The progressive Palmerston North club has kept the best until last for next Monday’s race meeting. Five spiritly contested 457m heats last Monday have brought together an outstanding field of Kiwi bred young greyhounds who will chase after Breeders’ bonus dollars in the $7,500 NZRS Novice final (race 5, meeting 9).
Pictured: The exciting young chasing prospect Amorini who will start as the warm favourite in Monday’s NZRS Novice final
It is interesting to note that all ten greyhounds listed for this final are male greyhounds. Considering that factor, plus looking at other higher graded Restricted Age male greyhounds currently racing, suggests that next April’s $46,000 New Zealand Derby is shaping up as a real cracking event.
It was a fair slog for last Monday’s heat contestants with the slushy nature of the track following persistent rain ensured tough, competitive racing being witnessed. The nature of the track, although absolutely safe for racing on, saw races times running around 15 lengths slower than what can normally be expected.
Therefore the meet best 26.87s 457m time posted by the exciting Ben Craik trained Amorini was an outstanding effort. Just to illustrate how strong that clock was can be gauged by the 26.89s 457m time that the proven, hard chasing Ask King Jeff required to win the open class 457m event on the same card.
Amorini is a member of the exciting February 2017 whelped Barcia Bale and Katcha Fire litter and he made it six straight career wins when ploughing through the slush to stylishly take out his heat by a 5.25 length margin. He can maintain his unbeaten race record from the three trap here, which includes an earlier Wanganui hosted $7,500 NZRS Novice 520m win.
Local conditioner Marcie Flipp produced her charge Lucky James to deliver his bold pace making 27.03s heat win. This son of Winsome Bucks and Opawa Michelle is one of four Opawa Racing team owned and bred finalists here. He has been a consistent chaser around the lower/intermediate grades for a long time now. He is expected to take up a forward early position when he exits from the two trap here.
Canterbury conditioner Robin Wales mentors the other three Opawa Racing owned and bred contenders. Born Quick has always displayed potential and this son of Fabregas and Opawa Born was sighted extending strongly during the run home to nail his 27.35s heat win. He would have benefited from his track debut outing (as would have a number of other finalists), however he has drawn poorly in trap five for this decider.
Manawatu Raceway NZRS Novice heat winners were (from left): Amorini, with handler Tracey Craik; Tom McCracken undertook the handling duties for Lucky James; Born Quick is seen here with his handler Josh Lane (pics Palmerston North GRC)
Opawa Big sure was big in the manner that this Wales trained son of Cosmic Rumble and Opawa Patty strode to his 27.45s heat win. He can make things rather interesting by quickly pushing up onto the early pace while wearing the pink racing vest here.
His litter brother Our Rick will exit from the trap on his brother’s immediate inner. This bloke actually recorded the third quickest heat time when he arrived home 5.25 lengths behind the free flowing Amorini (26.87s). That factor alone says that a competitive effort can be expected from this fella.
Here’s Hemi maintained a strong searching gallop to outstay his rivals when taking out his heat in 27.45s for his trainer John McInerney. It was a gusty effort by this son of Ate To Much and Embee Dee who is developing a tidy 457m record on this big, sweeping circuit. He does own a field best 26.33s time which was obviously delivered in much better conditions than what was experienced for the heats. He will be loaded away into trap four for the decider.
Manawatu Raceway NZRS Novice heat winners were (from left): Josh Lane returned to the podium with Opawa Big as did Stephen McInerney with Here’s Hemi (pics Palmerston North GRC)
Canterbury trainers provide the final two field positions, plus both occupants of the reserves bench here. Dave and Jean Fahey produced Jinja Shake to finish solidly for his 2.25 length heat second to Born Quick. This son of Barcia Bale and Unshaken had underlined his potential when he delivered his tidy prior pace making 30.41s Addington C1 520m win. He will exit from trap one here.
His kennelmate and litter brother Sausage is the first reserve. This promising chaser led his heat rivals into the straight, however he wasn’t able to fend off the solid finish that Here’s Hemi threw at him when he went under by a 1.25 length margin to him.
Steve and Bonnie Evans has been trekking up to the Manawatu Raceway over recent Monday’s with a large racing team. On Monday they return with Goldstar Captain who booked his place in this final via his 6.25 length heat second to Lucky James. This son of Barcia Bale and Goldstar Avery slipped around the outer to claim his placing. He will be racing from trap six on Monday.
His kennelmate Goldstar Alaska was sighted putting in big late bounds, when after being in the rear group turning for home, this son of Know Peace and Noble Fantasy finished powerfully for his three length heat second to Opawa Big. That effort earned him the second reserve position.
By Peter Fenemor
