The straight out speed merchants contest their four 2018 The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint semi-final 295m sprints at the Addington Raceway on Thursday evening. It’s the same advancement requirement for the sprinters as the NZ Cup greyhounds with a first two placed finish ensuring participation in the November 15 $30,000 final at Group 1 level.
Pictured: Sunlit Johnny delivering his Galaxy Sprint heat win as captured by Dave Robbie
Here’s a look at the Galaxy Sprint semi final contenders with their revised TAB Future market quotes – Win option 1997, Top 3 option 1998.
2018 The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint Galaxy Sprint semi 1, race 5:
1 Idol Hot ($16 & $4): Sound heat effort for her heat fourth placing after she tried to cut inwards when jumping away from trap seven. That says she’s drawn ideally here.
2 Dizzy Banjo ($51 & $13): He took out this heat in 17.27s after he quickly cleared the midfield pack from the five trap. That set up his pace making heat win. He’s drawn to race on the pace again. .
3 Sheza Rippa ($4 & $1.70): She is absolutely flying at the moment as seen by her slick 17.05s heat win. She owns both early pace, plus also strength at the business end of her sprints. She commands total respect.
4 Hilton Hangover ($51 & $13): She set up the early pace in her heat after jumping from the one trap. She then went AWOL on the turn when she diverted out wide. It was a solid recovery by her to claim her heat third placing.
5 Mila Mila ($101 & $26): Northern trained sprinter who is using her Manukau prelude 318m placing to join this series at the semi stage. She has drawn poorly for her track debut dash here.
6 Pita Ramos ($51 & $13): She was sound in delivering her heat second when she chased after the pacemaker throughout. She must adopt those same on the pace tactics as soon as her paws touch the mat here.
7 Nelso Allen ($18 & $4.50): He overcame an impeded early heat racing passage to push forward and extend stylishly during the run home to nail his heat second placing. He has broken the 17 second barrier for this 295m sprint.
8 Treville ($41 & $11): He jumped handy to the early pace from trap two and he maintained a solid sprint all the way to deliver his heat win in 17.37s. Drawing out here is a concern for him when looking at his trap eight stats.
Reserves
9 Ohoka Alex ($151 & $36): The biggest issue that faces him is his tardy starting manners. There’s no question about the power pack packed finish he owns – he must get himself handier to the early pace so he can make his finish effective.
10 Elodea ($201 & $46): It’s a bold effort by her to get this far in this series which came she settled just in behind the pace setters and she remained there throughout when she wound up 7.1 lengths behind Sheza Rippa.
Galaxy Sprint semi 1 contenders includes (from left): Dizzy Banjo & Treville delivering their Galaxy heat wins, along with Pita Ramos (pics Dave Robbie)
2018 The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint semi 2, race 6
1 Fiery Affair ($101 & $26): He was sighted pressing on stoutly during the run home for his heat third placing. He receives an improved draw here from where he must punch forward along the rail
2 Idol Nifty ($14 & $3.80): He hopped away smartly from the ace trap and he was bold in delivering his 17.17s heat win. He has really taken to the Addington track with this visitor now having won both of his 295m sprints here.
3 Chitina Tin ($14 & $3.80): He is using his Addington prelude exemption status to take his place in this semi. He’s in the right form at the right time as seen by his prior pace making 17.15s 295m win here.
4 Flower Bomb ($51 & $13): She settled just in behind the early pace from where she gamely sprinted after the freewheeling Sheza Rippa winding up seven lengths astern of her. She must hop straight onto the early pace here.
5 Custom Paint ($51 & $13): He is delivering competitive current sprints as seen in his 2.5 length heat third. He cops a rough draw here, however he does bring vast Addington 295m sprint experience into this dash.
6 Think Tank ($101 & $26): He sat pat on the rail, then used his racing nous and strength to punch through along the rail when the racing gaps presented to take out his heat in 17.40s. He isn’t the quickest away, however he will finish stronger than most in this dash.
7 Oskitz ($81 & $21): This bloke is generally thereabouts in his sprints as seen when he produced his on the pace one length heat second. His lack of winning form from the wider traps is the worry for him here.
8 Kiwi Boy ($10 & $3.20): This northern based sprinter is joining this series from his preferred eight trap draw after delivering his strong 18.32s Manukau 318m prelude win from this trap. He slipped down here earlier and completed a 295m trial.
Reserves
9 Ohoka Alex ($151 & $36): The biggest issue that faces him is his tardy starting manners. There’s no question about the power pack packed finish he owns – he must get himself handier to the early pace so he can make his finish effective.
10 Elodea ($201 & $46): It’s a bold effort by her to get this far in this series which came she settled just in behind the pace setters and she remained there throughout when she wound up 7.1 lengths behind Sheza Rippa.
