It’s a strong wrap to the 2017/18 racing season in the deep south with the Southland GRC hosting a competitive looking $7,340 NZRS Novice 457m final on Tuesday, along with three heats for the $15,825 Far South Challenge also raced over 457m with the Group 2 final being decided on July 31, the last day of the current racing season.
Pictured: Mr. Matt winning his NZRS Novice heat (pic Dave Robbie)
Five 457m heats held at Ascot Park two weeks ago has produced a NZRS Novice final field (race 10) that holds an interesting blend of raw untapped racing potential mixed in with chasers who owns vast racing experience.
It was the promising Dave and Jean Fahey prepared Mr. Matt who produced the quickest of the heat times when this promising son of Fabregas and Opawa Born cut out his heat assignment in a handy 26.17s when delivering his fourth race win in just his sixth race day outing. He will be sighted wearing the white racing vest for the first time in the final.
Robin Wales applies the finishing touches to two finalists plus he also provides the second reserve. Opawa Lawsey returned 26.31s for his heat where he was sighted extending nicely during the run home to snatch his win which capped off some handy lead in form for this son of Dyna Lachlan and Opawa Cassidy. He has been allocated the tricky five trap to exit from here.
His kennel mate Sefton Stan was gathered in late by Botany Allan when he delivered his 1.25 length heat second. It was a sound effort from this son of Fabregas and Opawa Zara who would have benefited from his track debut outing here. He will load away into trap seven on Tuesday, which is a trap he won from the only previous occasion he raced from there.
Mr. Chang, who is a litter brother to Mr. Matt, earned the second reserve possie for Wales via his 1.25 length heat second behind Forbury Flyer. He had to overcome a degree of jostling on the big, sweeping bend to claim his track debut placing here.
Know Shame produced a strong finish when this Gary Cleeve bred and trained daughter of Yella Mustard and Know Revenge put in some strong late bounds to snatch her 26.39s heat win by the barest of margins. She is provided with swooping claims from the eight trap for her return here after she contested a swiftly run Addington 520m race (29.94s) when finishing a 9.75 length third behind an exciting chasing prospect.
Winning their respective NZRS Novice Ascot Park heats was Opawa Lawsey (left) and Know Shame (green) – pics Dave Robbie
John McInerney commenced this week’s racing activities with his kennel having mentored 599 winners for the season. Two of those winners came from these NZRS Novice heats, with one of them Botany Alan, who can hardly be classified as a ‘Novice’ chaser (he is now C1 graded) after having contested 181 career races ($62,587). He has raced in numerous previous NZRS series, covering all three NZRS middle disatnce levels.
This tough son of El Grand Senor and Kazz Razz won a NZRS Graduation final at this venue in June last year. He will return on Tuesday for this Novice final after having won his heat in 26.42s. Botany Alan won his Graduation final from the six trap and he’ll hop away from that trap in this final which will be his 49th race (35th 457m) on the Invercargill based track.
Forbury Flyer will also represent team McInerney in the final after this son of Cosmic Chief and Homebush Iris proved too strong during the run home when he nailed his 26.60s heat win. He has since lined up over 545m at Forbury Park where a moderate start, which he is prone to making, proved costly. He’s exiting from trap four here in his 56th race day outing.
The two John McInerney trained Ascot Park NZTS Novice heat winners Botany Alan (left) and Forbury Flyer - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
Torpedo Tuck has been a winner for his trainer Ashley Bradshaw after he was run down by a head by Opawa Lawsey in his heat. This son of Dream Collector and Hard Habits then went onto stylishly win a Forbury Park C1 545m event in 33.31s. Three of his five career wins has come from the one trap and he’ll be looking to maintain his unbeaten race record from that trap in this final.
Bradshaw also provides the first reserve for this event. Zephaniah gamely chased home Mr. Matt which saw this son of Zebidiah and Blonde Tori finishing five lengths astern of him. He then went onto contest the same Forbury Park C1 545m race that his kennel mate Torpedo Tuck won, where he lost his claims when he became tangled up in traffic.
Completing the drawn field is the Steve and Bonnie prepared Goldstar Scooby who was dive bombed late in his heat by Know Shame when he went under by a nose margin. He will be sighted wearing the stripes in this final after he also endured a traffic impeded racing passage in that same Forbury Park C1 545m event won by Torpedo Tuck.
