The New Zealand bred straight out sprinters takes center stage during Thursday’s Christchurch meeting at the Addington Raceway where they contest their $8,500 NZRS Sprint final (race 11). Six 295m heats held last Thursday has brought together a field of rather sharp looking sprinters
Pictured: Our Dazzel delivering the quickest of the NZRS Sprint heat times (pic Dave Robbie)
It was the Robin Wales prepared Our Dazzel who clocked the quickest of the heat times when he cut out his dash in 17.18s. This son of Spring Gun and Opawa Gem was always in control of the pace when delivering that win. His claims in this final got even stronger after he was allocated the eight trap to hop away from. He has won all three of his previous races from that trap.
Wales also qualified the Opawa Racing team’s vastly experienced sprinter Opawa Waihemo who in his 158th race day appearance hopped into his heat field from the second reserve possie. He chased after the pacemaker from where this son of Winsome Opawa and Opawa Andrea extended strongly during the run home to claim his 17.38s heat win. He will exit from trap two in this decider.
The Jason Dunn kennels is enjoying a fair amount of current success and his kennels will be represented by two contenders here, while he also provides the second reserve with all three sprinters being from litters bred and raced by long time industry participants Ron and Rosemary Blackburn.
Business Ethics seized control of his heat rivals when going into the first turn and this son of Business Time and Dixie Lee was never challenged afterwards as he sprinted to his 17.26s heat win. He owns the field best 16.99s winning 295m time here. He will be sighted wearing the white racing vest on Thursday.
Handler Wendy Stephens brought back the fastest heat winner Our Dazzel; His kennelmate Opawa Waihemo carried the red, blue and white second reserve racing vest to victory in his heat; Business Ethics is sighted here dashing to his heat win (pics Dave Robbie)
Inside Affair was gallant when she gamely sprinted after Our Dazzel and she was rewarded with a place in the final field when this daughter of Fast Archer and Business Affair arrived home 2.5 lengths behind the pacemaker. She is required to cope with the tricky five trap in the final.
The youngster Versailles is an exciting future sprinting prospect as seen by the tidy record that this son of Fast Archer and Fleur Du Liys is quickly compiling. He was sound when delivering his 3.25 length heat second to Dahteste. He has sprinted over the Addington 295m dash on six occasions for four wins and two placings with a smart 17.12s clock underlining the promising future he has in front of him.
Local conditioner Alison Lee has also qualified two finalists and Dahteste has come up with the draw advantage for the final via the ace trap, which is an improvement from the five trap that this daughter of Apache Jet and Angel Of Mine exit from in her heat. She did a great job from there as seen by her easy pace making 17.27s heat win. Her inside trap stats makes for tidy reading.
Jumping away from the seven trap will be her kennelmate Man Of Letters who also controlled the pace throughout when he secured his 17.39s heat. This nicely bred son of Fernando Bale and About Town must break away quickly from his wide draw.
Ashley Bradshaw is enjoying an outstanding season, having prepared 110 winners so far for the current season. She will be load away her inform sprinter Bender Truth into trap four here. It was also a pace making 17.32s heat win that this consistent sprinting son of Bekim Bale and Calinda Girl produced.
Pictured here capturing their respective Addington 295m NZRS Sprint heat wins are the kennelmates Dahteste (left), Man Of Letters; Bender Truth - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com– 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
The drawn field is completed by the Alan Joyce trained Jinja Ellie, who booked her place in this final when she delivered her 2.75 length heat second to Business Ethics. It was heady effort from this daughter of Fabregas and Jinja Ruby as she had to ease herself through some early traffic to chase the winner around the turn. She will parade to the traps wearing the green racing vest.
Bruce Dann is no stranger to NZRS Sprint success and he’ll be hoping for the one scratching he requires so his sprinter Fired Up Jed can gain a race start here. This son of Elite State and Fireman’s Escort finished stoutly to snatch his heat second placing 1.25 lengths astern of Opawa Waihemo.
By Peter Fenemor
