Despite withdrawing two contenders, the Opawa Racing team still holds a strong breeding influence in the possible outcome of Tuesday’s $8,500 NZRS Graduation final over 457m, on the big spacious Ascot Park track. Contesting the Southland GRC hosted final will be two greyhounds raced and bred by Opawa Racing, while two other finalists were bred by them.
Pictured: Opawa Lara recording the quickest NZRS Graduation heat time (pic Dave Robbie)
Spearheading the Opawa Racing representation is Opawa Lara who was the fastest qualifier from the three 457m heats contested two weeks ago. The daughter of Dyna Lachlan and Opawa Cassidy controlled the pace throughout when she delivered her easy 26.18s heat win. The Robin Wales prepared chaser has come up trumps in the box draw allocation, as she will be sighted wearing the red racing vest in the final.
Opawa Magic also dictated the race to her heat rivals when she scampered to her 26.38s heat win. She is mentored for her owners and breeders by Dave and Jean Fahey and this daughter of Dyna Vikkers and Opawa Rob will return south after having also led throughout for her bold C2 Addington 30.31s 520m win. That effort was then backed up by her sound four length third to her smart kennelmate Opawa Hop in Thursday’s Restricted Age Christchurch hosted 520m event. She will race from trap three on Tuesday.
Opawa Magic is pictured delivering her 26.38s Southland NZRS Graduation heat win and back at the podium with her handler Brendon Burke, while a delighted Wendy Stephens brought back to the podium Opawa Lara - pics Dave Robbie
The Southland GRC secretary Bronwyn Eade undertakes the conditioning duties for her promising chaser Bartholomew Cub. This litter brother to Opawa Magic isn’t really known for his box speed as seen by some of his previous races when this fella has been sighted finishing strongly in his home track races. He made a better start in his heat which saw him kicking on solidly for his 1.4 length heat third behind the 26.29s heat winner Opawa May who was withdrawn for the box draw. Drawing the two trap for the final can assist this bloke.
The Opawa Racing team will also be keeping an eye on the Steve and Bonnie Evans trained Kia Tere, having bred this son of Velocette and Opawa Peekay. His stake earning claims in this final certainly cannot be lightly dismissed as he has compiled the remarkable record of earning a podium finish in all twelve of his Ascot Park 457m races (one win which was delivered in 26.12s).
The recent Invercargill Cup third place getter kicked on soundly for his length heat second to Opawa Magic. Following that Kia Tere trekked up north to the Manawatu Raceway where he didn’t feature in a C3 457m event. He has been allocated the tricky five trap for this decider.
The Evans’s had also qualified Goldstar Vegas for this final, however this son of Know Peace and Noble Fantasy received an injury enforced stand down from racing after contesting an Addington C2 295m sprint on Friday. The seven trap he vacates will now be occupied by his kennelmate Goldstar Ashton who is a son of Yella Mustard and Know Love Affair. He boldly kicked on for his 3.3 length heat fourth behind Opawa Lara. He then onto produce a handy 2.75 length Addington 520m second. He fronted up at that venue on Friday where he whacked away for his 12 length fourth in a 645m event where the second reserve here Perfect Result lowered the Addington 645m track record. .
Southland Tuesday NZRS Graduation contenders includes (from left) Bartholomew Cub (pic Dave Robbie); Kia Tere; Goldstar Ashton - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
Ray Adcock will be fronting up on Tuesday with Raylene who booked her final field position via her close up 1.9 length heat fourth behind Opawa May. She is a member of the January 2016 whelped Bekim Bale and Culvie Magic litter. She must push up onto the early pace when she exits from trap six on Tuesday.
Now requiring just the one scratching to get back into this field is the Adcock prepared new Addington 645m track record holder Perfect Result. That was a super impressive gallop when he dictated the pace to his rivals when cruising home to stop the clock in a swift 37.59s time on Friday. This son of Barcia Bale and Andrea had raced once after resuming from a spell when he headed south for his heat attempt here.
He settled in the midfield from where he closed rapidly on the leaders when finishing fourth 1.2 lengths astern of Opawa Magic. He derived obvious benefit from that assignment as he then came out to deliver his strong Forbury Park C2 545m win where he clocked the meet best 32.31s time.
Canterbury trainer Dan Roberts is enjoying a fair amount of current success with his small racing team. Included in his kennel numbers is a recent addition in Thrilling Watch who is a member of the very well credential Fabregas and Thrilling Ella litter which includes the dual Group race winner Thrilling Talk. Thrilling Watch pressed on stoutly when he claimed his 3.25 length heat third to Opawa Lara. He then went over to Forbury Park where he wound up 10.5 lengths behind Perfect Result. He will be sighted in the blue racing vest in the decider.
Completing the drawn field is Cosmic Ruben from the John McInerney kennels. He delivered a competitive heat effort from the one trap where he kicked on solidly for his length third to Opawa Magic. From there this son of Cosmic Rumble and Punch On Jamie has since contested a further three C3 races being at Addington over 520m (7th), then Forbury Park for a 310m dash which he won in 18.61s, then he delivered an Addington 295m second when he was running out his C3 nominations. He moves out to trap eight for this event.
By Peter Fenemor
