The staying action continues at the Adding Raceway on Thursday evening where two heats for the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Stayers Cup over the 732m journey will decide the eight stayers who will return to contest next Thursday’s $30,000 at Group 1 level. Earlier two 520m heats will have decided the final field for the Group 2 $30,000 Barron’s South Island Championship finalists.
Pictured: Avenger Bale winning last year’s edition of the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Stayers Cup (pic Dave Robbie)
The heats feature the first three place getters from the recent enthralling $100,000 Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar final. Here’s a look at the contenders for the two heats, along with firstly their respective TAB Futures & Top 3, then their Thursday TAB Final Field quotes.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Stayers Cup – heat 1, race 10
1 Goldstar Sydney $31 & $5.50 - $16 & $2.70: She has been contesting recent 645m races on this track. Her sole 732m race saw her finishing in the midfield, while prior to that she delivered a bold Ascot Park 732m third.
2 Go Belle $41 & $7 - $19 & $3: She missed in her 779m Silver Collar heat after having finished a distant third to Dyna Weslyn in her 732m track record breaking effort. Back in May she led all the way when delivering her tidy 42.98s Ascot Park 732m win.
3 Dyna Weslyn $1.80 & $1.15 - $1.40 & $1.08: The stylist recent Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar winner (779m) severely dented the 732m track record (42.65s) in her last outing at this venue. She’s likely to be looking rather lonely at the business end of this event.
4 Classy Witch $41 & $7 - $21 & $3.20: She landed a midfield finishing position in the recent 779m Silver Collar final (third in her heat). She missed in both of her previous 732m races here, however she did land a bold second placing in a December Hatrick 755m NZRS Distance final.
5 It’s A Trick $31 & $5.50 - $11 & $2.50: He is having his first look at an extreme race distance after a number of 645m races here, which included a closely contested recent 38.46s win. He led throughout when he delivered his 36.71s Ascot Park 630m win.
6 Opawa Tab $61 & $10 - $21 & $3.20: She endured a traffic impeded lead in race over 645m here last Thursday. She has contested three 732m races here which includes her third placing in the final of this race last year after she ran a bold heat second.
7 Vandagambo $10 & $2.40 - $6.50 & $1.55: This fella really stuck to his task when delivering his bold Silver Collar 779m heat second, then his top third in the final. He showed in that series that he’ll will keep on sticking on. His qualifying claims here certainly cannot be lightly dismissed.
8 Opawa Hilary $16 & $3.30 - $9 & $1.95: She had her first attempt at a staying race when she was sighted pressing on solidly for her 645m third behind Perfect Result last week. She adds to the unknown intrigue factor to this heat.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Stayers Cup heat 1 contenders includes (from left): Go Belle; Dyna Weslyn; Vandagambo;
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Stayers Cup – heat 2, race 11
1 Opawa Hope $81 & $13 - $34 & $4: Her 30 career staying races has yielded her with a win and two minor placings with her sole win being over 645m back in December 2016. She missed a placing in her three 732m outings, however her last start 645m second behind Perfect Result was sound.
2 Know Potential $51 & $8.50 - $20 & $3.80: She contested a Silver Collar 779m heat which she finished sixth. She has had two previous attempts at 732m racing with a handy third in a NZRS Distance final being her best result.
3 Boyka $18 & $3.50 - $7 & $1.80: This fella is an interesting acceptor as he’s having just his ninth race day outing. He had his second look at 645m racing last week when he extended nicely to annex his 38.33s win. Obviously he’s having his first look at 732m racing here.
4 Perfect Result $4 & $1.45 - $1.55 & $1.12: This bloke has struck strong winning form at precisely the right time. Gee he was in cruise mode when securing his recent pair of 645m wins here including his superb 37.59s track record gallop. He has clocked a 43.42s 732m win here and he placed over the trip on another occasion.
5 Opawa Silver $81 & $13 - $26 & $3.80: She peaked late on her gallop, when after setting the pace, she finished up 1.25 lengths behind Boyka over 645m last week. She’s taking a bo peep at an extreme race distance for the first time here.
6 Shooters Hill $10 & $2 - $6 & $1.55: Wow, was this boy hot in the Silver Collar final! He powerfully hit the line when he pushed Dyna Weslyn to just a head margin. He trekked down to Addington to have a trial on the track on Monday. What he lacks in early pace he sure makes up for with his power packed finish.
7 Alotta Talk $31 & $5.50 - $7 & $1.80: This former Aussie stayer adds interest to this event as he has brought tidy Wentworth Park 720m form across the Tasman with him. He has won twice at the Sydney headquarters with his best 720m time being a 42.59s gallop. Don’t ignore his qualifying claims here.
8 Cawbourne Taylor $31 & $5.50 - $12 & $2.40: She finished up being the Silver Collar second reserve after having finished third over the 720m trip at the Manawatu Raceway in her prior race. Don’t forget she is a Group 1 755m winning stayer which she landed at the Hatrick Raceway.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Stayers Cup heat 2 contenders includes (from left): Perfect Result; Shooters Hill; Cawbourne Taylor
Barron’s South Island Championship
The Barron’s South Island Championship is an annual Group 2 late season event hosted by the Christchurch GRC which offers a $30,000 Group 1 stake. Two 520m heats held at the Addington Raceway on Thursday evening will decide the finalists who will return to contest the final the following Thursday.
