Hatrick Raceway set to host two Group 1 Finals on Friday
Pictured: He’s All Go is seeking another Group 1 victory on Friday night.
The pace was hot during both 520m heats for the $30,000 Hatrick Classic, which sets up an enticing Group 1 final this Friday. And strength highlighted the pair of 755m heats for the stayers in their Group 1 $30,000 Wanganui Distance assignment.
The talented He’s All Go ($1.65 – TAB Final Field) displayed both pace and strength in the manner that he landed his bold 29.84 Hatrick Classic heat win, coming away from his rivals by a comfortable 4.5 length margin for his conditioner Lisa Cole.
He jumped from the eight-trap last week, and he will be loaded into trap-seven for the final.
“He showed track sense by staying out, which enabled him to maintain momentum when rounding the first turn. Hopefully he does the same on Friday,” said Brendon Cole about the two-time Group 1 winner, who owns the field best 29.57 520m winning time.
It was an eye-catching effort that the track debuting Palawa Queen ($10) produced, when winning her heat 29.95 for Jean and Dave Fahey. She was sighted doing her best work at the business end in her heat.
“Yes, she went good in her first race up there and there should be improvement in her after that. I would have preferred her to have drawn wider and she’ll need a bit of luck from there (2), as she’s a small dog. She come through her heat in good condition,” advised Dave Fahey.
The Cole kennel is returning with three other finalists. The up-and-comer chaser Brockie’s Luck ($9) finished resolutely for his neck second to Palawa Queen.
“That was a tidy run by him in his heat, especially as it was a rise in class for him. His draw (5) has made it tricky for him; however, he does have a fair bit of ability,” confirmed Cole.
The depth of the Cole team is clearly illustrated by the dual Group 1 winner Blazin’ Master ($5.50) qualifying, and he was somewhat surprisingly run down after setting the pace, finishing 1.20 lengths behind Palawa Queen.
He wore the red racing vest then, and he’ll do likewise in the decider.
“I believe he will be better on Friday, and I don’t think he’ll struggle late this time. He is more than capable of winning the race,” warned Cole.
Completing the Cole representation in the decider is Big Time Trade ($31), who wound up 8.25 lengths adrift of Palawa Queen.
“He’s going to need a lot of luck from his draw (4). He’s a handy enough dog, although our others have raced faster. All of our runners are good to go on Friday,” said Cole.
Claws In Zorro ($6.50) will resume his rivalry with He’s All Go, after his trainer Matt Roberts produced him to lead the chase home behind him in his heat.
“At least he gets a better draw (3) this time around. He’s come through his heat as good as gold – he’s such a cruisy greyhound. That was his first race at Hatrick for a while, and I expect him to derive improvement from that,” suggested Roberts.
Alpha Rambo ($21) has always displayed potential, and he bravely claimed his place in the final for his mentor Marcie Flipp via his heat third placing.
“He didn’t get the best of heat runs and it was his determination that got him into the final. He always tries his best. Sure, it’s a pretty tough field, however I’m not overly worried about his draw (8) as he mightn’t get into any trouble from out there. He’s a happy dog who is thriving,” expressed Flipp.
Completing the drawn field is the Garry Cleeve trained Charlie Horse ($12), who finished solidly for his fourth placing.
“He’s been doing a fair bit of travelling lately and racing consistently against hard fields. It’s not the draw (6) we were looking for. Ideally, I would like to see him to jump and look to be handy going into the first turn, from where he will bring it home strongly. He’s really good and he travels good,” commented Cleeve.
Gorup 1 Wanganui Distance
Pictured: Grande Vue Ace following her Wanganui Distance heat win last week.
The current New Zealand Stayers Cup title holder Grande Vue Ace ($4.20 – TAB Final Field) returned to racing following a season with a vengeance, with her conditioner Bob Pringle producing her fresh-up to deliver her potent 755m 44.81 heat win. She was last sighted at the races when winning over 732m on 15 February at Addington.
“Yes, it was nice to have her back racing. I never really had her out of training during her season, just quietly keeping her ticking over. In saying that, I didn’t expect her to go that good.
“When I took her out of her kennel on Saturday morning, she just looked at me, indicating she wanted to go racing again. I took her out to South Beach (Wanganui) the other day for a friendly little work out – she thrived, including a splash around in the water. It was a good kids’ day out.
