“I have never experienced a sensation like this in 40 years of being involved in the racing industry. It is the greatest thrill of my life,” an ecstatic Dudley Parker stated after his greyhound Pinny Mack powerfully won the $35,000 Waterloo Cup at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Pictured: Trainer Steve Clark (left) and owner Dudley Parker with their Waterloo Cup winner Pinny Mack.
“I have been extensively involved in harness and greyhound racing for those 40 years – until now I had never won a Group 1 race. Wining the Waterloo Cup today has topped off everything for me,” added Parker.
Pinny Mack made a statement – an emphatic statement when the Steve Clark prepared former West Australian greyhound seized the race lead when rounding the first turn. He had stepped away on par with his race rivals from his tricky five trap draw from where he placed himself in a handy forward position going into that turn.
It was game, set and match for Pinny Mack when he entered the back straight, with him flicking on the turbo chargers as seen when cut out his second sectional in a quick 15.37s. Pinny was in freewheeling motion from there as he cruised clear to land his 527 Group 1 victory by a comfortable 5.75 length margin, requiring only 30.14s to achieve his win.
Lisa Cole had qualified two finalists and both Blazin’ Carter and Bigtime Lilly ranged up onto the early pace after they exited from the two widest traps. It was the Hatrick qualifier Blazin’ Carter who led the vain chase after the tear away pacemaker. He was rewarded with his second placing for last year’s winning Waterloo Cup trainer.
Thrilling Lily raced in the middle of the track when heading down the back straight which presented a clear rails racing passage for the Dave and Jean Fahey prepared Egomaniacal. He seized on the opportunity and he kicked on solidly to provide his conditioners with yet another minor placing in the event when he wound up 2.25 lengths behind the runner up in third.
The 2018 Waterloo Cup winner Pinny Mack; runner up Blazin’ Carter was brought back to the podium by Ella Cole, while Tracy Steele returned with the third placed Egomaniacal
Thrilling Lily gamely stuck to her task and by finishing a further 3.5 lengths astern saw this daughter of Jarvis Bale and Allegro Blast not only picking up the $1,920 available for her fourth placing, but also an additional $1,000 Breeders’ bonus by being the first (and only) New Zealand bred greyhound to finish in this Group 1 event.
Clark is starting to make the time honoured Waterloo Cup is own personal domain. Sunday’s win was the fourth occasion he has mentored the winner of this prestigious event, which dates back to 1878s when it was contested as a coursing event.
His three previous Waterloo Cup winners Magic Spike (2008), Piggy Back (2013) and Blitzing Mayhem (2014) are all enjoying their retired lifestyle at Clark’s Maramarua Forest training base. “I play around with them every day. Magic Spike is now 14 years old and he was my very first Group 1 winner – he is still very special to me,” said Clark.
“Winning the Waterloo Cup again is absolutely huge. It has been a tough year for me having broken my leg exactly a year ago and nearly losing my owners. What makes this win even more special for me is having my family – daughters and grandchildren here today with me,” advised Clark.
The Waterloo Cup has become an exempt race for the TAB Melbourne Cup with the winner being guaranteed a heat start in the A$630,000 Sandown Park hosted Group 1 515m event. It was the pathway that last year’s Waterloo Cup winner bigtime Paddy used (fourth in his heat) and Clark in pretty much convinced he’ll be crossing the Tasman with Pinny Mack.
“The Melbourne Cup is a race that has been on my bucket list and at 63 years of age I’m all but confirmed to take Pinny over there for it as I reckon I’ll probably won’t get another crack at it. I’m thinking of making it a straight hit and run mission – it’ll be a huge task and if going I’ll go without any expectations. I believe Pinny Mack is the right type of dog to go over there,” suggested Clark who has enjoyed considerable success with other former West Australian imported greyhounds.
“I had a relationship with Jimmy Lee who sent me the first Group 1 finalist I trained Warnie, then Magic Spike and others like Stately Conquest, Major Conquest, Kylie’s Dilemma and Lady Shambi all came from over there. Pinny Mack is the best of them – he’s such a real cruisy greyhound. He’s the prefect greyhound in all ways. He’ll now have a week off while I plan his future,” added Clark
Pinny Mack started his racing career in West Australia and it was on the Cannington track (Perth) when Pinny Mack received a racing ticket in a late March race. Parker then looked at New Zealand greyhound racing to get his charge back on track and Steve Clark was recommended to Parker.
“It sure was the right call to send the greyhound over to Steve. He picked up an injury with the dog on arrival and Steve took his time to recuperate Pinny. I have been really impressed with what Steve has done for the greyhound and the patience he has displayed is being rewarded in spades – for that I really appreciate his efforts and training skills,” stated Parker who named Pinny Mack after the Pinjarra district he lives in. He is also a very passionate supporter as seen by the yellow shirt he wore on Sunday to match Pinny Mack’s gold racing vest.
After slipping on the mats when leaving the Hatrick 520m traps in an Amazing Chase match race Pinny Mack ran a Cambridge 375m second, then he has won his next seven races straight, which now sees his career stake earnings sitting at $72,983, the result of 16 wins and five minor placings from his 26 race day outings.
Sitting alongside the Waterloo Cup during the meeting was the gold plated TAB Melbourne Cup which was brought across the Tasman by the Sandown Park racing and media manager Mick Floyd who made a rather salient point after the race.
“Pinny Mack ran a time that was quicker than the Amazing Chase greyhounds ran when they raced at Manukau and some of them were very good Sandown greyhounds. Looking at what I saw of him today he certainly ticked all the right boxes to be competitive at Sandown. What’s more the greyhound is experienced in the Australian system of racing (catching pens), who certainly has a good trainer.
“The TAB Melbourne Cup is the great race, raced on our greatest night of the year (A$1 million in stakes for the cup night). We view the race as a showcase event for the entire industry – it is a race designed for all comers for our great canine athletes. We are absolutely happy with the relationship that Sandown has built with the Auckland club for our pinnacle race,” said Floyd.
The TAB Melbourne Cup; Trainer Steve Clark and owner Dudley Parker get a taste of holding the TAB Melbourne Cup, overseen by Mick Floyd, who earlier had presented all Waterloo Cup contenders with specially inscribed collars and leads marking the occasion – Georgie Cole is pictured here receiving hers for the two Cole trained finalists.
By Peter Fenemor
