Lord Louie has developed into a Forbury Park chasing phenomenon. His seven 545m wins from as many race starts at the venue confirms that. On Tuesday afternoon the Ray Adcock prepared greyhound will be seeking to maintain his unbeaten track record when he takes his place in the $12,000 NZRS Advanced final (race 12).
Pictured: Lord Louie dashing to his Forbury Park NZRS Advanced heat win (pic Dave Robbie)
Lord Louie cruised through his heat assignment in an effortless 32.39s. This son of Barcia Bale and Andrea dictated the pace throughout when he delivered that win. He’s likely to adopt the same healthy racing tactics from trap three in the decider.
Two 545m heats, held two weeks ago, decided this final line up. Finishing stylishly to win the other heat was Goldstar Ashton from the Steve and Bonnie Evans kennels. This son of Yella Mustard and Know Love Affair gradually wore down the pace setting Think Thank to claim his win in 32.90s. He has been active since as seen when he finished in the midfield in a pair of Addington C5 520m races. He must push forward onto the early pace after hopping away from the eight trap here.
Think Thank had set up the pace for his trainer John McInerney and it was only Goldstar Ashton who got past him in his heat when he wound up a brave half length second to him. This son of Barcia Bale and Jinja Power tends to mix his race distances as since then he has placed in two Addington C4 295m sprints, while finishing fourth in a C4 Ascot Park 390m dash in between those outings. Drawing trap two for this event says that he can jump straight onto the early pace which is an option that he must take up here.
Handler Mike Fuller the Otago NZRS Advanced heat winner Lord Louie; Goldstar Ashton delivering his Forbury Park NZRS Advanced heat win and with co-trainer Steve Evans afterwards - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
The heat runner up to Lord Louie was also provided from the team McInerney kennels. Dave’s Dot has also been mixing her race distances since she stoutly pressed on for her 1.75 length second. She has been unplaced in a pair of Addington C3/4 520m events since then. She also visited Ascot Park in between those races where this daughter of Cosmic Rumble and Memphis Hotcakes was real gallant when she tried to lead a C2D 630m field all the way. It took a Group 1 winning stayer (Avenger Bale) to run her down at the business end. She will be sighted wearing the blue racing vest on Tuesday afternoon.
Southern Lights will front up for yet another feature race final for his trainer Roy Hamilton. This strong son of Lochinvar Marlow and Imperative kicked on solidly when securing his 0.6 length heat third behind Goldstar Ashton. This winner of $110,992 then went on to produce another bold effort when finishing a 1.75 length third over the Ascot Park 630m distance. He achieved that placing from the six trap and he’ll exit from the same trap in this final.
The Evans’s qualified a second finalist, plus they have the first reserve, when Kia Tere finished resolutely from the midfield pack to deliver his 3.25 length heat third behind Lord Louie. He has since gone on to deliver a couple of unplaced Addington C3 and C3/4 520m misses. The son of Velocette and Opawa Peekay will be loaded away into the seven trap on Tuesday.
The two heat fourth place getters secured their placings in totally contrasting styles. The Adcock prepared Perfect Result had to pick himself up in his heat after he was badly impeded and dropped to rear group when racing into the first turn. It was a gutsy effort from this litter brother to Lord Louie when he strongly recovered which saw him rushing into a 1.6 length fourth behind Goldstar Ashton. He then went on to endure a luckless Ascot Park C3/4 457m race. He hasn’t been provided with any favours here, being required to exit from trap five.
Hankenstein raced handy to the pace in his heat when this Ashley Bradshaw son of Dream Collector and Hard Habits led the chase after the freewheeling Lord Louie. He peaked on his gallop during the run home which ultimately saw him finishing four lengths behind him. He will be loaded away into the one trap here from where he must and he can adopt the same pace making tactics that led to his litter sister Ming Ming winning the $8,500 NZRS Graduation 520m final on Thursday.
Tuesday NZRS Advanced contenders includes (from left): Dave’s Dot; Southern Lights; Hankenstein
Goldstar Marvely occupies the first possie on the reserves bench for the Evans training partnership. She is a litter sister to Goldstar Ashton who found herself contained in midfield traffic throughout in her heat. She then went on to bravely chase after a real smart type in her following Addington 520m assignment when running a seven length second in a swiftly run event. She wasn’t able to feature in her C3/4 outing at the same venue last Thursday.
Bradshaw provides the second reserve with a litter brother to Hankenstein. Torpedo Tuck found himself held in the midfield pack in the heat won by Goldstar Ashton and it was a similar scenario when he contested an Addington C3/4 520m race last Thursday.
Pawnote: Additional interest for Tuesday’s Otago meeting centers on the resilient sprinter Wheelchair Norm. The John McInerney trained Tuesday afternoon sprinting specialist will be chasing after his 98th career win in the race 10 open class 310m dash.
It will be Norm’s 198th race outing, which in itself is a remarkable achievement. He has had the last couple of Tuesday’s off and he will be required to leap from the seven trap for this dash. A smart start can see Wheelchair Norm securing his 42nd Forbury Park 310m victory.
Wheelchair Norm doing what he does best on Tuesday afternoon’s – winning southern sprints; Norm captured here with his conditioner and best mate John McInerney (pics Dave Robbie)
By Peter Fenemor
