Promising Youngsters On Display At Addington

Promising Youngsters On Display At Addington

The quality and depth of promising young New Zealand bred greyhounds being trained in the Canterbury region was graphically illustrated during the running of the five NZRS Novice 520m heats at the Addington Raceway on Tuesday afternoon. Those heats confirmed that many of the runners on display will be sighted racing in the higher grades in the near future. 

Pictured: The quickest Christchurch NZRS Novice heat winner Opawa Toddy

Here’s a look back those five heats which saw just the first two place getters advancing to be included in the listed ten greyhounds for next Friday’s $7,500  final.

Striking first up was the Dave and Jean Fahey prepared up and coming chaser Go Diego who mastered the game pace making Hustle Ace when heading towards the home turn. From there he came away to comfortably land his heat win, clocking 30.38s. Hustle Ace was solid in finishing second, three lengths behind for his conditioner Norm Wanhalla.

It resulted in a Robin Wales trained quinella in the second heat with My Giovanna prevailing over his kennelmate Go Punter Go also by a three length margin. It was Go Punter Go who led out from the two trap, however he was stalked by his kennelmate. It was when entering the home turn when My Giovanna assumed control of the heat and he dashed clear to record his 30.57s heat win.

It was an emphatic next up heat win which saw the Fahey’s produce the obviously talented Opawa Toddy to crush his heat rivals. This heat was all over as a contest when Toddy seized the race lead when going into the first turn from where he produced a freewheeling gallop to claim his heat win in a heat best smart 30.25s time by a comfortable ten length margin. Settling back in the field, then sighted improving his field position to extend during the run home to secure his heat second placing was Barrel Runner from the Ashley Bradshaw kennels.

 The Christchurch hosted NZRS Novice heat podiums with the heat winners being from left: Go Diego; My Giovanna; Opawa Toddy

The fourth heat was taken out by another promising youngster Crème Brulee for Lisa Waretini. This girl took control of her heat when rounding the first turn from where she dictated the pace to her rivals which resulted in her stylish 30.33s win. It was another Bradshaw trained runner who emerged from the midfield pack to finish solidly to claim the runner up possie a further 8.5 lengths behind.

Onto the final heat which saw another exciting youngster prevailing. Tricky pinged away from the one trap for her conditioner Dan Lane. From there it was all one way traffic as she cruised to her effortless heat win returning 30.32s for her bold effort. It was another Wales trained contender Opawa Al who gamely chased her home when securing second 7.75 lengths astern.

The Christchurch hosted NZRS Novice heat podiums with the heat winners Crème Brulee (left) and Tricky. The Christchurch GRC CEO Tony Music displayed his versatility by stepping in to take the podium pics – nice one Tony!!!

By Peter Fenemor