‘Box speed is gold’, is an old saying commonly used in greyhound racing. That asset was clearly illustrated when the Addington 520m traps lifted to release the field for Thursday’s running of the $8,500 NZRS Graduation final. Taking an absolute flyer from trap four was the Ashley Bradshaw prepared Ming Ming.
Pictured: Ming Ming cruising to her pace making Thursday NZRS Graduation victory (pic Dave Robbie)
It was an electric start that the $21.70 outsider Ming Ming made and in doing so she took the thick end of the stake away from her rivals as she maintained her searching gallop, with her rivals chasing in vain after her, to claim her biggest career win by a two length margin when stopping the clock in 30.58s.
It was a clean sweep of the winning portion of the stake for Bradshaw as she bred this daughter of Dream Collector and Hard Habits therefore she receives the winning Breeders’ bonus component associated with this NZRS final for her charge who she races in partnership with her partner Pete Seque.
Know Shame was the quickest (30.22s) of the previous week’s heat winners for her breeder and trainer Gary Cleeve. This daughter of Yella Mustard and Know Revenge pushed up to get handy to the pace when racing into the first turn. She kept up a solid gallop to claim her second placing.
Hugging the rail throughout after settling back in the field was the Bob Pringle owned and trained Replica Casino. It was heady effort from this son of Jinjarango and Smash Kingdom as his strong railing tactics saw him being rewarded with the third placing, a further 1.25 lengths behind.
This race was all about the explosive early pace that Ming Ming deployed and using similar pace like this can see her quickly adding to the five career wins she has now achieved. She has placed in another ten races which now sees her career stake earnings sitting at $12,930 from her 27 race day outings.
Race handler and co-owner Pete Seque with the Christchurch GRC hosted NZRS Graduation 520m winner Ming Ming. The full Addington NZRS podium with winner Ming Ming being flanked by runner up Know Shame and the third placed Replica Casino - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
By Peter Fenemor
