The heat ramps up on the remaining 32 contenders for the 2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup with the semi-final rounds for the nation’s richest greyhound race being contested at the Addington Raceway on Wednesday evening. Two greyhounds will advance from each of the four 520m semis into the November 15 $125,000 final.
Pictured: Former Addington 520m track record holder Dyna Dave is sighted here delivering his 29.95s NZ Cup win (pic Dave Robbie)
Here’s a look at the NZ Cup semi final prospects with their revised TAB Future market quotes – Win option 1992, Top 3 option 1993.
2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup semi 1, race 1
1 Blazin’ Aubrey ($51 & $13): She receives the trap one draw advantage here following on from her sound 6.25 length track debut heat third. She must push forward onto the early pace.
2 Bigtime Lily ($61 & $16): She has been a Group 1 520m finalist here before and she pressed on solidly for her heat third placing. She owns early pace which is an asset she must use here.
3 Kiwi Gal ($126 & $31): She is taking her place as an exempted heat contender and she has since trialled around here. Her recent Manukau 527m wins came when she set up the pace. She must use that tactic in this event.
4 Carltonian ($18 & $5.50): He stepped up significantly in class in his heat and he kicked on solidly for his heat third in doing so after he placed himself just in behind the pace setters.
5 Mr. Matt ($31 & $7.50): He also stylishly handled the rise in class he faced in in his heat when he gamely chased home a talented type (Bago Bye Bye) for his 5.5 length heat second. He cops a tough draw here.
6 Idol Tom ($51 & $13): This bloke continues to deliver his strong finishing bursts from the rear group in his fields. His racing pattern is virtually identical in all of his outings. He’s expected to apply similar racing tactics in this semi.
7 Dyna Dave ($4.50 & $1.50): He really impressed when he cleared out during the run home to deliver his bold his 29.95s heat win after jumping away from trap eight. Expect a similar effort from him here.
8 Barge Bale ($61 & $16): He produced the heat boil over when he delivered his 30.20s win. He refused to flinch when he maintained a solid gallop throughout then. Drawing out here is a concern, however he’s capable of toughing out a strong 520m here.
Reserves
9 Don’t Knocka Gee ($126 & $26): She pressed on stoutly for her heat sixth placing after being impeded during the rush when on track debut. She will prove tough to run down if she gets a race as she’s capable of racing on the pace.
10 Smash Calling ($251 & $36): He bravely picked himself up after being hindered on the first turn from where he whacked away for his heat sixth placing.
NZ Cup semi 1 contenders includes (from left): Kiwi Gal; Idol Tom; Barge Bale seen here delivering his NZ Cup heat upset win (pic Dave Robbie)
2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup semi 2, race 2
1 Go Brat ($51 & $13): It was a solid effort from this fella to recover from early heat jostling which led to traffic issues so he can remain in this series. He’s likely to enjoy the improved draw he receives here.
2 David’s Legacy ($101 & $26): He didn’t aid his claims by racing wide into the first turn after jumping from this trap in his heat. He’s better than that and he is capable of contesting the early pace.
3 Dyna Monty ($18 & $5.50): He scampered through his heat assignment in an okay 30.08s after he hopped away from the eight trap. He has cut out some quick previous 520m races and delivering a similar time can see him returning for the final.
4 Djay Dynamix ($41 & $11): He would have benefited from his heat track debut outing where he was sighted pressing on stoutly during the run home. He does own strength at the business end of his races.
5 Bago Bye Bye ($6 & $2): He slipped through his heat in a smart 29.94s - a repeat of that time will see him lining up in the final. While there’s no questioning the sheer pace he owns, it is this tricky draw that he has to firstly negotiate. .
6 Avenger Bale ($12 & $3.50): This versatile chaser joins this series here and he brings in solid form doing so having strongly won his last start 645m assignment here. He owns solid 520m form at this venue and commands respect.
7 Nature’s Gent ($31 & $7.50): He is the defending NZ Cup title holder and he remained in in this series when he finished solidly for his heat second placing. However drawing trap seven here has made this noted railer advancement claims a fair bit tougher.
8 Goldstar Ashton ($126 & $31): He plugged on soundly when wound up 7.75 lengths behind the low flying Bago Bye Bye in his heat. His lack of form from this trap is the concern for him in this semi.
Reserves
9 Don’t Knocka Gee ($126 & $26): She pressed on stoutly for her heat sixth placing after being impeded during the rush when on track debut. She will prove tough to run down if she gets a race as she’s capable of racing on the pace.