“It’s a pleasure to be in the race. I’m not worried about her box-draw (8) – people forget that she won the NZ Stayers Cup from trap-eight. She took a bump in her heat, then balanced up – she’s a solid little girl and I have no worries about her going into Friday,” advised Pringle about his pride and joy.
Space Boy ($2.50) owns an abundance of early pace, plus he’s strong at the business end of his races. He found the heat lead after rounding the first turn, and he used his known pace to outstay his rivals to claim his 45 second even heat win for Lisa Cole.
“This dog is capable of leading them all-the-way, as he’s a very hard stayer to get past when he’s setting the pace. He can beat his draw (5). He’s proven at the top level and he’s as bright as anything going into the final,” commented Brendon Cole about the 2023 527m Auckland Cup winner.
Big Time Jaya ($10) provides Cole with a back-up contender, following her 3.5 length heat third to Space Boy.
“I thought her heat run was pretty good after she was caught in early traffic. She came home nicely once she got some clear racing room. I’d like to see her handy to the pace from her draw (1). She’s all set to go,” said Cole.
Corey Steele was delighted when he provided both of the heat second placegetters. Opawa Tails ($12) chased home Space Boy, winding up 2.5 lengths astern of him, while kennelmate Opawa Rat ($6) was gallant when he went under by a neck to Grande Vue Ace.
“I was over the moon with their heat races and both of them can through it better than expected. Both were bouncing around really good on Saturday morning.
“I’m happy with Opawa Rat’s draw (3), even though he does tend to swing a bit wide. I would like to see him positioned handy to the first two with a lap to run. It was really good to see him pushing forward in a hard run heat.
“That’s a bad draw (7) for Opawa Tails. I was really impressed with the way he ran his heat, getting into a nice trail, then I was rapt with the way he hit the line. It is really special for me to have two greyhounds making a Group 1 final,” advised Steele.
Opawa Louise ($7.50) rattled home at the business end to secure her 2.4 length third placing behind Grande Vue Ace for her conditioner Dan Roberts.
“It’s another pretty even field. I feel she brings a different dynamic to it, being a more-dour type of stayer. Not many of the others can bring it home as strong as her. I’m hoping she’ll be just in behind them when turning for home, from where she can pounce on them.
“She’s come through her heat as good as she always does and I’m sure she’ll put her best paw forward in the final,” said Roberts about his proven stayer.
Trenzalore ($16) has contested a number of Group staying race finals, and his northern trainer Rob Roper will return for this final with the only Australian-bred stayer in the field.
“To be blunt, he didn’t take the opportunity he had from his good draw in his heat. Again, he allowed others to drop in front of him and sit in behind them, from where he mucks around until he finishes strongly.
“Look, I’ll be ecstatic if he runs in the first four – that’s the best we can hope for. He’s in the best condition I’ve ever had him,” advised Roper.
Drought ($13) showed his versatility by qualifying for another Group 1 final for his trainer Kelly Lincoln-Papuni. when producing his five-length heat fourth to Space Boy. He had previously contested the Group 1 Spion Rose over 520m, finishing fourth.
“He pulled up well and gets a much better draw (2) tomorrow,” said Lincoln-Papuni. “The first go over 755m didn’t worry him – he’s bouncing around, happy as! Fingers crossed for a clear run – it’s a great field.”
As usual for a premier meeting, the overall support card is particularly strong. Included is the return to racing by the outstanding Lisa Cole-prepared greyhound Federal Infrared (Race 5). He’s All Go’s litter sister and kennelmate, the exciting Big Time Lauren, takes her place in the opening C1 520m event.
The pair of $10,000 305m feature sprint finals contain strong fields following their set of competitive heats.
Both heat winners in the Bitches Feature Sprint Final were taken out by Cole prepared sprinters, with Jane’s Panama (17.44) and Big Time Rua (17.64) both prevailing.
The Dogs Sprint Final will be dominated by the current New Zealand Sprinter of the Year Levi Bale, who strongly took out his heat in 17.41 for Craig Roberts, while his son Matt applied the finishing touches to Claws In Sparky who prevailed in his heat, clocking 17.60.
And there will be additional celebrations off the track as the Wanganui GRC’s long serving Secretary Venessa Trass celebrates her birthday!
By Peter Fenemor
