It was always anticipated that Friday’s running of the $46,000 The Spion Rose was going to be decided during the initial rush for early positions. And so it proved. Seizing the early rails position was the Angela Turnwald prepared Nature’s Gent and he led the field into the all-important first turn.
Pictured: The Spion Rose winner Nature’s Gent
The Dave and Jean Fahey trained race favourite Bago Bye Bye also pushed forward from the seven trap however the recent Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup winner lost all claims when he a was galloped on when heading into the first turn. He was to remain in the rear division after that incident.
Second favourite Pinny Mack made a hash of the race start from trap five and that mistake effectively ended the claims held by the Steve Cark trained Waterloo Cup winner at that point.
Nature’s Gent was in total control when rounding the first turn. Pressing forward to get handy to him was his kennelmate Diddilee. Racing just in behind this pair was Dyna Monty for Craig Roberts, while the only Kiwi bred finalist in the field Idol Dude was within striking distance for his conditioner Marcie Flipp.
It was all Nature’s Gent when the field streamed down the back straight. Dyna Monty held the rail with Diddilee racing on his immediate outer. There was a margin further back to Idol Dude.
Nature’s Gent let rip during the run home to claim his second Group 1 title by a comfortable 4.5 length margin. He completed his 520m assignment in a tidy 29.96s. Diddilee pressured Dyna Monty just after turning into the home straight, forcing the Canterbury chaser to change ground.
Diddilee maintain his strong gallop to claim his runner up possie, while seizing on the opportunity presented in the earlier home straight jostling was Idol Dude who dashed through along the rail to secure the third placing a further 2.25 lengths behind. A brave Dyna Monty was the next to arrive home.
The Angela Turnwald trained Group 1 Spion Rose Cup winner with daughter Courtney with Nature’s Gent - Paul Freeman is with Diddilee; runner up Diddilee and third place Idol Dude
Nature’s Gent had some issues when heading into this series. That was obvious during his heat when the normal strong finishing chaser was outstayed over the concluding stages. A modification to his diet and to his normal routine worked the oracle for the 2017 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup winner.
“We knew Nature’s Gent had a slight issue which we worked on – what we didn’t know was if we had rectified the issue and the only way we were going to find out was when the pressure when on him during the final. He responded brilliantly,” confirmed the trainers’ partner Paul Freeman.
“It was great reward for his owners and for his followers who would have enjoyed picking up his dividend ($15.80). I thought it was a very professional win. Diddilee has really come of age and that was helped by his recent trip to Christchurch. He is a dog who is chasing with real purpose now.”
Freeman indicated that Nature’s Gent, who has now raced on 60 occasions, winning 19 of those and with a further 23 minor placings sees his career stake earnings now sitting at a tidy $174,533, will be kept ticking over in Hatrick 520m races prior to being aimed towards the Group 1 Hatrick Classic (January 25).
“Diddilee will now be aimed towards Cambridge with the Waikato Classic (Group 2) being his main target,” suggested Freeman.
Nature’s Gent is raced by The Bookie & Us syndicate, while Diddilee is under the ownership of the Brady, Patrickson, Szybiak & J Dogs syndicate. A principle member of both syndicates is the former NZ Auditor General and the 2006 New Zealander of the Year Kevin Brady who was present on course to watch and enjoy the Angela Turnwald trained Group 1 quinella. .
Brady has racing interests in all three codes, while having been a long time kennel client of the Turnwald and Freeman kennels. “I have complete and total faith with the training skills of Angela and Paul. I’m privileged to part of their success and for that I thank them very much,” he commented.
Owner Kevin Brady shares into the ownership of both Nature’s Gent and Diddilee and he’s pictured here with Courtney Turnwald and Nature’s Gent; and here’s a flash back to the 2017 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup won by Nature’s Gent with Kevin Brady second from right (at the back)
The third place podium position was also just reward for Idol Dude with this Tom Rodewald owned son of Swift Fancy and Idol Girl claiming the $1,000 Breeders’ bonus payable to the first New Zealand bred greyhound to finish in a Group 1 race with his owner and the Robin Wales led Opawa Racing team benefiting from that.
“I still can’t really believe this has happened. It makes it very satisfying for Tom (McCracken, kennel foreman) and myself to watch Dude progress through from being a Maiden to make a Group 1 final, let alone place in it,” said Flipp.
She has mapped out the immediate racing plans for Idol Dude. “He can go to Cambridge for the Waikato Classic and following that he’s paid up for the Canterbury Futurity so he can go back down there, especially as he’s had racing experience on the track.”
By Peter Fenemor
