Three trainers completely dominated last Friday’s trio of 520m heats held for the running of Thursday’s $7,500 Kolorful Kanvas Christchurch Classic at the Addington Raceway (race 10).
Between them they provided the entire ten greyhounds listed to contest this traditional new season Restricted Age event.
Pictured: Puzzle Tin delivering the quickest of the Kolorful Kanvas Christchurch Classic heat times (pic Dave Robbie)
Setting the time standard from those heats was Puzzle Tin ($1.90, TAB Final field, option 980) from the Dave and Jean Fahey kennels who also qualified three other finalists. This promising youngster completed his heat assignment in a handy 30.30s when claiming his fourth win from only six race day outings. He achieved his pace making win from the seven trap, on this occasion he’ll exit from trap two.
His kennel mate Opawa Hillary ($5) punched straight into the race lead from the ace trap and she was never headed afterwards she cruised to effortless 7.5 length heat win to return 30.34s. She has also made a promising start to her career having now won three from six races. She’ll have to make a similar start in this decider from her tricky five trap draw.
Opawa Hillary (left) and Born Quick delivering their respective Kolorful Kanvas Christchurch Classic heat wins (pics Dave Robbie)
The remaining two contenders for the Fahey’s have drawn the outside two traps. Manooka ($6.50), who will be loaded away into trap eight, gamely chased home the freewheeling Opawa Hillary. It was a bold effort by him as he encountered early traffic issues. He also displays promise having earned a stake in all five of his career races, which includes three wins. He must push up onto the early pace here.
Opawa Mason ($16) will be sighted wearing the black racing vest in this decider. She hopped away from trap one in her heat where she found herself jostled by another runner when heading into the first turn where she was a denied a clear racing passage. She was gallant in the manner that she found the line for her 10.25 length heat third behind Puzzle Tin.
Robin Wales mentored Born Quick ($10) to her 30.88s heat win when she controlled the pace throughout. She has also made a tidy start to her racing career and her stake earning claims in this event has been enhanced by her trap one draw. She must adopt similar racing tactics from trap rise here.
The Wales kennels also provides the second reserve with Go Brat ($18) who was the fastest of the heat fourth place getters when he wound up 8.6 lengths astern of Opawa Hillary. He has settled in a midfield position from where he whacked away soundly.
The Kolorful Kanvas Christchurch Classic heat winners (from left): Puzzle Tin with handler Ross Mathers; Mark Lin brought back Opawa Hillary, while Wendy Stephens undertook the handling duties for Born Quick - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
The field is completed by greyhounds provided from the John McInerney kennels. Malaga Molly ($5) is developing into a consistent chaser and she enters this final with a grading edge over her rivals being a C4 assessed greyhound. She does own early pace which is an asset she must use when hopping away from trap four after she boldly led the chase after Puzzle Tin for her 5.25 length second to him.
Her kennelmate Elland Road ($51) kicked on stoutly to claim her heat length second to Born Quick. She pushed forward after settling in the midfield pack where she was caught in some jostling to get handy when entering the first turn to boldly chase after the pace making winner. She then went under by a half length when contesting her Tuesday Ascot Park C1/2 390m sprint. She will be sighted in the green racing vest on Thursday.
It was a bold first up 520m effort at this venue that Zefside ($41) produced. He led the chase after Opawa Hillary and it was only during the run home when he yielded the heat second placing when he wound up an 8.75 length third. He will be sighted racing from the three trap here after he was denied racing room in a C3 390m dash on Ascot Park on Tuesday.
Team McInerney also provides the first reserve Cosmic Reuben ($51) who jumped handy to the pace and he kicked away stoutly when he delivered his three length third to Opawa Hillary. He pressed on solidly for his Ascot Park Tuesday 3.5 length C4 390m third.
By Peter Fenemor
