It was just over a month ago when the classy stayer Dyna Weslyn rocketed over the Addington 732m distance in a low flying 42.65s. In doing so she shattered the 732m track record. On Friday evening Dyna Weslyn will load away into the five trap to contest the $30,000 Christchurch Casino NZ Stayers’ Cup for her conditioner Craig Roberts.
Pictured: Perfect Result sighted here delivering his Christchurch Casino NZ Stayers’ Cup heat win (pic Val Simpson)
Dyna Weslyn then went onto contest the $100,000 Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar over the extreme Manukau 779m trip. She narrowly prevailed in that prestigious event. Finishing just a head behind her was the gallant Shooters Hill, while Vandagambo boldly claimed the third placing. These three stayers will again clash in this Group 1 feature, while they will be joined by the new holder of the Addington 645m track record Perfect Result.
Dyna Weslyn ($2.10 & $1.25 – TAB Final Field) was gutsy, real gutsy in booking her final field position here after she was poleaxed when heading into the first turn in her 732m heat here last Thursday. She balanced up, picked up her momentum and she powered home to nail her 1.75 length heat second to Vandagambo.
She won her Silver Collar title from the five trap and yep she will be loaded away into the same trap on Friday evening. “It’s bloody unbelievable how she can’t draw a decent marble in a Group 1 final. My concern for her is, has the demanding 779m Silver Collar races taken the edge of her?
“She has lost the early sharpness she had. Look, if she can jump like she was earlier on, then yes she can be right up there on the pace. She is very well within herself and I’m very happy with her overall condition – she’s a front running stayer – that’s her forte,” advised Roberts.
Prefect Result ($2.50 & (1.28) is really humming for his trainer Ray Adcock, with the GRNZ Hall of Fame trainer appearing to have timed his charges run into this event absolutely perfectly. Speaking about prefect – being allocated the one trap is ideal for him. As mentioned it was Prefect Result who recently lowered the 645m best track time here via his strong 37.59s gallop.
He didn’t waste any time in his 732m heat either when he bounced straight into the race lead and he was never headed afterwards when he streamed through his assignment in a comfortable 43.35s. He has drawn to use similar racing tactics in the decider. “I guess it depends on how she jumps (Dyna Weslyn) – if my fella jumps, then they’ll have to catch him. He’s always had the ability in him He pulled up great – he’s spot on,” confirmed Adcock.
Calum Weir is stoked to be asked to take over the mentoring duties for Vandagambo ($10 & $2.50) who was real solid during both of his Silver Collar races. The former Victorian stayer picked up on his northern efforts when he grinded away solidly to claim his Addington track debut win in 44s. That’s the way this bloke races – he steadily grinds his way into contention after making moderate starts.
“I was shocked when James (Van de Matt – owner) rang me to train Vandagambo. It was nice to have a readymade stayer arrive. I thought he was smart in the way he handled his first look at Addington. Hopefully he can get himself a bit more handier to the pace as this bloke will run all day.
“He’s different from today’s jump and run type of stayers as the tougher it becomes, the stronger he becomes. He was so fit when he got him and all we’ve had to do is to keep him up there (fitness). He had a couple of gallops during the week which he handled nicely. I’m really looking forward to Friday,” said Weir who will load him away into trap three.
Vandagambo delivering his heat win; owner and breeder Ray Amer is happy with his heat winner Prefect Result (pics Val Simpson); the Christchurch Casino NZ Stayers’ Cup race favourite Dyna Weslyn
And while speaking about tough stayers, the stake claims held by the Sam Lozell trained Shooters Hill ($8 & $2.20) must be respected. He was massive in the Silver Collar final and again he was huge in the manner that this big boy strongly finished off his heat effort 5.5 lengths behind Perfect Result.
He also isn’t renowned for his early speed and he also resolutely grinds his way forward in his staying assignments. He will be sighted wearing the black racing vest during the decider. “Good – he’s bloody good. I thought he got a bit lost when he went past the sprint boxes again, then he dug in real nicely. He jumped a lot better in his heat, although he does lack early pace. He keeps on keeping on and I wish there was another 100 or so metres in this race. He is as sweet as – hopefully he gets clear early air and he finishes like he has been’” said Lozell.
The powerful Dave and Jean Fahey kennels will be represented by two finalists with both of them displayed completely opposite racing tactics. Opawa Hilary ($31 & $4.60) assumed early control of her heat when she skipped into the race lead and headed down towards the rail after she hopped away from the eight trap (she does so again here). She battled away over the concluding stages when she wound up a 1.8 length heat fourth to Vandagambo in what was her first look at an extreme race distance.
Alotta Talk ($8 & $2.50) settled in the rear division in his heat and he pretty much remained there for the bulk of the journey after striking some traffic problems. He was still back on the final turn, however he was then sighted putting in some huge late bounds to arrive at the judge 13.5 lengths behind Prefect Result. He will exit from trap two in the decider.
“I feel Opawa Hilary will have benefited from her first 732m race. Actually you wouldn’t event know that she had a race. Your guess is as good as mine on what Alotta Talk will do. He has a real motor but in saying that he’s a hard dog to get a line on. He came through his heat okay,” advised Dave Fahey.
Gary Cleeve will line up Know Potential ($51 & $5.50) and he will enjoy the short “sprint” to the Addington track after having travelled to Manukau in three of the last four weekends. Included in his northern load was Know Potential, who endured a traffic impeded Silver Collar 779m heat outing. She settled just in behind the pace setters in the heat that Prefect Result dominated and she kicked on stoutly for her 10.5 length heat third. She will wear the blue racing vest in the final.
“She’s good and she came through her heat good – couldn’t be happier with her. Yes I’m more than happy with her heat run where she got a nice run into it. She isn’t known for her early speed, therefore hopefully she gets a bit handier early on in the final. But we know they don’t always follow the script! Hopefully she’s positioned so she can have a crack at the pace makers,” suggested Cleeve.
The drawn field is completed by the Steve and Bonnie Evans prepared Goldstar Sydney ($41 & $5.25). She jumped handy to the pace in her heat from where she whacked away boldly when claiming her heat third 1.75 lengths astern of Vandagambo. In fact she was cut out of second by the barest possible margin when she was dive bombed on the line by Dyna Weslyn. She will race from trap six.
“It’s great to have her in there (final). I thought she did a good job to qualify. She is getting stronger and stronger, although she needs to jump handy to the pace. She’s clashing with some really good dogs, but hey stranger things has happened. She’s had a quiet week and she’s all set to go,” said Steve Evans.
Christchurch Casino NZ Stayers’ Cup contenders includes (from left): Shooters Hill; Know Potential; Goldstar Sydney – pic Val Simpson
The first reserve in the Matt Roberts trained current Wanganui Distance title holder (755m) Cawbourne Taylor ($31 & $4.60), while Robin Wales applies the finishing touches to the second reserve Go Belle ($31 & $4.60). Back in early May she stylishly won an Ascot Park 732m event in 42.98s.
