Thursday’s field for the $16,000 Kingston Cup over the 732m staying journey has to be one of the more interesting fields assembled for many years partly owing to no heats being required to decide finalists for this Group 2 event. It’s basically a case of some hardened, proven stayers taking on others who can be termed as the new kids on the block within the staying ranks.

Pictured: Dyna Weslyn who is stepping up to 732m racing for the first time in Thursday’s Kingston Cup final (pic Dave Robbie)

The Kingston Cup is a time honoured race that recognises the valued and immense imput the Kingston family has had on Canterbury greyhound racing for many, many decades. They will be proud to have attracted such an intriguing field of Canterbury trained stayers for their event.

The recently crowned Canterbury Greyhound of the Year, the Craig Roberts prepared Avenger Bale, will be looking to fend off the anticipated solid challenge that his kennelmate Dyna Weslyn is likely to lodge. Avenger Bale ($4.50, TAB Final Field, option 988) stylishly won the late season Group 1 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Stayers Cup over 732m when he led his rivals all the way. He’s likely to attempt to adopt similar pace making tactics after hopping away from the four trap.

Avenger Bale has been chasing home his kennelmates in his latest assignments including his second to Dirk Bale (520m) and his prior 645m third behind Dyna Weslyn. His staying credentials cannot be denied. “He needed last Thursday’s trial as he’s a real lazy worker at home. That’s also the reason why I gave him a trial hit out on Monday. Look he’s a great dog and if he leads them early, then yes he can hang on,” said Roberts.

Dyna Weslyn ($1.80) is having her first taste of racing over an extreme distance. She has been warming up for her task via her powerful recent 645m efforts. Early last month, in her first ever staying race, she lowered the Addington 645m track record (jointly held by Avenger Bale) when she clocked 37.68s. She has since gone onto run a creditable Cambridge 650m second (to Dusty Gambler) and another 645m win (38.19s) here after being severely checked during the early rush. She had a couple of 520m races spinkled in between those staying races.

Dyna Weslyn is bred to be successful stayer over the longer journey’s as her mum Xylia Allen (A$743,730) was one of Australia’s super star stayers of her era. She is likely to push forward from her two trap draw. “I’m excited about her racing over 732m. I’m convinced her future is over the longer staying distances. She has been working really good and I expect her to put herself onto the early pace,” stated Roberts.

It was two Thursday’s ago when master conditioner Ray Adcock stepped up Prefect Result ($4.50) to a staying distance. His charge handled the increase in race distance perfectly when Perfect Result powered to his 37.60s 645m debut win, lowering Dyna Weslyn’s recently set track record in the process. His family blood lines suggests that he shouldn’t have any issues about the further step up in race distance for this event. He is required to jump away from the five trap here.

“I feel he’s up against it in that field and I’m not sure if he will run the distance out. I guess it’s time to find out. He’s okay heading into it and he worked up nicely during the week,” advised Adcock about his charge as he seeks to train his third concecutive Kingston Cup winner after he mentored Ring The Bell and Can’t Catch Tim to victory in the last two editions.

Translator ($6) fits into the proven stayer catogory in this field for Dave and Jean Fahey. She was the runner up to Avenger Bale in the NZ Stayers Cup and she contested last year’s Kingston Cup final. She has won two of her eight 732m races at this venue (four minor placings). Translator was bold in her warm up race for this event when she cruised to her effortless 38.04s 645m win last Thursday. The huge concern for her and her connections is her allocation of the eight trap for this noted railing stayer – ouch!

“I’m gutted with her draw – she’s going to need a heck of a lot of luck from out there. She’s a capable stayer, however I can’t see how she can get past some of those inside her while she’s trying to get down onto the rail. Condition wise she’s all good and has come through last week really good,” commented Dave Fahey.

  
Kingston Cup contenders includes (from left): Avenger Bale; Perfect Result; Translator

The Steve and Bonnie Evans kennels contains a number of staying greyhounds. They will be lining up two of their stayers in this feature. Kia Tere ($31) receives the draw advantage via his one trap draw here. He is proven from that desired trap and he must jump away smartly from there for his first taste of racing over 732m. He was real bold when he led, then only yielded to Translator during the run home in Thursday’s 645m event.

“Kia Tere had a good hit out over 645m last week and he has drawn perfectly for Thursday. I expect him to jump onto the lure and he can make things interesting if there’s any trouble behind him,” suggested Steve Evans.

Goldstar Ashton ($41) was denied early racing room in the same 645m race. He gradually improved his field position with every bound which saw him finishing stoutly for his nine length third behind Translator. He has a 732m minor placing from the two attempts he’s had over the distance which came in his NZ Stayers Cup heat.

“I expect to see Goldstar Ashton getting home strongly. He hasn’t drawn the best (trap six) however he has placed over the 732m trip before and I feel he was suited by not having to run in a heat. He came home nicely in his 645m race last week. Both of our stayers came through that race really good and they’re both as bright as anything,” confirmed Evans.

Dave’s Dot ($31) can tough out a real 732m slog here for John McInerney. We saw that when she defied her rivals to run her down over the demanding Forbury Park 770m journey a couple of months ago – they couldn’t. Then there was the whirlwind finish that she delivered when winning her recent Otago hosted NZRS Advanced 545m final when she led home race rival here Perfect Result. That says she can do it from both ends of her races.

“Hopefully she’ll get some clear racing air from out there (trap seven). She’s a capable stayer as she showed in her 770m race when she had Translator chasing her. It’s a good field and she is definitly capable of getting some of it. She had a bit of a freshen up and has enjoyed a quiet week,” said Jonathon McInerney.

A few months ago Waimac ($81) moved into the Allan Botherway kennels. He has been taken along quietly by his new trainer and he had a lead in 645m race for this here three weeks ago. Waimac has been a 732m winner (44.28s) at this venue and he finished fifth in last year’s Kingston Cup final. He will be sighted wearing the white racing vest for this outing.

“I have taken him along quietly giving him plenty of trials. He had a good 600m hit out yesterday (Monday). I haven’t got any worries about him running out a strong 732m and I’m looking forward to lining up in future staying races. I’ve done everything humanly possible with him and he’s all set for Thursday,” said Botherway.

  
Kingston Cup contenders includes (from left): Kia Tere; Dave’s Dot; Waimac

Craig Roberts also has the first reserve Xava Allen ($10) who is a C0D graded stayer. Two races ago she was sighted doing her best work during the run home although she was 7.75 lengths astern of her kennelmate Dyna Weslyn. She will also having her taste of 732m racing if she’s required to race here.

Occupying the second position on the reserves bench is the Robim Wales prepared Go Belle ($31), who is another C0D graded stayer. She was bold three races ago when she led home the chase after the track record breaking Perfect Result when she wound up six lengths astern of him.

By Peter Fenemor