The Kolorful Kanvas Robinson Rosebowl is a long time feature open class 520m event hosted by the Christchurch GRC. There are numerous classy greyhounds who have had their names engraved on the Rosebowl over many decades. Thursday’s edition of this $7,500 race appears to be no different with a classy field drawn to contest it (race 11).

Pictured: It was a crowded podium attendance when last year’s Robinson Rosebowl winner Opawa Brad was acknowledged (pic Dave Robbie)

Included in the line up are two Craig Roberts trained greyhounds who has recently lowered the Addington 520m track record. Dyna Elwyn is the current track holder with his outstanding 29.67s time. This bloke has stamped himself as a real exciting chasing prospect as seen by his ten race wins from his 15 outings. Included is his smart last start 25.72s Ascot Park 457m victory. Drawing out in trap eight suggests that he can place himself into a forward early position from where he can cut out swift race sectionals.

Dyna Dave redeemed himself for his recent Waterloo Cup miss when on return to his home track from his northern assignment he cut out his Addington 520m race last Thursday in a quick 29.73s, which was a quicker time than the 29.75s he posted when he earlier broke the long standing 520m track record. He demolished his rivals by a comfortable nine length margin last week. He slots back into the four trap here, which was the same trap he jumped from in the Waterloo Cup final.

The Robinson Rosebowl field is dominated by greyhounds from the powerful looking Roberts kennels. He has also accepted with another three contenders. Avenger Bale certainly adds to the Roberts fire power here as seen by his potent 37.61s 645m freewheeling win (0.01s outside the 645m track record) here last Thursday. That effort was sheer power and this fella is no slug over the 520m trip either as seen by his respectable race record over it. He will be paraded to the traps wearing the green racing vest here.

  
Included in the Craig Roberts serious looking five prong assault on Thursday’s Robinson Rosebowl are (from left): Dyna Elwyn; Dyna Dave and Avenger Bale

Then you can add Avenger’s litter brother Dirk Bale into the equation in this field. The current Auckland Cup title holder is a slippery, very slippery chaser during the early rush. That factor will not be lost on his rivals, especially as he has drawn the ace trap from where he has won on all four previous occasions he has occupied trap one.

The Roberts representation in this event is wrapped up by Dyna Monty, who has to be rated as the kennel “fifth stringer”. That comment is made after he was held in the rear group throughout after being hindered during the early rush for positions when he made his open class debut in last week’s C4/5 520m event. He had previously graduated into open class when winning his prior C3/4 520m race in 30.24s. He will be loaded away into trap three here.

Egomaniacal from the Dave and Jean Fahey kennels wore the gold racing vest when he led home the vain chase nine lengths behind Dyna Dave last Thursday. The recent Waterloo Cup third place getter will be sighted wearing the same coloured vest in this event. A similar placing appears best for him here.

His kennelmate Shallay Pallay has been mixing his recent race distances. He found himself contained in midfield traffic in last week’s open class 520m race. It was the same field situation in his prior 295m sprint around this circuit. Drawing trap two here is likely to at least assist him during the early rush.

Completing the field is the Steve and Bonnie Evans prepared Goldstar Ashton. His task here got a tad tougher after he was allocated the seven trap to be loaded away into. He was held in the midfield pack in last Thursday’s C4/5 lead in 520m race after having delivered a competitive second to the rising staying star Perfect Result in his previous 645m outing.

  
Looking to deny Craig Roberts trained greyhounds making it a podium clean sweep in the Robinson Rosebowl are (from left): the Dave and Fahey prepared Egomaniacal and Shallay Pallay, plus also Goldstar Ashton from the Steve and Bonnie Evans kennels

By Peter Fenemor