Talented Field Of Youngsters To Contest NZRS Final
Take time out on Friday afternoon to have a look at the race 9 (2.25pm) $7,500 NZRS Novice final at the Addington Raceway as the majority of the field will be sighted racing in numerous feature events later this season. Five impressive 520m heats held last week to decide this final field clearly illustrated those thoughts.
Pictured: The quickest NZRS Novice winner Opawa Toddy is seen here with his handler Mark Lin (pic Tony Music, Christchurch GRC)
Just how impressive was Opawa Toddy when he ran away and his from heat rivals by a comfortable 11 length margin, clocking a rather smart 30.25s. The Dave and Jean Fahey prepared youngster will be sighted racing from the six trap after he delivered his heat win from trap seven.
His kennel mate Go Diego hunted down the pacemaker when racing down the back straight from where he extended to claim his heat win in 30.38s by three lengths. He is compiling a handy looking career record, although he’s going to have make a quick start from trap seven here.
Both of the above greyhounds are raced by and were bred by Opawa Racing. Robin Wales qualified three other final contenders for the Opawa team. My Giovanni prevailed in his heat when he finished solidly for his 30.57s win. He then made a mistake at the start in his Tuesday C1 520m outing. His poor five trap draw isn’t likely to help him here.
Drawing better in the three trap is his kennel mate Go Punter Go. He set the pace in his heat, however he was stalked by Mi Giovanni and then he yielded to him by a three-length margin. He must place himself straight onto the early pace here.
Completing the Opawa Racing representation here is Opawa Al. He led the vain chase home behind the freewheeling Tricky when finishing 7.75 lengths behind her. He was held in traffic during his Tuesday 520m race here and drawing out in trap eight here certainly won’t help him.
Yes Tricky was smart, very smart when this exciting Dan Lane prepared youngster dictated terms to her heat rivals when she skipped through her assignment to record 30.32s in her bold effort. The Canterbury OTB Maiden feature winner made it four straight wins from just five race day outings and another competitive effort can be expected by her after she hops away from trap four here.
Lisa Waretini has a very promising chaser in her locally-based kennels. Crème Brulee was very stylish in the manner that she cruised to her effortless 30.33s heat win. She delivered that win from the one trap and she draws the same trap again from where she’s likely to be sighted contesting the early pace.
Addington NZRS Novice heat winners were (from left): Go Diego with his handler Mark Lin; Denise Karaka brought back My Giovanni; Steve Hurd returned to the podium with Tricky, while Alysha Waretini is seen here with Crème Brulee - pics Tony Music, Christchurch GRC
Completing the drawn field is Hustle Ace for local trainer Norm Wanhalla. He led into the back straight, from where he yielded to Go Diego to finish three lengths behind him. He has no option but to jump straight onto the pace from the two trap here.
Ashley Bradshaw provides both reserves. Occupying the first possie on the bench is High Sparrow: She pressed on from the midfield pack for her 8.5 length heat second to Crème Brulee. She then copped a decent check in her Tuesday Ascot Park 457m race. The second reserve isBarrel Runner who was sighted doing his best work during the run home when finishing ten lengths astern of Opawa Toddy. He then whacked away for his Tuesday Ascot Park 457m fourth after racing wide.
