Head out to the Maramarua Forest training base where greyhound trainer Steve Clark operates from and you’ll see three previous Waterloo Cup winners lazing around enjoying life in the country air after their respective stellular racing careers. On Sunday Clark has sound claims that his Waterloo Cup warm favourite Pinny Mack will join his three retired kennelmates as a Waterloo Cup winner.

Pictured: Pinny Mack who his seeking to provide his trainer Steve Clark with his fourth Waterloo Cup victory.

The Waterloo Cup is a real time honoured Group 1 race, having first being contested for as a coursing event back in 1878. This Group 1 event is unique in its format, with qualifying races being held at different venues throughout the country.

The rich history of the Waterloo Cup was further enhanced a number of years ago when an arrangement between the Melbourne based Sandon Park GRC and the Auckland GRC was reached with the Group 1 race becoming an exempt race with the winner gaining direct entry into an A$630,000 TAB Melbourne Cup heat.

That was the pathway that last year’s Waterloo Cup winner Bigtime Paddy used. The TAB Melbourne Cup will be on display at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday with it being brought across the Tasman by the Sandown Park media manager Mick Floyd.

Pinny Mack ($2.25, TAB Final field, option 986) been displaying sharp pace in his recent Manukau 527m assignments. He used that healthy tactic when he cruised to effortless 30.26s heat win last Sunday. He landed that win by a comfortable 6.5 length margin after hopping away from the one trap. On Sunday he’s required to exit from the trickier five trap.

“He’s great – super. If he jumps like he did in his heat, then yes he has to be tough to catch. He has serious mid race pace and I’ll be confident of Pinny winning the Waterloo Cup if he’s in front going down the back straight.

“However it is Group 1 racing and we have no control of what may happen during it (traffic incidents). In saying that I feel there’s still further improvement in him as he’s still strengthening up, especially in his rear end,” suggested Clark, who added, “I’ll love to tick off being able to race in the Melbourne Cup – it’s a race that is on my bucket list.” Clark prepared Magic Spike (2008), Piggy Back (2013) and Blitzing Mayhem (2014) to win their Waterloo Cups.

Dyna Dave ($4.20) really caught the eye when he delivered his strong finishing Manukau heat win. It was an impressive winning 30.29s track debut effort by the Craig Roberts prepared former Addington 520m track record holder (29.75s). One can only assume that he would have benefited from his first look at the Manukau track, however he is likely to have to negotiate some early traffic after exiting from trap four on Sunday as he isn’t exactly the quickest greyhound around when exiting from the traps.

“I hope he shows some better box manners for a change on Sunday – he’ll need to in that field. I was worried on how he was going to handle his track debut up there – he handled it like a real pro. It was a massive effort from him to run down Nature’s Gent. He has travelled back home a real treat and he worked up nicely back here. He’s all set for Sunday confirmed Roberts, who is also a three time previous Waterloo Cup winning trainer, with his last success being with the talented Dyna Vikkers who won the 2015 edition.

Blazin’ Carter ($6.50) won the Wanganui hosted Waterloo Cup heat when he produced an easy pace making 30.18s 520m win. He had been in solid prior form as was seen by his prior slick 29.83s clock at that venue. He had cracked the 30 second 520m barrier on Sydney’s Wentworth Park prior to crossing the Tasman.

His conditioner Lisa Cole has also tasted previous multiple Waterloo Cup success winning the race with the GRNZ Hall of Fame greyhound Little Mother (2011) and last year with Bigtime Paddy. “He’s a strong greyhound who has had everything go right for him at Hatrick. I know he’s strong enough to hold off the others if he leads early – it’s a case of him being on track debut from a wide trap that is the only concern. He has come through his heat in great condition,” said Brendon Cole.

Cole also qualified Bigtime Lily ($15) when she trekked up to Manukau last Sunday where she gamely chased after the freewheeling Pinny Mack for her 6.75 length heat second behind him. This girl is an experienced chaser at Group 1 level, having contested three of the Black type finals last season.

She does own sound wide trap form and she has to draw on those stats when she jumps away from the eight trap on Sunday. At the very least she’s assured of the $1,000 Breeders bonus attached to the Group 1 event, being the only Kiwi bred greyhound in the field. “S he’s a pacey girl who can put herself into the race from out there – hopefully she does. She has come through her heat race okay,” advised Cole.

  
Sunday Waterloo Cup contenders includes (from left): Dyna Dave; Blazin’ Carter, seen here with Georgie Cole and kennelmate Bigtime Lily

Cole also provides the first reserve Ask King Jeff ($16) who locked in that position by being the quickest of the Manukau heat third place getters when he wound up 5.5 lengths astern of Dyna Dave. He was sighted doing his best work at the business end during his track debut outing and he looms as a podium contender for the race 8 C4/5 event if doesn’t gain a race start here.

Nature’s Gent ($4.20) is a proven chaser at the elite level as seen by him being the current New Zealand Cup title holder. This noted Angela Turnwald prepared railer was expected to be sighted racing on the pace from the one trap in his heat which was the tactic he adopted. It was simply a case of him being out finished by Dyna Dave who got up in the very final bound to nail him by a nose margin.

“He has had the luxury of good draws lately – he knows what he has to do and he has the draw (trap two) to feature from on Sunday. We’re looking for him to get around that first turn on the pace and from there he’s strong enough to feature for the rest of the trip. He’s all good heading into the final,” said his race day handler Paul Freeman.

It is extremely rare to see any Dave and Jean Fahey trained Group 1 contenders being ranked as outsiders at this level of racing which is the case for both of their finalists. Egomaniacal ($21) stalked and then ran down his kennelmate Too The Nail ($21) in the Addington hosted Waterloo Cup 520m heat. There was a 2.75 length margin separating the pair after 30.42s of chasing. Egomaniacal, who has previously placed over 527m at the Manukau Stadium, will be sighted wearing the green racing vest on Sunday, while Too The Nail will be loaded away into the three trap for his track debut assignment.

“I have no doubt they’ll need a miracle if either of them is going to win it – both of them will need a lot of luck from those draws. Egomaniacal prefers the rail, while Too The Nail is capable of racing on the pace – hopefully he does that. Both of them came through their heat without any problems,” Dave Fahey said about the kennelmates who are seeking to provide their trainers with their first Waterloo Cup winner after a training string of minor place getters in the race.

Quistis Bale ($21) booked her final field position via her bold Hatrick three length heat second to Blazin’ Carter. She has appeared at the Manukau Stadium previously which includes an appearance in last season’s Auckland Cup final where from the one trap she raced in the midfield all the way. She will exit from the same trap here for her trainer Matt Roberts.

“She’ll need all the luck she can get in that field. Hopefully she times the jump right like she did last Friday (heat). I deliberately raced her over 645m recently mainly to help her confidence, which I think has paid off. It will be nice if she can grab a slice of the pie on Sunday,” said Roberts, who will become a dad with his partner Sarah Clausen expecting their first baby in December. “There’s another future Roberts’ trainer in the making,” chuckled Matt Roberts.

Ridin Shotgun ($14) occupies the second possie on the reserved bench for Karen Walsh. He gamely stuck to his task when sighted pressing on for his ten length heat third behind Pinny Mack after hopping away from the eight trap. He boldly overcame midfield traffic to win Thursday’s open class 457m event in 26.10s on Thursday evening.

      
Waterloo Cup contenders (from top left): Nature’s Gent; Egomaniacal following his Addington 520m heat win with handler Katie Wylie; Too The Nail; Quistis Bale plus first reserve Ask King Jeff and second reserved Ridin’ Shotgun

By Peter Fenemor