The Addington 520m track falls yet again; Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup and The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint preludes underway; Dyna Weslyn stylishly wins her Melbourne debut race; $1 million dollars won in Sydney highlighted last week’s racing action.
Pictured: Bago Bye Bye delivering his slick Friday 29.59s Addington 520m track record (pic Dave Robbie)
It was a full on week of chasing action on both sides of the Tasman. Here’s a wrap on that action.
Watching the standard Friday afternoon low grade racing at the Addington Raceway and one of the last things you’ll expect is to witness a track record being established. Wrong – because that’s exactly what occurred at the Christchurch headquarters last Friday afternoon.
Ever since he first placed his paws on the Addington track, when he won his C1 520m track and New Zealand debut race in a quick 29.82s, the Dave and Jean Fahey prepared Bago Bye Bye indicated he owned a swift set of paws. On Friday afternoon he used those paws to scorch through his 520m assignment in an unbelievable 29.59s.
In doing so he shattered the now regularly broken Addington 520m track record. For a look back at those recent 520m track records we have to go back to May 2008 when the Fahey’s trained Miss Koonawara to win the Top Gun Invitation setting the Addington 520m track best time with her stylish 29.78s gallop.
Roll onto July this year when Craig Roberts mentored greyhounds began their assault on the 520m track record. First up on July 5 it was Dyna Dave who finally cracked the record with his slippery 29.75s clock. Move forward twelve days and also at a low grade meeting, this time on a Tuesday afternoon, it was Dyna Elwyn who erased his kennelmates name from the record book when he clocked his slick 29.67s time. That time only stood to last Friday when Bago Bye Bye returned his electric 29.59s time when effortlessly winning his C2 feature 520m final.
“That’s what he can do when he jumps. He’s always been a very quick greyhound. It was combination of that and a quick track that saw him breaking the record. He hasn’t really learnt to race in a field yet (as seen three races ago when he kept on getting himself tangled up in traffic) – he has been using his pace and power so far,” advised co-trainer Dave Fahey.
“His owner Greg Watts rang me and asked us to train him after he got a ticket in Brisbane. Apparently he turned down a massive offer for the dog prior to him getting his ticket. I have nommed him for a C3 520m this Thursday. Hopefully he gets a race, wins it and then it’ll be onto the New Zealand Cup heats,” he confirmed.
Co-trainer Dave Fahey with the new Addington Raceway 29.59s 520m track record holder Bago Bye Bye; A head shot of Bago Bye Bye as supplied by Dave Robbie
NZ Cup & Galaxy Preludes Underway
Three sets of heat exemption races for the $125,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup and $30,000 The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint was held throughout the country last week. The first two greyhounds who finished in each of the six prelude races gained an exemption from having to contest the first round of heats for both Group 1 races.
First up we saw the Craig Roberts prepared kennelmates Avenger Bale and Dirk Bale finish one – two in the Christchurch hosted NZ Cup Prelude. They can now advance to the NZ Cup semifinal rounds. Avenger Bale ran down his litter brother Dirk Bale by half a length when recording 30.02s.
“I was rapt with the brothers in running the prelude quinella. Avenger got the nice early run and he used his strength to run down Dirk. I have nominated Dyna Dave ad Dyna Elwyn for this Thursday’s NZ Cup preludes,” confirmed Roberts.
The race before that it was Calum Weir who produced his talented sprinter Rocket Raccoon to take out the 295m Galaxy Sprint Prelude in 17.12s. Chasing him home 1.5 lengths behind was Chitina Tin for Alison Lee to claim the other exemption position.
Avenger Bale defeating his kennelmate and litter brother Dirk Bale in the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup prelude and Rocket Raccoon delivering his The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint prelude win - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
The Friday evening Hatrick meeting saw Ask King Jeff taking out the Wanganui hosted 520m NZ Cup Prelude event in a handy 29.98s for Lisa Cole. He led his kennelmate Bigtime Levi all the way when scoring by a 3.25 length margin.
The race prior to that it was the Cole prepared Sir Duggie who prevailed when he landed his 17.40s 305m win in the Galaxy Sprint Prelude. Booking an exemption Galaxy position was Rain And Tears when she landed her 2.25 length second placing for her trainer Matt Roberts.
The Wanganui hosted Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup and The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint prelude winners were Ask King Jeff (left) and Sir Duggie
The value of the Christchurch club spreading their Group 1 preludes around the country was graphically illustrated at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday afternoon when it was confirmed that both of the prelude winners, the kennel and litter mates Kiwi Gal and Kiwi Boy will both be taking up their exemption status.
