It’s a repeat clash from the recent Group 1 $35,000 The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint looming in the $16,000 Dash For Cash sprint final over 305m at Group 2 level at the Hatrick Raceway on Friday evening. On that occasion it was Sir Duggie who led home Sheza Rippa and this pair of sharp short course sprinters are strongly favoured to dominate this final.
Pictured: Sir Duggie is chasing after back-to-back Group race sprint wins
Sir Duggie ($2.TAB Final Field, option 995) has been in supreme sprint form since his trainer Lisa Cole returned him to Hatrick 305m sprinting following his strong Galaxy Sprint win. He resumed when he delivered a sharp 17.21s sprint which was aided by his electric 6.61s first sectional split.
He then returned for his Dash For Cash heat last Friday and he promptly returned 17.34s, the quickest of the four heats contested, with his lead-up time on this occasion being 6.70s. “He’s flying at the moment, winning his races with his sharp first sectionals – we expect similar from him on Friday,” said Brendon Cole about their charge who will wear the same black racing vest that he wore in his heat.
The Cole kennel also provides two other finalists. Kathlee ($10) has been rocketing through the grades having attained her open class racing stripes after winning seven straight sprints with the first two being C1 sprints. It has been her early pace that has assisted her winning streak and it was using that asset that saw her delivering her 17.59s heat win. “She has done a really good job in her sprints and she has prepared spot on for the final,” advised Cole.
Bigtime Blackie ($26) has been a consistent Hatrick 305m sprinter for a while now and she flanked that form when delivering her bold 1.5 length heat second behind Sheza Rippa. She has drawn on the outside of her kennelmate Kathlee in the four trap here. “Blackie is capable of making a quick start and she can make things interesting if she does on Friday. She pulled up well from her heat,” added Cole.
Sheza Rippa ($2.50) receives the draw advantage via trap one on this occasion after she won her track debut heat outing in 17.40s for her conditioners Dave and Jean Fahey. She will be looking to reverse her three-quarter-length Galaxy Sprint second. “Her heat effort was great, being on track debut and her draw puts her right into the race and we couldn’t be happier with her going it,” confirmed Dave Fahey. She also delivered a slippery 16.98s Addington 295m sprint when backing up from the Galaxy Sprint final.
The Fahey’s also qualified Too The Nail ($14) and drawing trap two certainly hasn’t done his stake earning claims here any harm. He was sighted finishing solidly to nail his three length heat second behind Idol Hot after he settled in the midfield pack. “That was a good race by him in his heat. He can jump alright and he normally holds a straight line from the traps. He’s all good to go again,” said Dave Fahey about their sprinter who actually posted the quickest NZ Cup night 295m race time at 17.02s.
Dash For Cash heat winners includes (from top left): Sir Duggie with Brendon Cole; Georgie Cole brought Kathlee back to the podium; Sheza Rippa was handled by Ross Mathers for her heat win (pics Wanganui GRC) – Bigtime Blackie provides Lisa Cole with her third finalist, while Dave and Jean Fahey have also qualified Too The Nail
Foxton trainer Marcie Flipp qualified two finalists with Idol Hot ($16) leading her heat rivals all the way when delivering her 17.62s win. She has also been a consistent Hatrick Friday evening 305m sprinter however she hasn’t received any favours after being allocated the five trap to step away from. “I feel Christchurch was a positive turning point for my sprinters. I’m not rapt with my draws although I’m glad Idol Hot has drawn inside Idol Nifty, however she has to jump straight onto the pace,” advised Flipp.
It is a unique achievement by Flipp in qualifying two litter mates for both Group race finals. Idol Dude will contest the Spion Rose final, while his brother Idol Nifty ($26) will be slotted away into the six trap for this decider. He was really bold when he gamely chased after the freewheeling Sir Duggie for his four length heat second to him from the same trap.
“I was pleased with his heat effort. There’s still plenty of improvement in him so hopefully a good start can see him being right up there. I’m really pleased for Opawa Racing and Tom Rodewald as they have invested a fair in breeding my finalists and they deserve to have runners here. Idol Girl (dam) has been a fantastic producer for them,” said Flipp, who added, “All of them are as good as gold – no problems at all.”
Northern trainer Emma Potts is rightfully absolutely ecstatic after qualifying her sprinter Thrilling Katie ($26) for this Group race final with it being her first Group runner. She boldly kicked around the outer after jumping from the eight trap to chase after the pace making Kathlee which resulted in her 1.75 length heat second to her. She is again provided with swooping claims from the same trap.
“I’m happy, very happy to have a Group race finalist. I didn’t think I’ll have a Group 2 runner - I’m so proud of her. Her draw is okay as she will keep a straight line from the traps. She has come through her heat great – it sure is very exciting,” commented Potts about her charge who is a litter brother to the exciting chasing prospect Thrilling Talk.
Dash For Cash winner Idol Hot is with her trainer Marcie Flipp, while her half-brother Idol Nifty will jump from six trap; Thrilling Katie will be wearing the pink racing vest on Friday
It will also be a first up Group race runner for Sam Lozell who undertakes the training duties for the first reserve Fantastic Amy ($41) if she secures a race start here. She jumped straight onto the pace in her heat, then she gamely stuck to her task when winding up 3.75 lengths behind Sheza Rippa. Her on the pace racing tactics are going to see her being competitive in the open class sprinting ranks.
Will it be a case of déjà vu for the Turnwald-prepared second reserve Hypocritical ($41)? He won last year’s edition of the Dash For Cash when he regained the field from off the reserves bench. It probably won’t be (race start) however it sure was a resilient effort from this vastly experienced sprinter to again make the listed final field. He achieved that when he delivered his bold 5.5 length heat third to Sir Duggie.
By Peter Fenemor
