Who can ever forget last year’s enthralling finish to the inaugural running of the Formpro Amazing Chase? Just 200th of a second separated the first three greyhounds with the winning time being clocked in the fourth and final 527m match at the Manukau Stadium. Indications are that another ripper series of match races will be witnessed at the Hatrick Raceway during Friday evening’s intriguing set of four 520m match races for a total stake of$60,000.
Pictured: Bigtime Paddy will break through the $200,000 stakes earning barrier if he wins the Formpro Amazing Chase
It was a super month of Amazing Chase qualifying on the Hatrick, Addington and Manukau tracks with quality chasing action being displayed by 30 of the 33 nominated Amazing Chase nominated greyhounds.
Firstly we’ll take a look at the four fascinating 520m match ups, then we’ll revise on how the format works and who the TAB dividends will be paid on. Included in the match previews are the respective TAB induvial head to head market quotes. .
Match 1: 1 Dyna Weslyn (red) $2.90 v 2 Dyna Dave (stripes) $1.35 option 953
This is a grudge paw wrestle between a pair of Craig Roberts, Canterbury trained class acts. Dyna Weslyn is seeking to protect her unbeaten eight race record here. She has been flying around Addington, although her 30.75s 520m Hatrick trial last week concerns. She did improve her sectionals when trialing post to post on Sunday. The back end of her races is her strength.
Dyna Dave broke the long standing Addington 520m track record with his recent 29.75s gallop (since been broken again). He owns both pace and strength. His recent 29.99s 520m win on this track was a stunning effort after striking early traffic problems.
“I expect Dyna Dave with his pace and strength to be too strong, although it certainly wouldn’t surprise me if Weslyn beat him. She is very smart and she’s strong. Both of them are ready for real competitive efforts,” stated Roberts.
Formpro Amazing Chase match 1 - 1 Dyna Weslyn (left) is taking on her kennel mate 2 Dyna Dave
Match 2: 3 Pinny Mack (white) $2.30 v 4 Cawbourne Krusty (blue) $1.55 option 954
This match has an unknown factor about it as Pinny Mack, a former West Australian who owns sheer early pace, snatched his field position with a swift Manukau 30.44s 527m trial makes his NZ race debut here. His pace is illustrated by his recent slick 20.73s Cambridge 375m trial.
“He’s spot on – I expect him to fly, although I’ve been frustrated by his hindered build up for it. I had intended to trial him at Hatrick but circumstances prevented that so I don’t know how he’ll go first up down there. He’s the fastest dog I’ve ever had in my kennels,” confirmed trainer Steve Clark.
Cawbourne Krusty was the sharp recent 29.80s NZ Futurity winner at Hatrick. Her track experience at this venue is a big factor in her favour. She has shown in the past that she won’t flinch when the pressure is placed on her over the later stages.
“Krusty is all set to go – she has a job to get completed here,” said her conditioner Matt Roberts.
Formpro Amazing Chase match 2 – 3 Pinny Mack (left) makes NZ race debut against the Group 1 winning 4 Cawbourne Krusty
Match 3: 5 Dyna Elwyn (gold) $2.70 v 6 Bigtime Paddy (green) $1.40 option 955
A cracker of a match race looms here with the new Addington 29.67s 520m track record holder taking on the super local track star. Understandably Dyna Elwyn is rated extremely highly by his trainer. Completely overlook his Addington 520m Tuesday miss when he was dragged down.
“Elwyn has the talent to run a swift 520m as we saw at Addington. My concern is him drawing inside Paddy as he’ll move off the rail. I reckon if he’s within a couple of lengths of Paddy at the back mark, then yes he can finish over the top of him. He’s a super dog,” suggested Craig Roberts.
Bigtime Paddy, who finished fifth in last year’s Amazing Chase, has enjoyed a sublime racing season. Victory in this event will propel his career stake earnings to over $200,000. He is the consulate professional greyhound. He knows his way around this circuit blindfolded and he processes a stunning mid race sectional.
“Paddy has done everything right all season long. He has taken his racing in his stride in the way he has fronted up week in and week out. He has been thriving on the work he’s had, which included a real solid hit up on our drag strip the other day. He is set for a massive effort,” advised Brendon Cole.