10 Smash Calling ($251 & $36): He bravely picked himself up after being hindered on the first turn from where he whacked away for his heat sixth placing.
NZ Cup semi 2 contenders includes (from left): Dyna Monty & Bago Bye Bye delivering their NZ Cup heat wins (pics Dave Robbie) & Natures Gent
2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup semi 3, race 3
1 Egomaniacal ($21 & $6): He receives the trap one draw advantage here and that factor has firmly enhanced his advancement claims especially as he has compiled a respectable record from there. He was the Waterloo Cup third place getter. .
2 Quistis Bale ($126 & $31): She remains in this series by being one of the quickest heat sixth placed finishers. She was racing handy to the pace until she became tangled up in traffic on the home turn.
3 Malaga Molly ($126 & $31): This girl owns volumes of early pace which is asset that she must use from the traps as she isn’t exactly the strongest over the concluding stages. She whacked away during the run home in her heat.
4 Puzzle Tin ($51 & $13): He gamely stuck to his task after he suffered from a fair degree of buffering in his heat, which saw him being forced wide. He must place himself handier to the early pace here.
5 Pinny Mack ($5 & $1.90): He can only be improved following his bold track debut heat second placing. He jumped handy to the pace, took the lead on the final turn, then he only yielded over the later stages to Dyna Dave. He won the Waterloo Cup from this trap.
6 Dyna Elwyn ($6 & $2): This heat exempted recent 520m track record holder joins this series at the semi stage and he demands absolute respect in doing so. He comes into this event after a brief freshen up.
7 Viktoria Vikkers ($201 & $46): This girl was super bold in advancing this far which she achieved by racing handy to the early pace. Drawing out here has made it tougher for this C3 graded chaser.
8 Ask King Jeff ($21 & $6): This heat exempted chaser will enjoy jumping from the eight trap here as he owns a proven record from there. He arrives at this venue following some quick Hatrick 520m efforts.
Reserves
9 Don’t Knocka Gee ($126 & $26): She pressed on stoutly for her heat sixth placing after being impeded during the rush when on track debut. She will prove tough to run down if she gets a race as she’s capable of racing on the pace.
10 Smash Calling ($251 & $36): He bravely picked himself up after being hindered on the first turn from where he whacked away for his heat sixth placing.
NZ Cup semi 3 contenders includes (from left): Egomaniacal; Pinny Mack; Dyna Elwyn
2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup semi 4, race 4
1 Panel Beater ($101 & $21): He scrapped into the semis by being one of the fastest heat sixth place getters. He does receive an improved draw, however his lack of 520m wins on this track is a concern.
2 Dirk Bale ($9 & $2.60): He slipped through his heat assignment in 30.12s.by using his pace making tactics. The current Auckland Cup title holder is poised to serve up a repeat dose here.
3 Bigtime Levi ($61 & $16): He gained a heat exemption, therefore he links up in this series here. His lead in Manawatu 457m form saw him striking traffic problems owing to him making moderate starts.
4 Blazin’ Carter ($26 & $6.50): He would have benefited from his track debut heat appearance where he set up the pace prior to being claimed during the run home when finishing third. He’s a likely improver following that outing.
5 Classy Witch ($101 & $26): She used her known strength during the run home to claim her place here when she rattled home late from the rear group. Her lack of early pace is the concern for her here.
6 Cawbourne Krusty ($26 & $6.50): She is a Group 1 winning 520m chaser who didn’t receive any racing favours during the early rush for positions in her heat. She is more than capable of being able to snare a final field position from this semi.
7 Opawa Rooster ($41 & $11): This proven Addington Group racing winning chaser is likely to be sighted doing his best work at the business end of this semi. He was also a victim of a hindered early racing passage.
8 Shallay Pallay ($21 & $6): He has hit solid 520m form at precisely the right time and by maintaining that sound form in this semi can see this bloke booking his final field position.
Reserves
9 Don’t Knocka Gee ($126 & $26): She pressed on stoutly for her heat sixth placing after being impeded during the rush when on track debut. She will prove tough to run down if she gets a race as she’s capable of racing on the pace.
10 Smash Calling ($251 & $36): He bravely picked himself up after being hindered on the first turn from where he whacked away for his heat sixth placing.
NZ Cup semi 1 contenders includes (from left): Dirk Bale delivering his NZ Cup heat win (pics Dave Robbie); Opawa Rooster; Shallay Pallay
By Peter Fenemor
