It certainly wasn’t a surprise to see Lisa Cole train the race trifecta in Friday’s running of the $12,000 NZRS Advanced final at the Hatrick Raceway. After all she had qualified seven of the eight finalists from the previous Friday’s pair of 520m heats.
Pictured: Friday’s NZRS Advanced winner Bigtime Rod with handler Allan Trass following an early career win
It was a spirited betting dual between Bigtime Rod ($2.60) and All About Space ($2.70) for the race favouritism and it was this pair of kennelmates who dominated the race right from the jump which was reserved for New Zealand bred greyhounds.
All About Space had been super when she delivered her prior meet best 25.68s Monday 457m win. She controlled the pace all the way then and this daughter of Above All and Spot On Maggie attempted to use those same pace making tactics when she jumped smartly from trap one on Friday.
Stalking her racing into the first turn was the 30.56s heat winner Bigtime Rod, while the first reserve Bigtime Caleb (Collision – Darlyne Ottey) placed himself into a forward early position, although his challenge was to be short lived.
It was All About Space who freewheeled down the back straight, with Bigtime Rod in his slip stream, while the other 30.15s heat winner Bigtime Homie (Premier Fantasy – Sweet As Bro) had improved his field position to chase after the leading pair.
Rounding the home turn Bigtime Rod hooked himself to the outside of All About Space, then he used his strength to extend during the run home to claim his feature race victory by a widening 5.5 length margin, clocking 30.30s.
All About Space gamely stuck to her task when holding down second, although Bigtime Homie was closing in, however he finished a further 1.75 lengths behind in third. It was a gutsy effort from the fourth placed Tyson’s Quest to claim that placing another length back. The Brian Marsh trained son of Blitzing Mayhem and Vicki’s Quest after the only non-Cole trained finalist had encountered some early traffic problems.
Friday’s NZRS Advanced winner Bigtime Rod after his NZ Futurity Stakes second placing; Friday’s runner up All About Space and third placed Bigtime Homie
Bigtime Rod, who is raced by Allan Weatherall, provided his breeder Brendon Cole with the $3,150 portion of the Breeders prized attached to the NZRS series. The son of Bekim Bale and Mammy Brown advanced his career stake earnings out to $50,114 (excluding Breeders’ bonus payments). He has now won 15 and has placed in 16 of his 47 race day outings. Included in his placings was his bold three quarter length second in the recent NZ Futurity Stakes final at Group 1 level.
It was another huge night at the Hatrick track last Friday for the Cole kennel, where she mentored ten of the twelve race winners. That takes her winners for the current season up to a staggering 790 as she chases down the national record which she jointly holds with John McInerney following the 803 winners she prepared last season.
By Peter Fenemor