First up it was the Jared Udy and Denise Cottam trained Kiwi Gal who seized the early race lead in her NZ Cup prelude. It was a race lead she was never going to hand up as she freewheeled her way to her convincing nine length race victory, cutting out the 527m trip in 30.52s. It was her Ben Craik trained litter brother Cameo Syd who overcame early traffic problems to rush home late to claim the second place possie.
Their litter brother Kiwi Boy had to gain entry into the 318m Galaxy Sprint Prelude via the reserves bench. He did so, he slotted away into the eight trap from where he pinged away smartly to carry the green and white racing vest through to an easy 5.5 length victory, completing his 318m dash in 18.32s. It was Mila Mila who extended nicely during the run home to claim second for her trainer Angela Turnwald.
“Jared has got a fair bit of driving in front of him,” chucked his partner Denise Cottam at the podium. “It’s huge for us to receive this opportunity – we will be going south with both greyhounds,’ she added.
The Manukau hosted Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup prelude winner Kiwi Gal (with co-trainer Denise Cottam and handler Mellissa) along with runner up her litter brother Cameo Syd who was handled by Selwyn Loader; their litter brother Kiwi Boy with his co-trainer Denise Cottam following his The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint prelude win
Pawnote: The connections of the NZ Cup and Galaxy Sprint exempted greyhounds are under no obligation whatsoever to take up their exempted semifinal field positions.
Dyna Weslyn Impresses in Melbourne Debut Win
It was an impressive and strong introduction to Melbourne greyhound racing for the exciting Craig Roberts trained stayer Dyna Weslyn on Saturday night. She lined up in a grade 4 & 5 725m staying event at The Meadows track and she turned out as the stylish 42.80s winner.
It was a moderate start made by Dyna Weslyn, who settled just a tad worse than midfield. From there she improved her field position to be handily placed with a lap of the track to run. Going down the back straight she commenced her long searching run that carried her into the race lead when rounding the final turn. Dyna Weslyn was never challenged afterwards with commentator Ron “the Hawk” Hawkeswell calling “and the New Zealander Dyna Weslyn is home.”
Roberts had returned home on Friday and he indicated he’s heading back across the ditch on Tuesday undecided about Dyna Weslyn’s exact next assignment. “I’m having second thoughts about lining Weslyn in Saturday’s Hume Cup heats (Group 1, 600m). I’m a bit worried about the early pace some of those 600m dogs have and her lack of early pace could see her getting roughed up. I want to keep her confidence up as it’s the feature 700m staying races I want to target with her.
“I haven’t made a decision yet about the Hume Cup heats or whether to nom her for another 725m race there on Saturday. I am going to trial her at Sandown Park on Wednesday. It is the Bold Trease that is Weslyn’s main target (Group 1 Sandown Park 715m, November 23).
“Yes, I’m rapt with her first up race, especially with the way she went into overdrive going down the back straight and with her strong run home. She has pulled up as good as gold and I reckon there’s plenty of natural improvement left in her,” advised Roberts.
Dyna Weslyn landing her easy The Meadows 725m Melbourne win; Race day handler James “Sheep” Shaw (with cap) is buried with a large group celebrating a birthday at The Meadows podium – pics supplied by Jason McKeown, The Meadows)
Mystic Riot Storms to Million Dollar Chase Victory
A severe Sydney electrical storm failed to dampen the inaugural running of the Ladbroke’s Million Dollar Chase on Sydney’s Wentworth Park on Saturday night, with the meeting being put back by two races.
A total prize pool of A$1.2 million was on offer with the race winner taking home a cool million dollars. It was Mystic Riot who blazed away from the seven trap to lead her rivals all the way, cutting out the 520m trip in a tidy 29.67s. That time represents earning $33,704 per second!
In a series that was anticipated to be dominated by Victorian greyhounds, it was the home state New South Wales chasers who made a clean sweep of the podium placings with Jamella Jet finishing second and Sky Wave, who is a litter sister to the Lisa Cole trained Nancy Cobain Distance winner Don’t Knocka Gee, finishing third.
Mystic Riot winning the inaugural running of the Ladbroke’s Million Dollar Chase on Sydney’s Wentworth Park on Saturday night; her trainer Peter Lagogiene and his wife Jodie are understandably jubilant with their charges million dollar victory – pics Greyhound Racing NSW ‘the dogs’ website
By Peter Fenemor
