The chase for final field positions for New Zealand’s oldest racing trophy, the Waterloo Cup will be held during three meetings over the next four days. Christchurch will host the first 520m heat on Thursday evening, followed by the Hatrick hosted 520m heat on Friday evening. Two 527m heats will be held at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The first two greyhounds to finish in each heat will advance to contest the $35,000 final at Group 1 level at Manukau on September 30 where the gold plated TAB Melbourne Cup will be on display. The Waterloo Cup winner receives direct entry into a heat for the A$650,000 TAB Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park in November. The reserves for the Waterloo Cup final will be the third placed finishers in the two Auckland hosted heats.
Christchurch Waterloo Cup heat, Thursday September 20 (race 9)
TAB Final Field (heat) option 987 – Futures, Win option 1947 Top 3 option 1948
1 Full Speed $16; $126 & $26: He’s going to have to live up to his name if he’s going to feature here. He didn’t do so from this trap two races ago.
2 Dyna Elwyn $1.70; $6 & $2: He’s a real potent chaser as seen by his 520m 29.67s track record at this venue. Winning seven of his eight Addington 520m races sums it all up for him.
3 Too The Nail $4.80; $41 & $11: He has been delivering competitive handy to the pace recent 520m efforts around here. He holds qualifying claims based on those here.
4 Egomaniacal $10; $41 & $11: He didn’t clear the midfield traffic here last Thursday. He is a proven Addington 520m chaser who is smart enough to feature in the placings here.
5 Xava Allen $7; $41 & $11: She didn’t receive any racing favours in her last 520m outing around here and she is provided with no favours after being allocated this trap.
6 Cosmic Ruben $61; $401 & $101: He’s a recent open class graduate who has been short course sprinting lately. His lack of 520m wins here is reflected in his generous market quotes.
7 Dyna Monty $9; $51 & $12: He’s facing a steep rise in class for this event after winning a C3 520m event here last Thursday. He’s does own a handy 29.94s best 520m time here.
8 Opawa Jumper $18; $126 & $26: Scratched
Reserve – 9 Hankenstein $21; $41 & $11: He owns a fair amount of early pace which is an asset he must use from trap eight as he isn’t the strongest here at the back end of his 520m races.
Christchurch Waterloo Cup heat contenders includes (from left): Dyna Elwyn; Egomaniacal; Hankenstein
Wanganui Waterloo Cup heat, Friday September 21 (race 10)
TAB Final Field (heat) option 989 – Futures, Win option 1947 Top 3 option 1948
1 Blazin’ Carter $1.90; $14 & $3.50: Geez, this fella really lived up to his name when he blazed through his 520m assignment in a quick 29.83s from this trap last Friday.
2 Djay Dynamix $9; $41 & $11: He recently returned into the C5 chasing ranks via his 26.06s Manawatu 457m win. He owns solid looking form from this trap.
3 Cawbourne Krusty $4.20; $14 & $3.50: She’s a talented Group 1 520m winner around this circuit which she cut out in a slick 29.80s. She has been racing over longer distances lately, however her proven 520m form here cannot be ignored.
4 Bigtime Tears $10; $51 & $12: She has also earned a 520m Group 1 title at this venue, which she achieved in a tidy 29.84s. She gamely chased home Blazin’ Carter last Friday.
5 Dirk Bale $5; $14 & $3.50: This bloke owns searing early pace which is an asset he must use from trap rise. The current Auckland Cup title holder is a proven 520m chaser on this track.
6 Quistis Bale $21; $81 & $18: She has been contesting recent staying events. She has no option but to try to cross the early pace owned by others drawn inside her.
7 Dyna Vernon $34; $126 & $26: He’s a C4 assessed chaser who is facing his toughest career test in this field. His draw here won’t help him.
8 Bigtime Twinkle $21; $126 & $26: She owns the ability to break away quickly from this trap which is a tactic she must employ here.
Reserve – 9 Cawbourne Trixy $26; $101 & $21: She has secured a race start in the second Auckland Waterloo Cup heat.
