There are number of very promising young locally bred greyhounds who are quickly advancing the through the grades. Bringing some of those talented types together from both the central and southern tracks makes for a mouth watering clash and that’s the prospect that looms for Friday’s running of the $8,500 NZRS Graduation final at the Hatrick Raceway on Friday evening.
Pictured: Bigtime Rocco is looking to expand on his current eight race winning streak in Friday’s NZRS Graduation final
Three 520m heats held last Friday finalized a field that contains a fair number of chasers who will be sighted racing in the open class ranks later in the season. Here’s a look at those contenders (race 7).
Bigtime Rocco has been flying ever since he placed his paws on a race track for his trainer Lisa Cole. He’s fronting up on Friday seeking to extend his unbeaten winning streak out to nine. This son of Bret Lee and Sheer Miss demolished his rivals when taking out his heat in a slick 30.08s by a 7.75 length margin. Amazingly all eight of his previous races has been from every starting trap (one each) therefore he’ll exit from the two trap for the second time.
It was Cole trained greyhounds who also won the other three heats albeit in more sedate fashion. Bigtime Forest is on the other end of the experience scale as seen by his 103 career races. He had returned back into the C4 grade when he claimed his 25.97s Manawatu 457m C3 win prior to contesting his heat here. This son of Collision and Pink Sock controlled the pace throughout from trap eight when he nailed his easy 30.45s heat win. He slots away into the ace trap for this decider.
We go back and play the inexperience card again with the third Cole trained heat winner Bigtime Tank. He maintained the promising start he has made to his career when he annexed his 30.57s heat win which saw him claiming his ninth stake from as many races. This son of Fabregas and Kissing Gwyneth will be sighted wearing the blue racing in this event.
It was another kennelmate Sub Eighteen who led the vain chase home behind Bigtime Rocco. This son of Fernando Bale and Ocotillo has been as high as C4 in the grading’s and he has previously placed in an NZRS Graduation final at Cambridge over 457m. He owns known early pace which is an asset he must use when he exits from trap seven here.
It was the locally Suzie Kite trained Rowdy Rudy who gamely tried to run down Bigtime Tank when he came up three quarters of a length short. This daughter of Blitzing Mayhem and Vickie’s Que has been competitive Hatrick 520m chaser for a while and it is a case of her being able to place herself into a handy early field possie from trap six during the rush for early positions.
Opawa Denise has been producing sound recent races for his local trainer Nathan Udy. She hasn’t been provided with any racing favours after being allocated the five trap for this assignment. This daughter of Fabregas and Opawa Eye boldly kicked on during the run home when she pushed Sub Eighteen when winding up just a head behind him.
The balance of the field are Canterbury trained contenders, which includes both reserves. Gary Cleeve is returning with Know Shame who was bold when completing her track debut heat outing 2.5 lengths astern of Bigtime Tank. You can expect her to have derived benefit from her heat outing. This daughter of Yella Mustard and Know Revenge has been competitive in South Island hosted NZRS series. She will be sighted wearing the white racing vest on Friday.
Dave and Jean Fahey produced Go Glow to stylishly win the recent Otago hosted NZRS Graduation final over 545m. On Friday evening they receive the opportunity of repeating that victory with this daughter of Fabregas and Opawa Stretch. To achieve that Go Glow has to quickly push forward from trap eight. She was sighted pressing on stoutly in her track debut heat outing for her five length second behind the local Bigtime Forest.
Friday Hatrick NZRS Graduation finalists includes (from left): Bigtime Forest; Know Shame; Go Glow
The Fahey’s also provide both reserves with a pair of litter mates from the Barcia Bale – Unshaken litter. There was just a nose separating Jinja Murphy and Go Glow in their heat and as a result of that Jinja Murphy occupies the first possie on the bench.
His brother Jinja Shake was the quickest of the heat fourth place getters and therefore he is the automatic second reserve. He was involved in a closely contested battle for the minor placings with just a head and a neck between second and fourth placings in the heat won by Bigtime Rocco.
By Peter Fenemor
