Superb Waterloo Cup Field Is All Set For Sunday
Superb Waterloo Cup Field Is All Set For Sunday
Bring it on! This year’s edition of the time-honoured Waterloo Cup (race 10, 4.03pm) has delivered four fascinating heats at four different racing venues. It now all comes down to the $35,000 decider at the Manukau Stadium this Sunday afternoon where a superb field of greyhounds will chase after Group 1 glory.
Pictured: The time-honoured Waterloo Cup
It’s also fantastic to see six New Zealand bred greyhounds contesting this event. That has created a race within a race as the breeder of the first-placed Kiwi bred finisher will benefit from a $1,000 bonus Breeder’s payment.
And there’s an additional benefit waiting for the winner of the Waterloo Cup, which was first contested for as a coursing event back in 1878. The race winner will be entitled to a subsidized trip to Melbourne’s Sandown Park as that greyhound will receive a much sought after exemption to contest a heat of the rich A$630,000 TAB Melbourne Cup. Already finalist Dyna Dave has earnt a heat exemption following his victory in the recent Aussie Nationals NZ Middle Distance final. The gold plated Melbourne Cup will be displayed on course at Manukau on Sunday.
Now to the Sunday’s classy contenders. Starting as the warm TAB favourite will be the Craig Roberts prepared class act Dyna Dave $2.20 & $1.28 (Final Field). This bloke requires no introduction about his undoubted talents – being the winner of 35 races and $199,594 in stakes confirms that. However, there is a glaring omission to his glowing CV which the stunning 29.83s Addington 520m heat winner will attempt to rectify on Sunday when he exits from trap eight. Incredibly Dave has yet to win a Group race title.
“I really hope he does win the Waterloo Cup as he really deserves to win a Group 1 race. Yes, he can do it, although his task got much harder when he drew the eight. He just can’t draw a trap in a major final. I feel he can put himself into the first two or three positions going into the first turn – if he does that, then he will be awfully hard to beat. Dave worked up great during the week and he is as good as gold for Sunday,” confirmed Roberts.
The nation’s leading conditioner Lisa Cole has qualified four Waterloo Cup finalists. First up it was her evergreen ultra-consistent chaser Bigtime Levi $11 & $3. He produced his standard solid race finish to claim his 2.25 length Cambridge 457m heat runner up in behind Thrilling Vice. He then returned to the Manawatu Raceway last Monday where he claimed his 36th career win over 457m ($147,173 in stakes). Drawing trap seven for the final certainly won’t faze this bloke.
“He’s been a really good dog for us. People think he’s just a one-turn track dog – he can run the two turn tracks no dramas whatsoever. We expect a competitive race from him, especially as he’s proven at the top level. Very happy with his draw and he’s all set to go on Sunday,” advised Brendon Cole.
The TAB Melbourne Cup will be displayed on course on Sunday; Dyna Dave who is the warm Waterloo Cup favourite; Bigtime Levi who is likely to be sighted finishing strongly on Sunday
Cole then proceeded to provide both finalists from what turned into an action-packed Hatrick hosted 520m heat. We expected the pacey Bigtime Cooper $5.50 & $2 to lead his rivals out from the five trap. He did so when producing his usual quick 4.91s first sectional.
His kennel mate Bigtime Rod $12 & $3.20 stalked the pacemaker down the back straight and around the final turn. He kicked on solidly, closing down the gap, but not getting past Cooper, hence after 30.17s on intense 520m chasing a dead heat for the race was declared.
Bigtime Cooper has drawn to effectively use his blistering early pace from the two trap here. He must do so in what is first look at the Auckland headquarters circuit. Bigtime Rod is returning north to contest his fifth 527m race after having endured luckless previous outings here. He will be sighted wearing the blue racing vest.
“Bigtime Cooper has to lead them out, put an early break on the others and lead them all the way. He is very capable of being able to do that. It’s all a big learning curve for him with a view to the bigger picture later in the season.
Bigtime Rod is a very strong dog who has come back into top form after we had some weight issues with him. He’s had no luck in his Auckland races – hopefully that’ll change on Sunday. Both greyhounds are in perfect condition for the final,” said Cole.
Bigtime Seth $14 & $3.40 stylishly prevailed in the Manukau hosted 527m heat which sure was a heat that contained plenty of twist and turns. At the business end it was Bigtime Seth who charged through a gap to nail the heat win in 30.68s. This promising up and coming chaser will be racing in the memory of his dad Barcia Bale who passed away earlier this week from cancer after having a profound influence as a sire in both New Zealand and Australian greyhound racing. He will be loaded away into the three trap here.
“That was a top effort by Seth, especially when considering he has never travelled before. He’s a definite improver after his Manukau track debut race. He’s a strong dog who also has bigger targets ahead of him later in the season. He worked very strongly during the week,” added Cole.
The other three Lisa Cole trained Waterloo Cup finalists (from left): Bigtime Cooper; Bigtime Rod; Bigtime Seth
The Cambridge 457m heat winner Thrilling Vice $8 & $2.40 led his heat rivals all the way after he hopped away from the ace trap. He will jump from the same trap on Sunday. It was the bold way that this Karen Walsh prepared chaser held the rail which translated into his 25.97s heat win. The recent Cambridge Group 2 457m winner must use those same healthy racing tactics in this decider.
Robson $4.60 & $1.85 was absolutely massive in the way he booked his position in this final for his trainer Peter Ferguson. He went up with the lids and he was a clear last when he headed into the first turn. He was still in the rear group when he turned in for the run home. From that point he literally exploded when he rocketed home for his half-length heat second behind Bigtime Seth. There is no doubting his raw ability – his prospects will hinge on the type of early run he receives from the tricky five trap.
“I was pretty stoked with his qualifying effort. He anticipated the start a fraction too soon, hence he went up with the lids. I guess it will come down to what type of run he gets into and then around the first turn. He’s a really happy dog who is all ready to go – he work very nicely on Tuesday. It’s great to qualify another greyhound for a Group 1 final,” commented Ferguson.
Completing the drawn field is the Gary Cleeve prepared Know Refusal $18 & $3.80 who flew home late for his 3.75 length Addington heat second to Dyna Dave. He then delivered a strong Forbury Park Tuesday 2.5 length 545m third after he was escorted out real wide when rounding the first turn. He stylishly won last season’s Group 2 NZ Sire’s Stake over 527m at this venue.
“The strength of his races is the way he finishes them off. That’s what qualified him for the final. Yes, I was worried on Tuesday when he shunted out to the outside fence and it was a relief to see him come off the track unscathed. He’s had a real quiet time since then. At least he’s had racing experience at Manukau and hopefully that will assist him on Sunday,” stated Cleeve.
Waterloo Cup finalists includes (from left): Thrilling Vice; Robson; Know Refusal
The reserves bench is also very strong. Pinny Mack $4.20 & $1.70 was last year’s Waterloo Cup winner who, after settling back in the field, was sighted finishing solidly for his Manukau 1.5 length heat third. The talented Steve Clark trained chaser can feature if he gains a race start here. If he doesn’t race here take a look at him in the race 12 open class 527m event.
Zipping Buddy $23 & $4 whacked away during the run home for his Cambridge three-length 457m heat third for his trainer Ben Craik. He also kicked away stoutly for his Thursday Cambridge 457m 6.25 length third.
