The sharp short course Kiwi bred sprinters will be dashing for cash in their $8,500 NZRS Sprint final (race 11) at the Manukau Stadium following three heats held last Sunday. Their 318m sprint is part of the huge Waterloo Cup meeting where the gold plated TAB Melbourne Cup will be on display.
Pictured: Kiwi Boy with his co-trainer Denise Cottam following his smart 18.21s 318m NZRS Sprint win
Kiwi Boy has been fairly flying lately over the 318 sprint here for his trainers Jared Udy and Denise Cottam, having won 15 of his 24 318m sprints at the Auckland headquarters. This son of Kilty Lad and Kiwi Girl flew through his heat assignment when he clocked the meeting best 18.21s 318m time. Jumping from the tricky five trap here isn’t likely to faze this fella.
The visiting Bigtime Wendle really caught the eye when she delivered his tidy 18.31s heat win. The Lisa Cole prepped daughter of Fabregas and Allegro Star pinged away smartly from the five trap and this proven 520m chaser was never going to be caught by any of her rivals. She was on track debut then, therefore she is likely to have derived benefit from her first look at the northern track. Possibly drawing the three trap may be a slight concern as she is known for her middle of the track racing tactics.
It was another visitor who stylishly took out the third heat when the Marcie Flipp mentored Idol Hot was sighted kicking up strongly up along the rail after this daughter of Fabregas and Idol Girl made a moderate jump from the one trap. She used the rail heading into the turn, then eased away from it to chase after the pace making Waerenga Star. She extended strongly during the run home to snatch her 18.64s heat win by the barest possible margin. She isn’t likely to be concerned about moving out to the eight trap for this decider.
Waerenga Star was real bold when after bouncing straight into the race lead from trap five this kennelmate to Kiwi Boy set the pace for 317m of her assignment until she was nailed in the very final stride by Idol Hot. Drawing the ace trap isn’t exactly where this daughter of Star Conquest and Big Sam’s Girl wants to be. She is one of those greyhounds who is very content when she’s sighted racing from the middle traps.
Two visiting trained sprinters won NZRS Sunday Sprint heats – Ella Cole is seen here with Bigtime Wendle, while trainer Marcie Flipp handled her heat winner Idol Hot who got up late to snatch her heat win over Waerenga Star (right)
It was a massive effort that the fresh up Ben Craik prepared Alyeska produced for his 4.25 length heat second behind Bigtime Wendle. This son of Fabregas and Katcha Fire completely bombed the race start, then he displayed great track sense when he angled his way down onto the rail, following which he moved away from it when rounding the turn to finish strongly to book his position in this field. He cannot afford to use that tardy starting tactic in this final from the seven trap.
It was Raging Demon who led the vain chase home behind the freewheeling Kiwi Boy when he wound up 6.25 lengths astern of him. It’s a father verses son training clash in this sprint as he is prepared by Ross and Lynne Udy, with Ross being Jared’s dad. This half brother to Waerenga Star, being by Star Conquest out of Ely’s Girl, tends to spend his time rotating between the C4 and C5 classes. He is currently C5 assessed and he must use his known early pace when he exits from trap two on Sunday after his traffic impeded Cambridge Thursday 375m sprint.
Jinja Mongo is generally sighted finishing strongly, therefore it was a bit of surprise when he was cut off second over the later stages when Alyeska nailed this son of Fabregas and Jinja Ruby by a head. He has proven to be a competitive Manukau 318m sprinter, as seen in his prior Thursday 18.53s win, whose stakes claims in this dash cannot be lightly dismissed from the four trap for his trainers Wayne and Tracey Steele.
Harry Brown has been delivering sound recent Manukau 318m sprints for his conditioner Hayley Mullane. Included was his handy to the pace 6.4 length heat third to Kiwi Boy. This son of Barcia Bale and Mammy Brown had delivered the meet best 18.33s 318m sprint the previous Sunday. He will be sighted wearing the green racing vest in this final.
Sunday NZRS Sprint contenders includes (from top left): Alyeska; Raging Demon; Jinja Mongo and Harry brown, while occupying the reserves bench is Bigtime Eve and Token Jasper
Occupying the first possie on the reserves bench is another Cole trained sprinter Bigtime Eve, who kicked on stoutly for her 2.25 length heat third to Idol Hot when making her track debut outing. This daughter of Magic Sprite and Hello Ello does own sharp early pace which is an asset she must use if she’s required to sprint here.
The quickest of the heat fourth placed runners was Token Jasper from the local Steve Clark kennels. He recovered from a rather moderate start when this son of Dyna Vikkers and Prefect Token was seen kicking on from the rear group for his 8.2 length heat fourth to Kiwi Boy.
By Peter Fenemor