Formpro Amazing Chase match 3 – 5 Dyna Elwyn (left) is looking to bring his sharp Addington 520m form north with him when he takes on the ultra consistent local chaser 6 Bigtime Paddy
Match 4: 7 Ask King Jeff (black) $2.10 v 8 Nature’s Gent (pink) $1.65 option 965
Ask King Jeff has been improving with each outing after having recently crossed the Tasman. That improvement saw him booking his place here via his recent 29.97s 520m gallop. He had been sighted finishing strongly prior to his qualifying time where for the first time he displayed early pace. He must use that tactic here.
“He has been improving with each race and I expect Jeff to continue to improve on Friday. He has responded really good to the increased work load he has been given and he’ll strip on Friday the fitness he’s ever been since he arrive here. He work up very nicely during the week,” said Cole.
Nature’s Gent stylishly won the New Zealand Cup. He then went onto clock a real slippery 29.68s Hatrick 520m time. However traffic problems when making tardy starts has prevented him from going onto land more Group race titles. He fronted up to the Manukau Stadium last Sunday to snatch his Amazing Chase field position when he topped the 527m leader board with his smart 30.37s solo trial.
“I reckon they have forgotten about him. He’s had a break, while the others have been performing. He’s a seriously good greyhound and his trial showed us that’s he right up there with the best of them. He came through that magnificently. He runs Hatrick real good and he’ll be right in the thick of it all on Friday. Nature’s Gent is ideally suited to this race format – he’s prepped to deliver a quick 520m,” commented Paul Freeman.
Formpro Amazing Chase match 4 – 7 Ask King Jeff (left) has been improving in all of his Hatrick 520m races as he prepares to take on the classy NZ Cup title holder 8 Nature’s Gent
The respective TAB Final Field Win (option 951) and Top 3 (option 1951) for the Amazing Chase runners are (overall race winner and the first three place getters decided on time recorded).
1 Dyna Weslyn $10 & $2.75
2 Dyna Dave $3 & $1.35
3 Pinny Mack $9 & $2.50
4 Cawbourne Krusty $5 & $1.80
5 Dyna Elwyn $9 & $2.40
6 Bigtime Paddy $4.50 & $1.45
7 Ask King Jeff $13 & $3.50
8 Nature’s Gent $8 & $2.40
Reserves
9 Avenger Bale $12 & $3
10 Bigtime Tears $18 & $4
The Format
Times is the critical factor for these canine athletes as the overall race winner will be declared on the greyhound who returns the swiftest 520m time from the four match races.
The match race chasing action starts with the dispatch of the first pair of greyhounds at 7.05pm. The remaining three match ups follow at seven minute intervals.
The format sees traps 1 and 3 used for each match. The first match will see the trap one dog wearing the red racing vest and the trap three dog the checks. Match two has the trap one dog carrying the white, while the trap three dog the blue vest and so on where the dog jumping from the three trap in the fourth match up will be sighted in the pink vest. If either or both reserves are required, then they will don their respective reserve rug colours.
The match races will treated as a normal eight dog event by the TAB. For example the race win dividend will be declared on the greyhound who clocks the fastest time, with the quickest three greyhounds paying the place dividends. The same scenario applies for the race exotics. E.g. The First4 dividend will be declared on the greyhounds who returns the fastest four times (which can be paid on greyhounds who contested the same match race)
The winner of each match will receive $3,000 while the beaten greyhound shall receive $1,000. The greyhound who clocks the quickest overall 520m time from the four matches will be paid an additional $24,750, followed by $10,340 for the second quickest, then $6,270 for third, while the fourth fastest will benefit from an additional $2,640. It is possible that some of these placings could occur in the same match up.
The Amazing Chase is also a Greyhound Racing NZ charity generator and the beneficially from this evening’s activities is Jigsaw Wanganui. $3,300 has been raised through the $100 donation the connections of the original 33 nominated Amazing Chase greyhounds made. Numerous on course fund raising events will be held during the evening.
By Peter Fenemor
