It sure was an entirely appropriate call when the name ‘The Amazing Chase” was selected for the Kiwi version of two dog match racing. Last Friday’s Formpro Amazing Chase match ups saw Bigtime Paddy deliver an amazing effort to convincingly take the 520m time honours at the Hatrick Raceway.
Pictured: The Formpro Amazing Chase winner Bigtime Paddy
It was a stunning performance when after making an electric beginning in driving rain, Bigtime Paddy simply cruised through his 520m assignment clocking a super 29.85s. The star of the Lisa Cole kennels set up his victory when he blitzed through his first sectional in a quick 4.98s. He then reached the back mark in 18.34s from where he brought it home in 11.50s. In other words it was another thoroughly professional performance that the classy greyhound Bigtime Paddy again produced.
Bigtime Paddy was never seriously challenged by his match race partner Dyna Elwyn from the Craig Roberts kennels. His smart time meant he had to withstand one challenge for him to take the overall honours in the $60,000 series. That saw the Angela Turnwald prepared NZ Cup title holder Nature’s Gent taking on Paddy’s kennelmate Ask King Jeff.
Nature’s Gent won the break and his first couple of sectionals, although slightly off the needed pace, still gave hope that he could get close to the required time if he drew on his known strong final sectional. He didn’t however his 30s flat clock was sufficient to earn Nature’s Gent the series second placing. Ask King Jeff produced a sound 30.19s 520m time which was sufficiently fast enough for him to finish fourth overall.
Earlier Cawbourne Krusty secured the third placing for her trainer Matt Roberts with her 30.07s chase, which had turned into a solo trial after her opponent Pinny Mack had sensationally spread-eagled himself a stride after leaving the traps. It was huge effort from the Steve Clark trained former West Australian greyhound to pick himself up to eventually clock a respectable 30.67s. He was declared a race faller by the stipes afterwards.
The match racing action commenced with a strong pair of Craig Roberts prepared kennel mates Dyna Weslyn and Dyna Dave. Both greyhounds produced a torrid paw-to-paw battle for the greater part of their battle prior to Dyna Weslyn drawing clear to record her 30.22s match win.
Nature’s Gent (2nd), Cawbourne Krusty (3rd), Ask King Jeff (4th) seen here after their respective Formpro Amazing Chase match races
The kudos firmly belonged to Bigtime Paddy, who finished fifth in last year’s inaugural running of the Amazing Chase, and he added a further $24,750 to the $3,000 he won for winning his match, which propelled his career stake earnings to over $200,000. It was a truly remarkable effort from the only New Zealand bred greyhound who contested the Amazing Chase final. His stakes tally has come from his 41 wins and 22 minor placings from his 77 race day outings (prior to his Monday 457m Manawatu win) for his owners Lisa Cole and Craig Rendle. It’s an outstanding record for a greyhound that was whelped, reared and broken in by the Cole’s.
Bigtime Paddy was the guest of honour in the Hatrick grandstand – he’s pictured here with Brendon, Ella and Georgie Cole; Greyhound Racing NZ Chairman Sean Hannan presenting the Amazing Chase trophy to Brendon Cole; Compere Andre Neil interviewing Brendon Cole
“It gives Lisa and myself immense satisfaction to train a greyhound like Bigtime Paddy. He is a real professional greyhound. Nothing fazes him whatsoever – he fronts up every week and gets the job done. He did everything right and he was excellent when making a clean start and then ran fast splits. It was a top effort on a very wet track. Mentally Paddy is a very strong dog who refuses to flinch.
“It’s all about team work at home and it’s very enjoyable being able to go to the races with our daughters Georgie and Ella. They love handling the dogs and they do a heap of work back home at the kennels. Our staff put in the hard yards so results like this couldn’t be achieved without them,” added Brendon Cole.
We spoke to Brendon on Saturday morning where he was standing on the sideline watching one of his sons Max playing in his under 12 rugby match. He told us, “Max wouldn’t go to his rugby until after he went to give Paddy a big pat and cuddle.”
It was a huge crowd who attended the meeting with a great atmosphere being generated. The highlight of the evening following the Amazing Chase was the race presentation being made to Brendon Cole, along with daughters Ella and Georgie inside the grandstand by Greyhound Racing NZ Chairman Sean Hannan.
Compere Andre Neil did a great job in keeping the crowd informed and entertained throughout the evening, while also generating funds for the Amazing Chase charity beneficially Jigsaw Wanganui.
Jigsaw Wanganui representative Rachael Doble with GRNZ Marketing assistant Becky Rogers beside the Amazing Chase sweepstake board which raised a fair amount of additional charity dollars; Tables in the grandstand was decorated with Amazing Chase details; there was even an Amazing Chase cake which Brendon Cole enjoyed cutting
Amazing Chase Consolation
It was a handy field of chasers who contested the $10,000 Visit Wanganui Amazing Chase Consolation. The greyhounds involved posted Amazing Chase qualifying times at the three venues used over the month long qualifying period, which attracted a fair amount of wide spread attention.
It was entirely appropriate that Avenger Bale won the 520m event in 30.08s. The Craig Roberts trained Group 1 winner had to endure two ballots when he attempted to gain a field position for an Amazing Chase match race position – he lost both of those ballots, therefore becoming the Amazing Chase first reserve.
He made no mistake in the consolation event when he used his strength to prevail. “Thank goodness he won the consolation – I reckon he deserved it after losing those ballots,” said Craig Roberts on Monday.
It was Avenger Bale’s litter brother and kennel mate Dirk Bale who led the field away from the 520m traps. He led until rounding the final turn when Avenger Bale charged at him which saw him boot clear to nail his three quarter length win.
It was a massive effort that the Angela Turnwald trained Waitohi produced to claim second when this C3 graded chaser rocketed home late. Geez that was a run and a half. Bigtime Tears was further 1.25 lengths behind for Lisa Cole while there was another three quarters of length back to a tiring fourth placed Dirk Bale.
Avenger Bale following his Visit Wanganui Amazing Chase Consolation win; Hatrick 305m track record holder Allegro Gun won the open class 305m sprint for Lisa Cole, while it was the Cole trained Bigtime Wendle who prevailed in the open class 520m event.
By Peter Fenemor
