Wind the clock back to early July and an SOS call went out to find a missing greyhound in Oamaru. After three days on intensive searching the greyhound was found, a bit worse for wear, but nevertheless safe. Roll onto Ascot Park last Friday afternoon and that greyhound stylishly won the $12,000 NZRS Advanced final. His name – Eyrewell Turbo.
Pictured: Eyrewell Turbo delivering his deserved NZRS Advanced win (pic Dave Robbie)
Heather and Bob Cairns have been long term industry participants operating from their “Eyrewell” based kennels for many years. It’s fair to describe them as “grass roots” contestants within the code.
Therefore the victory they savored when their home bred, trained and owned greyhound Eyrewell Turbo stylishly prevailed in this feature event was richly deserved. The result became even sweeter for the Cairn’s as it turned into a rather healthy payday for the couple as they also bred the runner up, the winner’s litter mate Must Be Rusty, meaning the major slice of the Breeders’ bonus payment attached to this NZRS final went their way.
Heather Cairns produced Eyrewell Turbo on the big, sweeping Ascot Park track to record the quickest of the three 457m NZRS Advanced heats held to decide last Friday’s finalists when he delivered his 26.20s gallop.
Eyrewell Turbo delivered his heat win from the one trap. He was allocated trap four for the final from where he came away with the balance of his rivals. He spied a gap when heading towards the big, sweeping turn which he seized putting a gap on the field at that point.
That turned out to be the decisive winning tactic as Eyrewell Turbo booted clear and gamely held during the long run home which saw this son of Cosmic Chief and Boostin’ landing his biggest career victory by a length and a half margin, clocking 26.16s.
The current Invercargill Cup title holder Must Be Rusty, who was also a 26.34s heat winner, overcame some early jostling to extend stylishly during the run home to claim the runner up prize for his conditioner John McInerney.
Pressing on stoutly from the midfield pack to secure the third placing 2.25 lengths further behind was the Steve and Bonnie Evans prepared Kia Tere (Velocette – Opawa Peekay), while rocketing home late, half a length back, after bombing the race start was Know Hassle (Dyna Tron – Know Which) for his trainer and breeder Gary Cleeve.
A proud Bob Cairns with the Southland NZRS Advanced winner Eyrewell Turbo; NZRS Advanced winner Eyrewell Turbo is flanked by his litter brother, runner up Must Be Rusty and the third place Kia Tere; Eyrewell Turbo’s mum Boostin’ is seen here after her 2015 Flair Ladies Bracelet, with Bob Cairns in the background (red hat) - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
The nine member March 2016 Heather and Bob Cairns bred and whelped Cosmic Chief and Boostin’ litter has turned into better than average performers. Boostin’ (who was sired by the leading sire of his time Sergio), easily won the 2015 edition of the Flair Ladies Bracelet.
It was a successful after noon of chasing action for the litter as the Cairns prepared litter brother Eyrewell Bentley also won C1 390m sprint on the same card as did Homebush Hundy who prevailed in a C2 390m dash for John McInerney.
“I felt confident about Turbo’s chances when he took the gap that opened for him. His initial speed is where he wins his race and I thought then it was just a case of him hanging on, which he did. We’re so proud of him and his brother. It is very exciting for us to breed a litter like this – absolutely brilliant,” commented Heather Cairns, who added about mum Boostin’, who she advised was lying on the floor beside her during the interview. “Boostin’ was a super dog herself, so we were absolutely gutted when she fractured her hock. She is very special to us,”
Heather then spoke about the harrowing three days when Eyrewell Turbo was missing in Oamaru. “Bob stopped to get the dogs an ice cream and we think someone let Turbo out then. He took fright and ran away down the street. Bob and others searched for him but couldn’t find him.
“It was really amazing how so many other greyhound people gave up their time when travelling down to Oamaru to carry on with the search for Turbo. Bob and I truly appreciate and thank everyone for the efforts they put in. It was an immense feeling of relief when Turbo was found – very emotional. It certainly was a traumatic experience for us and obviously for Turbo, whose paw pads were badly torn.”
Eyrewell Turbo has now visited the races on 31 occasions. He has come back as the victor in nine of those races. He has placed in another ten races which sees his stake earnings now sitting at $22,045. “We will just quietly plod along with Turbo. Bob will take him back down to Invercargill again next week.
Bob and Heather Cairns involvement in greyhound racing began back in the late 1990’s when Bob helped out at his father’s Bill’s kennels. Since then they have raced a number of more than greyhounds including Blue Double Dee (2001 Auckland Cup finalist and third in the 2002 732m NZ Winter Cup (now the NZ Stayers Cup)) and Extra Sweet (2001 NZ Breeders’ Stakes winner and second in the 2001 NZ & Canterbury Futurity’s). They bred and raced the 2005 Canterbury Futurity winner Clan Ebony, who is the grand dam of Eyrewell Turbo.
Jingle Bells Distance
Translator has always been a remarkably consistent stayer for her trainers Dave and Jean Fahey, plus also for her breeder Mark Lin and her owning Lin, Barry, Wee Man syndicate. She maintained her reliable staying form when she tore apart her rivals in last Friday’s feature $5,100 Jingle Bells Distance feature over the demanding Ascot Park 732m journey.
Translator toyed with her opponents when she scampered clear during the run home to secure her feature race victory by an effortless 7.25 length margin, stopping the clock in 43.42s. Geez, it sure was race on for the minor placings in an event that was robbed of some interest owing to the scratching of the classy Craig Roberts prepared stayer Dyna Weslyn.
Perfect Result lunged late for Ray Adcock to snatch the runners up prize by the barest of margins. In doing so he nudged the Robin Wales prepared Opawa Racer back to third, while just a head further back in fourth was Zipping Ripley for local conditioner Bret Connor. That was a super gutsy effort considering it was her first career attempt at a staying trip.
The first two finishers now embark on the long road trip north to Cambridge where on Friday evening they’ll contest the $12,000 Thrilling Brat NZRS Distance final (race 7) over 747m during the massive Waikato hosted New Year meeting.
Translator will arrive at the Cambridge 747m traps as the winner of 21 races. She has placed on a further 25 occasions meaning she has banked $78,038 in stake earnings from her 84 career races. A remarkable 58 of those races has been in staying events (15 wins).
Translator delivering her emphatic Friday Jingle Bells Distance Ascot Park victory; local greyhound personality Brendon Burke undertook the handling duties of Translator; flanking Translator on the Southland podium is runner up Prefect Result and the third placed Opawa Racer
By Peter Fenemor