Wanganui Waterloo Cup heat contenders includes (from left): Cawbourne Krusty; Bigtime Tears; Dirk Bale
Auckland Waterloo Cup heat, Sunday September 23 (race 10)
TAB Final Field (heat) option 991 – Futures, Win option 1947 Top 3 option 1948
1 Nature’s Gent $2.60; $9 & $2.50: This bloke is a demon railing chaser who has raced generously at this venue in the past. The current NZ Cup title holder is in solid form.
2 Cameo Syd 21; $101 & $21: He’s a pacy youngster who is resuming from a two month spell here. He must place himself straight onto the early pace from his kind draw.
3 Dyna Dave $2.80; $12 & $3: He’s the recently disposed Addington 520m track record holder (29.75s) who adds interest by being on track debut here. He’s proven at the top level.
4 Cawbourne Liz $26; $101 & $21: She’s a C4 graded chaser who won a Manawatu C3 375m sprint on Monday. Promising, but her first look at this track here worries. She holds a Hatrick C4 520m Friday evening engagement.
5 Dusty Gambler $6; $21 & $5: He’s a lethal multiple Group race winning stayer who is capable of delivering a power packed 527m effort around this circuit.
6 Kiwi Gal $14; $41 & $11: She owns a fair amount of early pace which is an asset she must use from the traps as she tends to take shorter strides at the business end of her 527m races around here.
7 Ask King Jeff $6; $18 & $4.50: He’s a strong Hatrick 520m greyhound who won’t object about drawing out wide for his Manukau track debut outing. He won’t flinch over the later stages here.
8 Stay Away Haydo $31; $101 & $21: Proven local 527m chaser who was last presented on June 24 when he led home the proven Ridin’ Shotgun over 527m. His lack of recent racing is a concern for him here.
Reserve – 9 Cawbourne Trixy $21; $101 & $21: She has gained a start in the second heat here.
Auckland Waterloo Cup first heat contenders includes (from left): Nature’s Gent; Dusty Gambler; Stay Away Haydo
Auckland Waterloo Cup heat, Sunday September 23 (race 11)
TAB Final Field (heat) option 982 – Futures, Win option 1947 Top 3 option 1948
1 Pinny Mack $1.50; $3.50 & 1.40: Wow, that was an empathic 527m 30.24s track debut win that this bloke delivered from this trap last Sunday. A repeat dose looms for him here.
2 Avenger Bale $9; $16 & $3.50: He’s a Group 1 732m winning stayer who is just as effective over the mid distances – he has won over 527m here in 30.20s. He’s backing up from his Thursday Addington Group 2 732m assignment.
3 Cristiane Cyborg $16; $41 & $11: She’s the local heroine who is likely to be sighted charging home over the concluding stages here. Her lack of early pace and desire to race out wide is the worry for her here.
4 Monster Fish $9; $21 & $5: He has been monstering his recent Monday Manawatu Raceway 457m rivals. He’s a proven former Victorian Group race performer whose advancement claims here cannot be lightly dismiss even though he’s on track debut here.
5 Bigtime Lily $21; $81 & $16: She is a last start Hatrick C3 520m winner (30.29s) winner who has been provided with no favours being allocated this lousy trap to hop away from here.
6 Idol Tom $16; $81 & $16: He’s a perennial Hatrick Friday 520m open class place getter, which includes at Group 1 race level. He isn’t the quickest into stride, although he does own a strong finish. .
7 Very Choosy – Scratched
8 Ridin’ Shotgun $6.50; $26 & $6: He gamely chased home Pinny Mack for his 9.5 length 527m second last Sunday from this trap. This proven top race level fella still owns a touch of class.
Reserve – 9 Cawbourne Trixy $21; $101 & $21: She’ll be jumping away from the seven trap here after her recent 660m and 645m staying assignments. She was unplaced in her only previous 527m race here (2017 Amazing Chase final).
Auckland Waterloo Cup second heat contenders includes (from left): Pinny Mack; Cristiane Cyborg; Ridin’ Shotgun
By Peter Fenemor
