It is a compelling feature packed twelve race card that the Christchurch Greyhound Club is offering during their 2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup meeting at the Addington Raceway on Thursday evening. Ten of the races carry a stake of $5,000 or more with two of the support card events offering a $15,000 total prize. A New Zealand record meeting $239,500 in stakes must be won throughout the evening.
Pictured: the NZ Stayers Cup title holder Avenger Bale is seeking to adds the NZ Cup night 732m feature staying event to his list of race victories
Here’s a look at some of those additional feature events starting with the traditional NZ Cup night 732m staying feature event.
Race 11 – I Pave Concrete Sockburn Cup $15,000 732m
1 Know Potential: Both of her staying race wins came over the 645m distance at this venue. She is now taking the step to the ultimate trip. She has been allocated a trap from where she is likely to take a sit along the rail, probably back in the field, during the early stages.
2 Perfect Result: He has really adapted to the staying distances as seen by him being the current Addington 645m track record holder (37.60s). He finished solidly in his only 732m attempt which resulted in a second placing in a Group 2 event.
3 Avenger Bale: He’s a very versatile bloke as seen by him being the second reserve for the New Zealand Cup. He is also a proven stayer as seen by him being the current NZ Stayers Cup title holder over the 732m trip. He is a former equal 645m track record holder.
4 Don’t Knocka Gee: She is heading south for her first look at extreme racing distance as the recent winner of the Nancy Cobain Distance over the 660m trip at Group 2 level. She has the ability to contest the pace and she can make things interesting for a long way if she does so.
5 Panel Beater: All of his staying assignments since he crossed the Tasman has been over 645m at this venue with his latest race over the trip being an 8.5 length second to Avenger Bale. He was a 43.47s winner over 720m on Sydney’s Wentworth Park prior to crossing the Tasman.
6 Dave’s Dot: Her sole 732m staying here attempt resulted in her finishing up 16.5 length fourth equal in the recent Kingston Cup at Group 2 level. Prior to that she delivered a tough, gritty pace making victory over the Forbury Park 770m staying test.
7 Translator: Her connections must be tearing their hair out at the continued wide draws that this noted railing stayer receives. She was the other fourth equal finisher in the Kingston Cup which came from trap eight, which she had also been allocated in her previous three staying races. She does own a proven 732m staying record here.
8 Mija Sydney: He’s a visiting stayer who must also be frustrated by continuingly drawing wide as seen in his last five staying assignments over 660m on his home Manawatu track. That included his brave second behind race rival here Don’t Knocka Gee in the Nancy Cobain final. He won a heat of the Group 2 755m Wanganui Stayers and he then went onto run fourth in the final.
Reserves – 9 Argus Filch: His latest staying races has consisted of Manawatu 660m races with a second placing being his best. It is worth while noting that he was a finalist in last season’s Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar final over 779m after he finished second in his heat.
10 Luciastar: He hasn’t placed in any of his four 732m staying races at this venue. His two wins over distance came over 630m (Ascot Park) and 660m (Manawatu Raceway).
I Pave Concrete Sockburn Cup contenders includes (from left): Perfect Result; Don’t Knocka Gee; Translator
Race 10 – Shirley Vet Clinic Free For All $15,000 520m
1 Puzzle Tin: He made it through to the semi final stage of the NZ Cup after having graduated into the open class chasing ranks just prior to that series. He has won all three of his previous races from this trap.
2 Idol Tom: Geez, if any greyhound anywhere in the country deserves to win a feature race, then it’s this bloke! It was 25 races ago when he attained his open class racing stripes – he hasn’t won a race since however he keeps his C5 status owing to his 15 minor placings. That includes three placings at Group 1 level. Surely he deserves a win here!
3 Blazin’ Aubrey: She has done a great job since her recent arrival into the C5 chasing ranks four races ago. Included was her real bold NZ Cup efforts which resulted in third placings in both her Cup heat and semi outings.
4 Barge Bale: He really made followers sit up and take notice when he landed his $30.20 NZ Cup heat win when he led home last year’s NZ Cup winner. Making a moderate start in his Cup semi proved to be costly.
5 Egomaniacal: He pressed on during the run home for his seven length NZ Cup semi third placing. He is a proven 520m chaser around this circuit and its worthy mentioning that he finished third in the Manukau hosted Waterloo Cup 527m final at Group 1 level.
6 Bigtime Levi: He settled just behind the pace in his NZ Cup semi and he remained there throughout for his track debut 7.75 length fourth. He isn’t the quickest to leave the traps which is a concern for him in this event.
7 Nature’s Gent: Last year’s NZ Cup winner saw his defence claims evaporating from this trap in his Cup semi. He cut inwards then from where he recovered for his fourth placing. Obviously the big concern for him here is being required to carry the black racing vest again.
8 Shallay Pallay: It was drawing this trap which saw him exiting from the NZ Cup series at the semi stage. He made a moderate start then, which led to first turn traffic problems for him. He must push forward at trap rise here.
Reserves – 9 Dyna Elwyn: It’s remarkable to see this recent Addington 520m track record holder (29.67s) sitting on the reserves bench for what is basically the NZ Cup consolation race. A slow start which led to early traffic issues resulted in his semi sixth placing. Needless to say he commands total respect if he gets a race start here.
10 Bigtime Lily: She was luckless in her NZ Cup semi when she was pushed wide when rounding the first turn. She was a NZ Oaks finalist on this track after winning her heat.
Shirley Vet Clinic Free For All contenders includes (from left): Idol Tom; Egomaniacal; Nature’s Gent
Race 12 – Fox &Ferret @ The Palms Sprint Free For All $10,000 295m
1 Opawa Jumper: Making a tardy start from this trap denied him advancing into the Galaxy Sprint final. He was putting in big late bounds for his semi third placing after he won his heat from this trap in 17.19s. A better start here can see him featuring at the business end.
