Cooper Flicked on the Turbo Chargers for his Wanganui Cup Win
Electric, sizzling, blistering – that sums up the brilliant early pace owned by Friday’s $30,000 Accell Therapy Wanganui Cup winner Bigtime Cooper. The Group 1 520m event was all over as a contest when Cooper cut out his first sectional in a searing 4.88s.
Pictured: The Wanganui Cup winner Bigtime Cooper is seen here with Georgie, Sam and Ella Cole
Bigtime Cooper spaced his rivals when going down the back straight, and yes understandably he was taking some light paw steps at the business end of this event. In saying that his cracking 30.05s 520m clock saw him prevailing by a comfortable four length margin for his conditioner Lisa Cole.
The inside runners jammed up when the field raced into the first turn with general tightening occurring. The sheer early pace that Bigtime Cooper displayed from trap six allowed the outside drawn pair of runners to draw across into handy early positions during that charge into the first turn.
The Emma Potts prepared Our Rick gamely chased after the tear away pacemaker and he was rewarded with his Group 1 second placing when he carried the black racing vest into that placing. Cawbourne Liz had jumped from the eight trap and she led the chasing pack after the lead pair, boldly sticking to her task when she clung onto third another 5.5 lengths behind.
The Wanganui Cup winner Bigtime Cooper is joined back at the Hatrick podium by the second placed Our Rick, with his trainer Emma Potts, while Matt Roberts brought back his charge Cawbourne Liz in the third placing
“Bigtime Cooper has always been a very fast greyhound. You know you have a very quick dog when he cuts out in first sectionals like the 4.88s he did on Friday. He is now an exciting prospect for this season’s Restricted Age races.
“I compare Cooper to Bigtime Paddy (multiple Group 1 winner and the 2017/18 NZ Greyhound of the Year) where he was at the same age. He was quick early and it was when he strengthened up when he started winning big races. Cooper is now indicating that he’s getting stronger during the run home.
“He is shaping up as the ideal type of dog to race in Aussie and I believe that he will develop into a faultless dog,” commented Brendon Cole, who co owns Bigtime Cooper with Tony Potts who enjoyed his first race win at Group 1 level. His daughter Emma had qualified her first Group 1 finalist, therefore the race resulted in a family occasion when Our Rick finished second.
Potts raced Coopers’ mum Night Pearl and she has developed into a prolific brood bitch as seen by her winning the 2018/19 NZ Dam of the Year title. This litter, being by Spring Gun is more than handy with four litter members having attained open class racing status. Bigtime Cooper is compiling an outstanding career record He celebrated his second birthday two before this final and he maintained a high winning strike rate with Friday’s win being his 21st from just 37 race day outings which includes five minor placings. It’s fair to assume that he will quickly expand on the $56,781 in stakes (excluding Breeders’ bonus payments) he now has listed beside his name.
It was another outstanding evening of racing for the Cole kennel who mentored eight winners on the 12 race card. Here’s three of those other winners.
Bigtime Eve won the open class 305m sprint and Bigtime Rod took out the open class 520m event, while All About Space regained her open class chasing stripes when she prevailed in the C4 520m race
By Peter Fenemor