Galaxy Sprint semi 2 contenders includes (from left): Idol Nifty & Think Tank delivering their Galaxy heat wins (pics Dave Robbie), along with the northern sprinter Kiwi Boy
2018 The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint semi 3, race 7
1 Goldstar Jay Jay ($151 & $36): She maintained contact with the pace setters which saw her finishing a close up heat third. She has no option but to place herself straight onto the early pace here.
2 Know Approval ($151 & $36): He plugged on from out of the midfield pack to claim his heat forth placing. His lack of early pace is a concern for this bloke in this line up.
3 Platinum Marshall ($31 & $7.50): He is capable of delivering a strong 295m dash here as we saw in his heat where after taking over the race lead he was surprisingly out finished within sight of the judge. .
4 Botany Cold ($81 & $21): This bloke owns slippery early pace which he displayed in his heat which assisted him to his heat third placing. He is likely to be the first sighted from the traps, then he’ll be hoping for others behind him to strike traffic problems.
5 Sunlit Johnny ($31 & $7.50): He stylishly prevailed in his heat when delivering his 17.16s dash. He controlled the pace throughout when doing so and he can do likewise here despite copping this lousy draw.
6 Sir Duggie ($7 & $2.40): He is joining this series at this stage after producing a 17.40s Hatrick 305m sprint to take out a Galaxy prelude. He is a sharp sprinter at that venue – it’s now a case of how is he going to cope first up on this track?
7 Hatfield ($81 & $21): He was real gallant in the manner he led the forlorn chase after the slippery Sheza Rippa which saw him winding up 4.5 lengths behind her. He had led throughout when he recorded his prior pace making C4 17.36s 295m win.
8 Danziger ($18 & $6): He’s a competitive sprinter around this circuit who produced a strong sprint to secure his 17.11s heat win. He has no option but to quickly push up onto the early pace from out here.
Reserves
9 Ohoka Alex ($151 & $36): The biggest issue that faces him is his tardy starting manners. There’s no question about the power pack packed finish he owns – he must get himself handier to the early pace so he can make his finish effective.
10 Elodea ($201 & $46): It’s a bold effort by her to get this far in this series which came she settled just in behind the pace setters and she remained there throughout when she wound up 7.1 lengths behind Sheza Rippa.
Galaxy Sprint semi 3 contenders includes (from left): Sunset Johnny & Danziger delivering their Galaxy heat wins (pics Dave Robbie), along with Botany Cold
2018 The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint semi 4, race 8
1 Opawa Jumper ($18 & $4.50): He just keeps on winning as seen in his 17.19s heat win and you can’t do any better than that. His draw and current form says he can remain in this series after this semi.
2 Fired Up Jasper ($26 & $6.50): This bloke just doesn’t know how to go a bad sprint around this circuit. It doesn’t appear to matter where he draws and his sound stats from this trap makes for tidy reading.
3 Sergess ($61 & $16): She was bold in the manner that she chased after the pace setters in her heat. She was rewarded for that with her place in this semi via her 5.25 length heat third. She can and she must contest the early pace here.
4 Loco Lola ($26 & $6.50): This little girl owns slippery early pace and she used that asset to deliver her tidy 2.5 length after having set up the early pace. She’s more than capable of being able to make things interesting for a long way in this dash.
5 Special Affair ($81 & $21): He hopped straight onto the early pace from where he led into the turn before he yielded to a strong finishing type, resulting in his half length heat second. He must use those same tactics from this not so friendly draw.
6 Ohoka Clare ($81 & $21): She was sighted kicking away soundly just in behind the pace setters during the run home in her heat. That resulted in a five length third place finish. She knows her way around here blindfolded with all of her 74 career races being 295m sprints.
7 Rocket Raccoon ($3.50 & $1.50): He was exempted from contesting the heats after his bold pace making 17.11s 295m prelude win. He’s a real sharp sprinter however he must begin smartly from this trap here as the sprinter drawn on his outer is a noted hard railing chaser.
8 Rain And Tears ($51 & $13): Ouch! This is the last trap that this visiting, Hatrick exempted sprinter wanted to sight. She’s a renowned railing sprinter and she can be expected to make a hard left hand turn when she exits from this trap.
Reserves
9 Ohoka Alex ($151 & $36): The biggest issue that faces him is his tardy starting manners. There’s no question about the power pack packed finish he owns – he must get himself handier to the early pace so he can make his finish effective.
10 Elodea ($201 & $46): It’s a bold effort by her to get this far in this series which came she settled just in behind the pace setters and she remained there throughout when she wound up 7.1 lengths behind Sheza Rippa.
Galaxy Sprint semi 4 contenders includes (from left): Opawa Jumper delivering his Galaxy heat win, along with Fired Up Jasper and Rocket Raccoon - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
By Peter Fenemor