2 Sunlit Johnny: Cutting inwards when in the midfield going in to the turn in his Galaxy semi proved to be costly for him. His pace making Galaxy 17.16s heat win from this trap contained merit.
3 Idol Hot: She made an awkward start from the one trap in her Galaxy semi from where she recovered nicely for her third placing. She has no option but to seek out the early pace at trap rise here.
4 Idol Nifty: He was denied racing room when going into the turn in his Galaxy heat. His 17.17s Galaxy heat win says he’s more than capable of being able to feature at the business end of this dash.
5 Think Tank: He used his racing experience, plus his strength to punch through along the rail to nail his 17.48s Galaxy heat win. He copped a decent check when heading into the turn in his Galaxy semi.
6 Rocket Raccoon: Badly bombing the start in his Galaxy semi was terminal for his advancement claims. He’s seriously slick 295m sprinter around here as seen by his 17.01s best 295m winning time.
7 Custom Paint: He endured a completely luckless racing passage when he was impeded going into the turn in his Galaxy semi. His prior 295m form since resuming from a spell has been sound.
8 Nozzno Fear: He hasn’t feature from his wide recent draws which is a concern for him from out here. He has no option but to place himself straight onto the early pace here.
Reserves – 9 Flower Bomb: He was checked when heading into the turn in his Galaxy semi after landing his heat third placing. He does own a tidy 17.06s best winning 295m time here.
10 Botany Cold: He didn’t use his known sharp early pace in his Galaxy semi which led to traffic problems for him. He is generally a reliable quick beginner.
Fox &Ferret @ The Palms Sprint Free For All contenders includes (from left): Opawa Jumper; Idol Nifty; Rocket Raccoon
Race 6 – My Boy Fabio Distance $10,000 645m
1 Goldstar Ashton: He completed his NZ Cup series with his midfield semi finish. He is proven over this 645m trip and his stakes claim in this event cannot be lightly dismissed.
2 2 Cawbourne Krusty: She adds a great deal of interest to this event by lining up here. She is a Group race winning 520m greyhound who has easily won over the Hatrick 645m distance. Her draw here is likely to assist her.
3 Allen Mack: He’s returning here after his solid pair of Hatrick C1/2 520m efforts last week. He hasn’t won in four 645m races here, however he was a recent pace making Manawatu 660m winner.
4 Opawa Racer: She hasn’t been putting herself into her races from the jump lately. She is capable of delivering a competitive 645m effort here as seen by her best 38.14s winning 645m time here.
5 Ramblin’ On: This northern prepared chaser is making her track debut here after her stunning recent Manukau 527m last to first wins. She’s had two career staying races over the “short” Manukau 603 distance for a win and a third. Expect a powerful 645m effort by her here.
6 Opawa Rooster: He’s a proven, strong 645m chaser around this circuit as seen by his field best 37.96s winning time. That factor alone demands respect for him in this event.
7 Cawbourne Palmer: His pair of 645m staying wins came at the Wanganui venue. His last outing saw him setting the pace over the Manawatu 660m where he was cut back to third over the later stages.
8 Southern Lights: This bloke just keeps on keeping on. He’s a resilient chaser who has landed a stake in all five of his previous 645m races (three wins) over this 645m trip.
Reserves – 9 Cawbourne Taber: She won the Group 1 NZ Oaks at this venue back in April. Her only staying success was her bold pace making Hatrick 38.08s 645m win.
10 Gray Bale: His latest staying assignments has been over the Manawatu 660m trip which includes a distant second to the smart Don’t Knocka Gee. He was a strong finishing 645m second to Cawbourne Taber in her staying success.
My Boy Fabio Distance contenders includes (from left): Goldstar Ashton; Ramblin’ On; Southern Lights
Race 8 – One Good Horse Feature $6,000 520m
1 Invincible Sue: Securing this draw has enhanced her stakes earning claim in this event. She can and she must contest the pace from trap rise here.
2 Dyna Elwyn: This recent 29.67s 520m track record holder here is obviously more than capable of being able to vent his frustration about missing a place in the NZ Cup final in this event.
3 Kia Tere: He’s making his return here after his bold Manawatu NZRS Graduation 457m Monday second place finish. He’s likely to be sighted racing handy to the pace here.
4 Dyna Monty: He didn’t receive any racing favours whatsoever in his NZ Cup semi after he stylishly won his heat in a tidy 30.08s. That says he commands total respect for this event.
5 Must Be Rusty: he was the contesting the pace in his NZ Cup heat when he was badly impeded when racing around the home turn. He must jump straight onto the pace from this trap.
6 Ask King Jeff: He raced wide after he made a tardy start from trap 8 in his NZ Cup semi when making his track debut outing. He would have benefited from that race, however a better start is required here.
7 Mulberry Minx: She warned up for this task by contesting a Forbury Park C4 Thursday 310m sprint. She must improve on her 30.68s best winning 520m time in this line up.
8 Bigtime Lily: She was hindered when racing into the first turn and was forced wide in her NZ Cup semi after she ran a sound heat third. She was a NZ Oaks finalist here last season.
Reserves – 9 Kiacatoo Fever: She received an impeded early racing passage in her NZ Cup heat and she never recovered from that. Her prior 520m third was in a C4 race.
10 Eyrewell Turbo: He was racing in the midfield when he copped a check going down the back straight in his NZ Cup heat. He was held in midfield traffic in his prior C4 520m assignment.
One Good Horse Feature contenders includes (from left): Invincible Sue; Dyna Elwyn; Must Be Rusty
Pawnote: Races 7 to 12 features a TAB $25,000 terminating TAB Pick6, meaning the entire pool must be paid out on the night.
By Peter Fenemor
