 winners for the current season listed beside her name. The national training record for a season is held by John McInerney who mentored an astounding 803m winners during the 2011/12 racing season.
That leaves Cole with 36 more winners required over the balance of this month to take the record outright. There’s eight meetings remaining between the Hatrick and Manawatu tracks which says that Cole has to prepare four and a half winners per meeting until the end of the month if she races her greyhounds solely within her own region.
It’s also worthy of acknowledging the kennel stakes earning record that Cole as already achieved. Prior to Wednesday’s Hatrick meeting Cole trained greyhounds had accumulated $1,953,840 in stakes, leaving her greyhounds requiring $46,160 at an average of $5,770 per local meeting to crack the magical $2,000,000 barrier.
John McInerney is also enjoying a successful season as he heads into this evening’s Addington meeting having being required to salute the judge on 595 occasions this season. His kennel has won a tidy $1,157,321 in stake earnings.
(From left): Bigtime Paddy ($143,909 – 28 wins) and Bigtime Levi ($77,930 – 21 wins) has been the leading stakes contributors to the Lisa Cole kennel throughout the season, while the ageless Wheelchair Norm ($44,768 – 25 wins) is John McInerney’s leading kennel earner.
By Peter Fenemor
