“I reckon he’s the best dog racing in the country who hasn’t won a Group race,” commented Canterbury conditioner Craig Roberts about the warm favourite Dyna Dave for Friday evening’s $30,000 Barron’s South Island Championships at the Addington Raceway. He is spot on with that comment.
Pictured: Last year’s Barron’s South Island Championships winner Fair Pippa who is now a proud mum
Dyna Dave ($2.80 & $1.40 – TAB Final Field) receives a solid looking opportunity of being able to rectify that anomaly in his racing CV in this Group 2 event. This bloke showed his heat rivals a clean set of hind paws when he scampered clear to nail his easy 520m 30.11s win. He achieved that win from trap seven and yep, he’s required to carry the black racing vest again in this decider.
“He just can’t get a decent box and his poor draws makes the job tougher for him. Yes Dave needs some early luck, although if he starts as good as what he did last week, then yes he can win the South Island Champs. He deserves a Group race win. He’s come through his heat as good as gold,” advised Roberts about the former 29.73s Addington 520m track record holder.
Dave has seven competitive looking rivals who are seeking to deny him his Group race glory here. Included are pair of Angela Turnwald prepared visiting greyhounds. Nature’s Gent certainly is no stranger to winning Group race titles and included in his multiple list of elite race wins is the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup victory that he claimed at this venue when he won the 2017 edition.
The stake earning claims held by Nature’s Gent ($5.50 & $2.10) in this event soared after this noted railing winner of a tidy $177,402 was allocated the one trap to hop away from here. That comes after he made a tardy start in his heat and then he had to overcome a check when heading into the first turn. From there he finished solidly to book his place here via his 11.75 length heat fourth behind Dyna Dave.
“I guess it was a fair run in his heat after he missed the start - that’s the concern for him after he slipped in the traps at Hatrick (in his prior race). Yes, it is his box – now he has to use it as there’s a lot riding on the race. Hopefully he holds the rail from where I would expect him to get clear racing room. He’s all good to go on Friday,” confirmed the trainers’ partner Paul Freeman about their charge who has picked up a stake in all 12 of his previous trap one races (six wins).
His kennelmate Emgrand Park ($5.50 & $2.10) made a huge impression when he stylishly won the other heat in 30.23s when he made his track debut outing. It was a strong effort by this bloke who has made an impression since he crossed the Tasman. That included his Auckland Derby 527m second placing after he received an impeded racing passage. He returned to the Manawatu Raceway on Monday where he was the victim of real lousy racing luck when he contested a 457m heat for the $28,000 Total Bodyshop Supplies North Island Challenge Stakes.
Dyna Dave delivering his Barron’s South Island Championships heat win; while Emgrand Park is pictured winning his heat and with his handler Paul Freeman after wards (pics Val Simpson)
“We’re very happy with his heat run after he got tangled up a couple of times early. You would think he will take improvement from that and it seems to be a track (Addington) that suits him as he has a strong run home. The worry is what sort of early run he gets (from trap four). He came through his Monday vet check great after he got cleaned up early in his race,” said Freeman.
Roberts has also qualified two other finalists. Dyna Varsity ($5.50 & $2.10) caught the eye in the stylish manner that this C3 graded chaser boldly stuck to his heat task when he chased home Emgrand Park for his 2.75 length second. It was just his second Addington 520m race, having won his track debut in a tidy 30.17s. He is provided with swooping claims from trap eight here.
“This fella has plenty of ability. I was over the moon with his heat effort even though he took a wrong option when he went around the outer of another dog, instead of taking an inside passage. He’s all ready to go in the final,” stated Roberts.
Sailor Allen ($8 & $2.40) set up the early pace in his heat after he hopped away from the one trap. He maintained a solid gallop until he got to the home turn where others hemmed him in. From there he pressed on to claim his 5.5 length heat fourth to Emgrand Park.
He will be wearing the white racing vest on Friday. “I rate him as my third stringer in the final, although his early pace can help him. Look, he’s a different dog when he’s races on the pace and that’s exactly what he must do in the final. He pulled up good from his heat,” Roberts said.
Ray Adcock has qualified two finalists. Double Speed ($14 & $3.60) has been a regular attendee in Group race finals and he will be loaded away into the two trap here after he was involved in the vain chase after the freewheeling Dyna Dave, finishing up 8.75 lengths astern of him.
Start The Show ($7 &$2.30) has displayed ability and this litter brother to the smart Ringside is compiling a more than handy looking record over the Addington 520m trip which includes a 30.26s best winning clock. He was gallant in the manner that he chased after Dyna Dave, winding up as the 5.25 length runner up to him.
“Start The Show is my best chance, although he isn’t a quick starter and he has a poor draw (trap five) to content with. I would expect him to work his way into the race. I guess the best thing about Double Speed is his draw which is okay for him. He has to get himself into a handy position going into the first turn. Both of them came through their heats okay,” confirmed Adcock.
The drawn field is completed by the Dave and Jean Fahey prepared Mr. Matt ($26 & $4.80) who completed his heat assignment 4.5 lengths behind Emgrand Park when he was sighted running on from an early midfield position. “He’s racing for luck from that box (six). He has to get himself up onto the pace. He’s all good for the final,” said Dave Fahey about their charge after they mentored Fair Pippa to win last year’s edition of the Barron’s South Island Championships.
Barron’s South Island Championships contenders includes (from left): Dyna Varsity; Start The Show; Mr. Matt (pics Val Simpson)
The John McInerney trained first reserved Must Be Rusty ($51 & $6) backed up his fifth placing with his meet best Tuesday Forbury Park 32.59s C3/4 545m win, while Jason Dunn provides the second reserve Bahama Queen ($21 & $4.50). She owns an abundance of early pace. .
By Peter Fenemor
