Greyhound Racing NZ Hall of Fame Trainer Ray Adcock couldn’t make it to the Manukau Stadium last Sunday to guide his charge Ringside to his emphatic 30.14s Auckland Cup heat win. An accident at home had prevented the doyen trainer from travelling north, therefore he flew his Cup contenders up to his mate Thayne Green, whom he has frequently kennelled Group 1 greyhounds with before, to look after his contenders for the $90,000 Auckland Cup.
Pictured: Caretaker trainer Thayne green, plus co-owner Faye Lockhart with the impressive Auckland Cup heat winner Ringside
Ringside was mightily impressive when he strode to his 527m track debut heat win last Sunday. He can only be improved following that outing while jumping from trap five isn’t expected to faze him at all. Look at the terrific box stats he owns when sighted wearing the gold racing vest.
“He pulled up good, really good and you certainly would think he’ll handle it (track) better second time up. The owners aren’t overly concerned with his draw – in fact they wanted that trap,” confirmed Green about the younger full brother to the dual Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar winner Ring The Bell.
Lisa Cole is mounting a serious assault on both Group 1 races at this meeting and she has qualified three Auckland Cup finalists – with her cup contenders drawing the inside three traps. Dual Group 1 place getter Blazin’ Carter completed his heat assignment in 30.37s when racing on the pace throughout and his trap two draw brings him right into contention.
“Very happy with his draw and we expect him to jump straight onto the pace. He can leave the traps quickly and he’ll be competitive if he does so. He has been knocking on the door in his Group 1 races,” advised Brendon Cole.
All About Space was recently brought by a high profile set of owners. She will be sighted wearing the red racing vest on Sunday which she is suited too, being an out and out railer. She was brave, really brave when she kicked on for her head heat second, which saw the heat winner being stood down for marring during the run home.
“She was marred in her heat, therefore forget about her race time. We are still learning about her, however she is a very determined greyhound who can place herself handy to the pace. She breezed up nicely in a slip at our place the other day and she’s all set for Sunday,” added Cole.
The Cole’s third Cup finalist Don’t Knocka Gee is an enigma of a greyhound. On her day she is brilliant – real brilliant, however on the other paw she detests being crowded. She has no option but to launch herself straight onto the pace when she exits from trap three here after she was run down late by 1.5 lengths by Avenger Bale in her heat.
“Along as she’s left alone early, then yes she can run not only a swift 527m, but also a strong one. She is improving with racing as she has just come back from season and she’s still slightly soft. She came through her heat good,” said Cole about the close relative to the dual Auckland Cup winner Little Mother.
The Steve Cark prepared Pinny Mack is a previous Group 1 527m winner on this track whose claims in this event certainly cannot be lightly dismissed. He overcame early jostling, then an impeded racing passage in his heat when he boldly chased home Ringside for his 4.5 length heat second in what was the toughest of the four heats contested. He shouldn’t have too many concerns about racing from the seven trap here.
“He got an early touch up, then he knocked sideways so I was pleased with the way he stuck to his task afterwards to qualify. He was underdone going into his heat as he had missed some work with a grazed pad. He’s a very clean winded dog and I’m happy enough with his draw. It’s racing luck that he’ll be relying on,” suggested Clark.
Auckland Cup finalists includes (from left): Ringside; Blazin’ Carter; All About Space; Don’t Knocka Gee; Pinny Mac
Avenger Bale was an Auckland Cup finalist last season and his trainer Craig Roberts is bringing him back for another crack at it following his 30.30s heat win when he finished strongly. This Group 1 winning 732m stayer owns obvious strength which he can use to his advantage should this final turn into a torrid affair. He will be wearing the green racing vest on Sunday, which ironically is the same colour that his litter brother and kennelmate Dirk Bale carried to victory in last year’s Auckland Cup final.
“Avenger is experienced enough to pick his way through the field. It’s a case of him positioning himself handy to the pace going into the first turn. He pulled up great and he travelled home good. He’s been a great dog for us and it’ll be brilliant if he can emulate his brothers win last year,” said Roberts, who IS seeking his fourth Auckland Cup training success.
Diddilee is a recent Group 1 Addington 520m winner and his conditioner Angela Turnwald is on a current Group 1 winning spree having trained the winner of the last three New Zealand Group 1 races. He made direct entry into this field owing to an indiscretion of another contender as he finished a two length heat third to Avenger Bale. He’s just the type of greyhound who can capitalize on the opportunity that has been presented to him. He won the NZ St Leger from trap four and he’ll hop away from the same trap here.
“He is a thinking greyhound and he’s going to have to use that asset when he jumps from trap four which should be okay from him. He has pace and he has strength, plus he can burn at both ends of his races. He has come through his heat very well,” said the trainer’s partner Paul Freeman who recalls that Angela has trained four other Group 1 winners who started from trap four.
The drawn field is completed by the ideally drawn Ben Craik prepared Cameo Syd, who is likely to relish jumping away from trap eight. He was stylish in the manner he completed his heat assignment just 1.5 lengths behind Blazin’ Carter when he resumed from a spell.
“We’re really proud he has made an Auckland Cup final and we’re very happy with his draw. We have kept quiet at home during the week. He’s going to find it harder in the final, but we also know he’ll give it everything he has. He’s all ready to go on Sunday,” confirmed Lisa Craik.
The first reserve is provided from the Marcie Flipp kennels with Idol Dude who boldly stuck to his task when he produced his six length heat third to Ringside. Take a look at him in the race 11 $7,500 AGRC Invitation Stakes if he doesn’t get a race start here.
Thrilling Talk is the Auckland Cup second reserve and this Karen Walsh trained winner of 14 of his 17 career races certainly can snare a stake in the unlikely event he secures a race start here. He kicked on stoutly for his four length heat fourth behind Blazin’ Carter.
Auckland Cup finalists includes (from left): Avenger Bale; Diddilee; Cameo Syd, plus the reserves Idol Dude and Thrilling Talk
It’s now all on for the finals day action this Sunday afternoon at the Manukau Stadium which includes a possible $500 that could be won in the Cup Day All Up Place Bet competition. The place bets must be placed on races 6 to 10 with the minimum investment being $20. There is no limit to the number of entries and the $500 bonus will be paid to the highest dividend bearing entry. The TAB is a providing a bonus injection into the early Quaddie (races 2-5), while the TAB Pick6 will carry a $15,000 guaranteed pool (races 7-12).
By Peter Fenemor
