The preludes for the $125,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup and the $30,000 The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint have all been completed. A total of 16 greyhounds have gained direct entry into the semifinal rounds of both Group 1 races should their respective connections decide to take up their heat exempted status. Across the Tasman Dyna Weslyn is contesting at a Group 1 600m heat on the Melbourne based The Meadows track on Saturday night.
Pictured: Shallay Pallay (blue) fending of the late challenges thrown at him in Thursday’s Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup prelude – pic Dave Robbie
The four rounds of nationwide preludes wrapped up during Thursday evening’s Christchurch meeting which saw a couple of bold efforts being delivered.
The Dave and Jean Fahey prepared Shallay Pallay fended off the strong late challenge that was tossed at him by a pair Craig Roberts prepared chasers in the NZ Cup prelude. He jumped straight into the race lead and he pinched a bit of break on his rivals.
Shallay Pallay required that margin as throwing everything at him at the business end was the pair of recent Addington 520m track record holders. Dyna Elwyn came up a nose short, while also charging late was Dyna Dave, who finished just a half a length further behind, with the 520m preluded being decided in 30.45s during a wet and cool evening.
The 295m Galaxy Sprint prelude saw the Fahey’s prevailing again when their talented mentored sprinter Sheza Rippa pinged away from the two trap to lead her rivals all the way when delivering her tidy 17.12s win by a 1.25 length margin.
Again it was Roberts prepared sprinters who occupied the minor placings behind her. Platinum Marshall pressed on strongly for his second placing while Oskitz kicked on solidly another three quarters of a length adrift for his third placing.
Sheza Rippa is “poetry in motion” winning her Galaxy Sprint prelude as captured by Dave Robbie; Handler Katie Wyllie had a busy evening bringing back the Fahey trained prelude winners for the podium pics – she’s pictured here with Sheza Rippa and Shallay Pallay - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
Here’s a list of the greyhounds who have gained heat exemptions for both of the Group 1 events that will ultimately be decided on Thursday, November 15.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup: Avenger Bale (Craig Roberts), Dirk Bale (Craig Roberts), Shallay Pallay (Dave & Jean Fahey), Dyna Elwyn (Craig Roberts), Ask King Jeff (Lisa Cole), Bigtime Levi (Lisa Cole), Kiwi Gal (Jared Udy & Denise Cottam), Cameo Syd (Ben Craik).
Included as NZ Cup heat exempted greyhounds are (from left): Dyna Elwyn; Bigtime Levi; Cameo Syd
The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint: Rocket Raccoon (Calum Weir), Chitina Tin (Alison Lee), Sheza Rippa (Dave & Jean Fahey), Platinum Marshall (Craig Roberts), Sir Duggie (Lisa Cole), Rain And Tears (Matt Roberts), Kiwi Boy (Jared Udy & Denise Cottam), Mila Mila (Angela Turnwald).
Included as Galaxy Sprint heat exempted greyhounds are (from left): Rocket Raccoon; Rain And Tears; Kiwi Boy
In further New Zealand Cup news, northern trainer Steve Clark has advised that his classy recent Waterloo Cup winner Pinny Mack will not be taking up his TAB Melbourne Cup exemption (place in the heats) and he will now head south to contest a heat for the New Zealand Cup next Thursday. “I had too many issues trying to organize getting Pinny over to Melbourne, so I have decided to change direction with him and line him up in the NZ Cup heats,” advised Clark.
Five Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Heats
Five 520m heats has been drawn to kick off the $125,000 2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup next Thursday evening (races 7-11). All heats feature an interesting blend of contenders. Included are a number chasers from lower North Island kennels, plus also the presence of Pinny Mack as indicated above.
Two greyhounds who gained heat exemptions are lining up, however they are still eligible to contest the semifinal rounds should they miss advancing in their respective heats. There’s another six exempted chasers who can join the series in the semis should their connections chose to.
What that means for Thursday’s heat runners is a finish in the first five placings will virtually guarantee advancement through into the semifinal rounds.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup heat contenders includes the following greyhounds who have previously tasted Group 1 glory (from left): the Waterloo Cup winner Pinny Mack, the defending NZ Cup title holder Nature’s Gent; the Auckland Cup winner Dirk Bale, the NZ Futurity winner Cawbourne Krusty, while the NZ Stayers Cup winner Avenger Bale has elected to use his exempt status through into the semis
Dyna Weslyn Contesting Meadows Group 1 Heat
It’s a huge Saturday of racing action in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. Just up the road from Moonee Valley race track where the champion mare Winx shoots for her fourth consecutive Cox Plate victory is The Meadows based greyhound track.
That evening The Meadows will host both of the rich Topgun Invitation races being decided (525m & 725m), while on the race card six 600m heats will decided the finalists for the Hume Cup at Group 1 level.
Included in the fourth Hume Cup heat (race 7, 11.20pm NZT) is the Canterbury, Craig Roberts prepared stayer Dyna Weslyn, who has been allocated the one trap to step away from. She has been installed as the $4.20 heat Final Field second favourite following on from her impressive 42.80s Meadows 725m track debut victory last Saturday.
“I guess she’s lucky coming up with the red (vest) which can assist her claims. In saying that she must jump away smartly and settle handy to the early pace from that starting point (similar to the Manukau 603m start). If she does hold the fence (rail), then I expect her strength to kick in during the run home. They are very good greyhounds she has drawn to race against. She is as good as gold going into Saturday,” stated Roberts from Melbourne on Thursday. The Hume Cup final will be decided on Monday evening, November 5.
Subject to Saturday’s heat result, Roberts has already looked further ahead with his plans for Dyna Weslyn. Her main Melbourne target is the Group 1 Bold Trease, which is a 715m staying event to be decided on Melbourne Cup night (November 23) at Sandown Park.
With that assignment in mind Roberts took the opportunity to trial Dyna Weslyn at Sandown Park on Wednesday – his blunt assessment of her trial is as follows –“She was crap early as usual, then she finished off her trial really strongly. She will go back there and trial again before she races there.”
Dyna Weslyn’s heat is the third leg of a $40,000 bonus injected Quaddie, which includes the third Hume Cup heat (race 5 – 10.38pm NZT), the TAB Topgun Stayers (race 6) and it wraps up with the TAB Topgun Sprint (race 8). The final Quaddie pool is anticipated to exceed well over $100,000. Check out the detailed form here: https://fasttrack-static.grv.org.au/fasttrackpublic/reports/314365158/RocketScientist.pdf
Craig Roberts with his talented stayer Dyna Weslyn and Dyna Weslyn delivering her The Meadows 725m track debut win last Saturday
By Peter Fenemor