Far South Challenge Heats
Three seven dog 457m heats will decide the finalists for the July 31 $15,825 Far South Challenge at Group 2 level. Here’s a look at those heats.
Far South Challenge heat 1, race 7
1 Opawa Rooster: He returns here as a race fit, match hardened chaser after his pair of Addington 645m races last week. Expect him to be sighted finishing strongly.
2 Platinum Marshall: He’s stepping up in race distance following his sharp Addington 17s 295m Thursday win. Prior to that he solo trialled over 520m at Hatrick in 30.48s.
3 Crotty: He produced the race of his career when he finished a bold third in the recent Group 2 South Island Champs final. He then endured a luckless 457m race here after jumping from trap eight.
4 Charlie Runkel: He’s a locally trained chaser who is returning to 457m racing here after his last start C4 22.71s 390m win here. His latest 457m miss here was in the Invercargill Cup.
6 Think Tank: He didn’t feature in his latest 310m and 295m sprints. He has placed in both of his 457m races here including his recent Invercargill Cup second placing.
7 Egomaniacal: He continues to deliver competitive on the pace races in strong fields. He returns here as the older of a best 26.42s winning 457m time at this venue.
8 Umbridge Bale: He was held in midfield traffic in his recent Addington 520m C4/5 assignments. His previous pair of 457m races has yielded him with two minor placings.
Far South Challenge heat 1 contenders, includes from left: Opawa Rooster; Crotty; Egomaniacal
Far South Challenge heat 2, race 8
1 Southern Lights: He’s the shining light of the Southland racing scene who will be rapt to secure this trap. He knows his way around this circuit blind folded.
2 Allen Mack: He finished strongly when on Thursday missed the 645m win by a nose margin behind race rival here Dave’s Dot. He returns here holding sound 457m form on this track.
3 Nangar Warrior: He adds intrigue to this heat by stepping up to 457m racing after having contested four Addington 295m sprints since he crossed the Tasman. He was a proven middle distance chaser when he raced in Victoria.
4 Grid Lock: He is also taking the step up to 457m racing here after his recent Addington 295m sprints. He did win over 450m on the Maitland, New South Wales track.
6 Edge Of Town: Two races ago this bloke produced a slippery 25.83s 457m winning time. That strong effort alone says he demands respect in this heat.
7 Nozzno Fear: He was NZ Cup finalist last November who prefers to draw closer to the rail. He has no option but to jump away smartly from out here.
8 Dave’s Dot: She ventures back down here after delivering her pace making Thursday 38.31s 645m win. Drawing out here also leaves her no choice of her having to seek out the early pace.
Far South Challenge heat 2 contenders, includes from left: Southern Lights; Grid Lock; Dave’s Dot
Far South Challenge heat 3, race 9
1 Too The Nail: He has been restricted to Addington 295m sprints since he crossed the Tasman. He is proven over similar race distances as this when he raced on the Victorian tracks.
2 Zipping Clyde: He’s a locally prepared chaser who has been short course sprinting lately. He has won open class 457m races on this track with his best being delivered in a handy 25.87s.
3 Sarcasm: He is another who has been contesting recent sprints which includes his power packed 22.66s 390m win here two races ago. He is also proven over this 457m trip.
4 Hankenstein: He has stylishly charged through the grades, although he has missed in all four of his previous 457m races here. He was bold when he gamely chased home a smart type over 545m last Tuesday.
6 Dirk Bale: He won the Auckland Cup from this trap and he returns here following his pace making Addington 30.39s Thursday 520m win. He won both of his 457m races here with his best being a smart 25.92s clock.
7 Must Be Rusty: He added the Invercargill Cup (457m) to his earlier Dunedin Cup (545m) victory. That says that his qualifying claims here cannot be lightly dismissed.
8 Shallay Pallay: The Auckland Cup runner up is a much better chaser than what his recent 390m and 295m sprint efforts would suggest. He must push forward at trap rise from out here.
Far South Challenge heat 3 contenders, includes from left: Sarcasm; Dirk Bale; Must Be Rusty
By Peter Fenemor