Here’s a look at the contenders for the two heats, along with firstly their respective TAB Futures & Top 3, then their Thursday TAB Final Field quotes.
Barron’s South Island Championship – heat 1, race 8
1 Double Speed $12 & $3.20 - $7 & $2.40: This recent Canterbury Futurity runner up has drawn ideally to advance further in this series. His trap one record is top notch and another Group race final outing is his for the taking here.
2 Start The Show $6 & $2 - $4.50 & $1.90: He has been making steady progress through the grades having now reached the C4 chasing ranks. He has been combined with open class greyhounds in his last three 520m races and he has achieved a minor placing in all of them.
3 Go Brat $14 & $3.60 - $8.50 & $2.80: He is returning to his home track after finishing second in his recent NZ Breeders’ Stakes 520m heat. He is a known strong finisher and he’s likely to take an early sit on the rail before finishing solidly.
4 Dyna Vernan $81 & $17 - $23 & $4.80: He’s a visitor from Marton who is returning to his former home track after finishing up in recent midfield positions in his Friday Hatrick 520m assignments. He must place himself handy to the pace here.
5 Bahama Queen $18 & $4.40 - $9 & $2.90: She has had plenty of practice from this tricky draw in her recent 520m races, although her on the pace Friday 30.49s 520m win was delivered from the one trap. Expect her to deliver similar handy to the pace racing tactics here.
6 Nature’s Gent $9 & $2.60 - $6.50 & $2.30: He returns to the scene of his top 2017 New Zealand Cup victory on the back of a his powerful finishing Hatrick Friday 520m second. He is a noted railing chaser, however being a multiple Group 1 winning greyhound says he demands total respect here.
7 Dyna Dave $4 & $1.60 - $2.10 & $1.28: Geez, this former Addington 520m track record holder (29.73s) just can’t draw a trap, although his current form line says he can win from anyway. He just keeps on delivering and a turbo charge finish can be expected by him.
8 Zefside $251 & $51 - $81 & $9: He downgraded back to C3 when he missed in his Tuesday Ascot Park C4/5 457m race. He has no option but to fire out from his wide trap and contest the early pace here.
Reserves – 9 Bertie Allen $61 & $13 - $14 & $3.70: He’s a C4 assessed chaser who has had a month off following his last start 520m miss here. He does own a tidy 30.01s best winning 520m time here and he appears to favour an inside trap.
10 Dyna Varsity $7.50 & $2.50 - $4.50 & $1.90: This will be his toughest career test if he gains a race start here following his bold pace making effortless C2 30.17s NZ debut 520m win. He would have derived natural improvement after that outing.
South Island Championship heat 1 contenders includes (from left): Double Speed; Nature’s Gent; Dyna Dave
Barron’s South Island Championship – heat 2, race 9
1 Sailor Allen $5 & $1.80 - $2.70 & $1.40: He was a C4 graded chaser when he delivered his bold 30.29s C4/5 520m last start win. He won his only trap one race and he has won four of his five 520m races here with the best coming in 30.07s.
2 Must Be Rusty $81 & $17 - $23 & $5: He had downgraded back to C4 when he finished solidly for his Tuesday Ascot Park 1.75 length 457m second. He is capable of contesting the early pace which is an asset he must use from trap rise.
3 Emgrand Park $12 & $3.20 - $5.50 & $2.15: This bloke has produced two eye catching efforts since he crossed the Tasman. First up he finished boldly for his 2.25 length Manawatu C4/5 457m third. He backed that up with his strong finishing Manukau 2.75 length 527m second in the Auckland Derby. He adds a fair amount of interest to this heat.
4 Egomaniacal $18 & $4.50 - $8 & $2.80: He has been a competitive Addington open class 527m chaser for a long time. He has the ability to contest the pace and he can be rewarded with a final field position if uses that healthy tactic here.
5 Ringside $6 & $2 - $3.20 & &$1.55: He’s a proven, strong 520m performer around this circuit as seen by his smart best 29.86s 520m winning time here. He is more than capable of being able to overcome the poor draw he has been allocated here.
6 Goldstar Ashton $41 & $9 - $15 & $4: He’s a vastly experienced C4 graded chaser who was held in midfield traffic all the way when he contested his Tuesday C4/5 event at Ascot Park. He must push up onto the early pace when the traps lift here.
7 Dyna Diode $61 & $13 - $19 & $4.50: He set the pace in his last start C4/5 520m race here until the home turn, but he didn’t kick on during the run home. He has won one of his previous three 520m races here and he also must jump onto the early pace here where he carry’s the black racing vest for the time in his career.
8 Mr. Matt $$21 & $5 - $7.50 & $2.60: He is provided with swooping claims from out in trap eight following his half-length 520m second last Thursday when he was run down over the concluding stages by Bahama Queen.
Reserves – 9 Bertie Allen $61 & $13 - $16 & $4: He’s a C4 assessed chaser who has had a month off following his last start 520m miss here. He does own a tidy 30.01s best winning 520m time here and he appears to favour an inside trap.
10 Dyna Varsity $4.40 & $1.80: This will be his toughest career test if he gains a race start here following his bold pace making effortless C2 30.17s NZ debut 520m win. He would have derived natural improvement after that outing.
South Island Championship heat 2 contenders includes (from left): Emgrand Park; Ringside; Mr. Matt
By Peter Fenemor
