The healthy advancement of New Zealand greyhound breeding is strongly illustrated by the depth of talent that is contained in the field that will contest Friday’s $46,000 New Zealand Breeders’ Stakes final (race 10) at the Hatrick Raceway at Group 1 level. That breeding strength was further emphasis by the requirement to run five 520m heats last Friday.
Pictured: The fastest qualifier for the five NZ Breeders’ heat was Bigtime Rocco who is pictured here with Ella Cole (pic Wanganui GRC)
The nation’s leading trainer Lisa Cole is represented by five finalists, plus she also provides the first reserve. The kennel prepared last year’s NZ Breeders’ Stakes winner Bigtime Tears and they hold obvious claims of being able to repeat that success with their talented team of home bred greyhounds here.
Returning the quickest of those heat times was the emerging up and coming chaser Bigtime Rocco ($2.60 – TAB Final field). His 30.27s clock was significantly quicker than the other four heat times. This member of the talented Brett Lee and Sheer Miss litter owns a smart 30.08s best winning Hatrick time.
He delivered his heat win from the two trap and he will be loaded away into the same trap for the final. “He’s maturing nicely now, being a latter whelping (May 2017). He has further improvement in him and he’s coming into own now. His draw is spot on for him,” confirmed Brendon Cole about the winner of 12 of his 23 race day outings.
The 30.57s heat winner Bigtime Brody ($11) is a litter brother to Bigtime Rocco and he also is looking to have hit his straps at the right time judging by the way he refused to flinch when he led his heat rivals all the way.
This holder of a best 30.16s winning 520m time delivered his heat win from trap four and he’ll carry the blue racing vest again in the decider. “He is at exactly the same maturing level as his brother Bigtime Rocco. He can break (jump) quickly which he must do to avoid the likely downward pressure from those drawn outside him,” suggested Cole.
Bigtime Rod ($13) was the recent runner up in the $30,000 New Zealand Futurity final at this venue and he is capable of again making his presence felt in this event. This son of Bekim Bale and Mammy Brown displayed a fair bit of track sense when he came from off the pace to claim his 30.52s heat win. He also owns the slick field best winning 29.91s 520m time.
“He has developed into a real nice race dog and his seven trap draw is alright for him. He take an early sit and then either come around or underneath him. We saw that when he finished strongly for his NZ Futurity second,” advised Cole.
Trojan Hoarse ($6) doesn’t require any introductions about being a serious Group 1 greyhound as he already has the New Zealand Derby trophy safely tucked away in his kennel. It is the slick early pace that this son of Fernando Bale and Ocotillo owns that sets up his race wins.
He displayed that asset in his heat and it was only over the concluding stages that he was gathered in by a neck by Idol Dude. “This fella has quick early pace and he can lead them out. He has to use that early pace as he doesn’t have the strongest run home time,” said Cole about the runner who will wear the white racing vest.
Both All About Space ($6) and her connections will be relieved that she has been allocated the one track to hop away from here. It was a gutsy effort that this daughter of Above All and Spot On Maggie produced to claim her 30.81s heat win which she achieved when wearing the pink racing vest.
She had to overcome a fair degree of early jostling in her heat and that explains the rather “sedate” looking time at this level of racing that she returned. She has slipped around the 520m at this venue in a tidy 30.04s. “She is likely to take sit along the rail thanks to her draw from where she’ll maintain a solid gallop,” suggested Cole.
NZ Breeders heat winners were (from left): Bigtime Brody was brought back by his handler Ella Cole; Bigtime Rod with handler Shane Kendall; All About Space was handled by Wendy Kite (pics Wanganui GRC)
Bigtime Kiss ($21) is the first reserve, missing making the drawn field by the flick of an eye lid. This daughter of Fabregas and Kissing Gwyneth gallantly held for her heat second placing seven lengths astern of the freewheeling Bigtime Rocco. She must use her known early pace in the unlikely event that she gains the one scratching she requires to gain entry into this field as she tends to struggle at the business end of her 520m races.
“All of our runners have come through their heats in great style. They all worked up good during the week and are ready to go on Friday. Our biggest concern is the possibility of them crashing into each other when going into the first turn,” suggested Cole.
The remaining heat winner Idol Dude ($21) brings solid Group 1 racing experience into this race, with this being the fourth of the elite finals that he’ll contest for his conditioner Marcie Flipp. He stalked the pace making Trojan Hoarse in his heat, then he mastered him during the run home to claim his 30.53s heat win.
“It was good work that Dude did to win his heat – very exciting to have him in another Group 1 final. Box six isn’t the best for him, but he’ll give it his best shot. There’s speed drawn to the inside of him, so I’m not really sure what he’ll do early on although he’ll probably hold a straight line into the first turn. He’s taken over from Idol Tom as my best kennel dog,” explained Flipp about the son of Swift Fancy and Idol Girl. .
Karen Walsh is no stranger to training NZ Breeders’ Stakes winner having mentored three previous winners of the race with the latest being Thrilling Flo two seasons ago. A month ago she produced the ultra consistent chaser Thrilling Talk ($3.40) to stylishly win the NZ Futurity final and she is returning to contest this event with the dual Group race winner.
It was a nervous wait for Walsh as she had to sit through the remaining fours heats to see if this son of Fabregas and Thrilling Ella made the final cut which he narrowly did. He was required to overcome early traffic issues after he jumped away from trap seven from where he kicked on solidly for his heat second to Bigtime Brody.
He has been allocated the tricky five trap to exit from on Friday. “Yes, his draw certainly doesn’t do him any favours as he’s likely to crash inwards. He can begin okay, although he tends to make his best starts from the inside three traps. He’s a tough fella, who tends to bash himself up from the wider taps. He has come through his heat as good as gold,” advised Walsh.
Kennelmate Thrilling Vice ($21) is a half-brother to Thrilling Talk being out of Thrilling Quest by Fabregas and he scrapped into the drawn field by the barest of margins when delivered his 3.25 length heat second behind Bigtime Rod. He will be loaded away into trap eight, from where he placed from on both of the previous times he jump from there.
“Normally trap eight is an okay draw, however it certainly isn’t the best in Wanganui. He’s a good, lightly raced little dog who can run a bold race. He came through his heat and both him and Talk are a genuine pair of greyhounds. Hey, we have to give it a go,” said Walsh.
Marie Gowan returned Idol Dude to the podium (pic Wanganui GRC); Karen Walsh is seeking another NZ Breeders Stakes title from either of her runners Thrilling Talk or Thrilling Vice .
The Dave and Jean Fahey trained Go Brat ($14) is the second reserve which is the position that this son of Barcia Bale and Opawa Amy booked when he wound up 1.5 lengths behind All About Space in his heat when he was sighted finishing solidly from the midfield pack.
By Peter Fenemor
