Bigtime Paddy is the consummate canine athlete. On Friday evening at the Hatrick Raceway the Lisa Cole mentored class act extended her current winning streak out to nine wins, while annexing his third career Group 1 victory in the $27,465 Palamountains Nutrition Wanganui Cup over 520m.
Pictured: Bigtime Paddy following his Palamountains Nutrition Wanganui Cup victory
The Wanganui Cup was billed prerace as a potential two dog match race. It didn’t quite turn into that, although the race finish was what was widely predicted. The 30.11s heat winner Bigtime Paddy from trap two was expected to be hotly challenged from the trap one specialist 29.91s heat winner Nature’s Gent from the Angela Turnwald kennels.
When the 520m traps lifted it was the pair of Cole trained litter sisters Bigtime Wendle and Bigtime Twinkle who bounced straight into the race lead. Bigtime Paddy hopped away just in behind them, while Nature’s Gent missed the jump a tad, settling back.
Racing around the first turn Bigtime Paddy held the rail, while shoulder bumping with Bigtime Twinkle. Entering the back straight he slipped clear, while Nature’s Gent was improving appreciably along the rail. He was slowly closing the gap between the pair of them and it looked race on from there.
Bigtime Paddy was having none of that as seen when he maintained his solid gallop around the home turn and during the run home which saw him claiming the Wanganui Cup title after 29.99s of hard out chasing. He improved on his third placing in last year’s version of this race.
The New Zealand Cup title holder Nature’s Gent kicked on stoutly when he completed his task two lengths behind Bigtime Paddy. He held a comfortable 3.5 length margin over another consistent Hatrick Group 1 race performer Idol Tom. It was the third 520m Group 1 placing that this Marcie Flipp prepared chaser secured. Remarkably he has yet to win a C5 520m event at this venue as he’s also a real consistent Friday evening place getter.
“It’s great to see Paddy starting the new season where he finished last season in winning form. I was slightly concerned when I saw Bigtime Twinkle who is a big bitch (30.3kg) and Paddy hitting each other, but he shook her off.
“Paddy is hard chaser who won’t flinch and when he got the lead going into the back straight I looked back to see where the one dog (Nature’s Gent) was, thinking he’ll need to put a break on him. He did that and when he did so I knew then he was okay (to win),” commented Brendon Cole, who added, “It’s very satisfying to see Paddy winning Group 1 races like this. By New Zealand standards he’s an exceptional, high class greyhound. He does it from all draws.”
Cole is spot on there as the dual Group 1, plus recent Formpro Amazing Chase winning Bigtime Paddy has built a high winning strike rate considering the quality of fields he races in week in and week out. He has now won 44 of his 80 career races and after adding in a further 22 minor placings now sees his stake earnings sitting at a tidy $220,233 for his owners Lisa Cole and Craig Rendle (who was across the Tasman).
Cole indicated that Bigtime Paddy will be kept ticking over contesting Hatrick 520m and Manawatu 457m races and then perhaps returning him to the scene of his New Zealand Derby victory with a crack at the Group 2 Angus Wright Memorial over 457m at the Cambridge Raceway at Group 2 level in late August. From there he’ll look to defend his Group 1 Waterloo Cup title, which last year provided him with direct entry into the A$600,000 Melbourne Cup heats.
Brendon Cole also acknowledged the valued input both he and Lisa receives at their home base from their daughters Georgie and Ella, plus also from their dedicated kennel staff. “It’s very satisfying for us being able to work with a team like that at home,” he added.
Brendon and Georgie Cole with their Wanganui Cup winner Bigtime Paddy; Nature’s Gent was bold finishing second while Idol Tom was a gallant third place getter
By Peter Fenemor
