Gee, she has a motor alright. That’s Don’t Knocka Gee we’re speaking about here. The majority of her race wins have been delivered by her freewheeling pace making tactics. On Monday afternoon at the Manawatu Raceway Don’t Knocka Gee settled just in behind the early pace in the $16,000 Nancy Cobain Distance feature. She unleashed on the point of the final turn to deliver her emphatic 38.60s 660m win at Group 2 level.
Pictured: It was a family podium after Don’t Knocka Gee’s superb Nancy Cobain Distance win – seen here with Sam (front left) and Max Cole. From back left; Brendon & Ella Cole, Sam Lozell and Georgie Cole (pic Palmerston North GRC)
Don’t Knocka Gee had produced the quickest of the two 660m heat times when she delivered her smart 38.49s clock for her conditioner Lisa Cole. However it was the Karen Walsh prepared other 48.63s heat winner Dusty Gambler who was sent to the 660m traps as the warm favourite for the decider.
It was Bigtime Lonestar who won the break from the two trap for her trainers Gary and Sandra Fredrickson, while the Angela Turnwald prepared Argus Filch placed himself in a forward early position. Don’t Knocka Gee was nicely placed on the outer, while Dusty Gambler settled in a midfield possie. Another of the favoured contenders Perfect Result received an interrupted racing passage around the first turn for Ray Adcock.
It remained pretty much the same order racing down the back straight however it was obvious that Don’t Knocka Gee was sitting poised ready to strike. She struck alright when heading into the home turn, quickly putting a break on her rivals, cruising to the judge to record 38.60s. It was her fifth Manawatu Raceway 660m win in her seventh race over the distance.
Mija Sydney wasn’t sighted during the early rush for Turnwald. He sure was at the business end of this event as he put in some big late bounds to claim the runners up prize 2.5 lengths behind Don’t Knocka Gee. Dusty Gambler also extended strongly during the run home when landing his third placing another 3.75 lengths astern.
“She’s a very good greyhound who has really grown in confidence lately. She’s capable of running unbelievable times. On Monday she settled out a wide in her own space and at that point I was confident of her winning the race.
“Don’t Knocka Gee is from a freakish litter. We have her litter brother Djay Dynamix who goes pretty well, while over in Sydney is Sky Wave who ran third in the million dollar race last Saturday,” said Brendon Cole about the second Nancy Cobain winner trained from the Bigtime kennels after Graduation won the 2014 edition.
Don’t Knocka Gee is raced by long time kennel client Gordon Sciberras who also raced New Zealand’s highest ever stake winning greyhound Little Mother ($377,751) from the Cole kennels. “I’m rapt for Gordon as he has been with us for many years,” added Cole, who also explained the close blood line connection between Don’t Knocka Gee and Little Mother. “Little Mother’s dam was Zilla. Don’t Knocka Gee is from Ella Lezah and she is also out of Zilla.”
The full Nancy Cobain Distance podium with Don’t Knocka Gee flanked by runner up Mija Sydney and third placed Dusty Gambler. Don’t Knocka Gee is raced by Gordon Sciberras who was also the owner of the NZ Hall of Fame greyhound Little Mother who is pictured here winning the 2010 New Zealand Oaks and with Gordon Sciberras and Brendon Cole following that Group 1 victory
“We have nommed Don’t Knocka Gee for another 660m race next Monday. I’m not overly sure yet, but there’s a possibility we made take her down for the feature staying race on New Zealand Cup night (Sockburn Cup, 732m),” advised Cole.
Don’t Knocka Gee has now raced on 39 occasions, resulting in 14 wins and four minor placings. It’s a fair bet to suggest that her current stakes tally of $34,700 is going to quickly increase.
By Peter Fenemor
