Competitive New Zealand Cup Heats
Competitive head to head racing is assured at the Addington Raceway on Thursday evening where seven 520m heats will decide who will advance through to the semi final rounds of the $125,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup. A top three placing ensures advancement, while the fourth place getters are more than likely to be reliant on the clock, plus also the decisions made for the recent NZ Cup Prelude qualifiers. Seven greyhounds earned heat exemption status from the four preludes held.
Pictured: Bago Bye Bye seen here winning last year’s Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (pic Dave Robbie)
Here’s look at those heat contenders, along with their respective TAB Futures & Top 3 quotes.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup, heat 1 – race 5
1 Our Hemi $101 & $26: Northern visitor with new trainers returning to his former home track here. Won his only trap 1 race and has a 30.30s best winning 520m time here.
2 Know Betrayal $101 & $26: Resuming after being last presented July 4 520m here. He has won two of his three trap 2 races with his best 520m clock being recorded at 30.27s.
3 Go Vegas $21 & $7: He cruised to his easy last start C3 Ascot Park 457m win in 26.31s. He has sound trap 3 stats plus a handy 30.03s best winning 520m time.
4 Oster Bale $101 & $26: He’s had two Addington C2 520m races since he crossed the Tasman. He went under by a nose in a 520m event that was run in 30.92s last week.
5 Dyna Quark $126 & $31: He has been short course sprinting lately and he missed in his only 520m race (sixth) around this circuit.
6 Big Time Seth $61 & $16: He’s a promising youngster who owns strength. Being on track debut here is the concern which says he must contest the early pace here.
7 Emgrand Park $10 & $3.20: He has raced here four times for two wins with the best coming in a handy 30s flat. He also won the Manawatu Cup over 457m two races ago.
8 Pinny Mack $9 & $3: This Group 1 winning bloke doesn’t require any introductions. He was a NZ Cup finalist last year after winning his semifinal in 29.94s.
Reserve 9 – Meka $151 & $34: He’s giving away a fair slice of class to his rivals being a C1 graded chaser.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup, heat 2 – race 6
1 Double Speed $81 & $21: He contested Group race finals last season and he brings strong trap 1 form into this heat. He must and he can contest the early pace.
2 Tap Out Bill $51 & $13: Track debuting visitor He has been lining up in recent Hatrick C4 520m events. He owns sound looking inside trap form.
3 She’s For Us $21 & $6: She has the ability to jump straight onto the pace and she’ll hard to haul back in if she applies that tactic. She finished third in the Amazing Chase final here.
4 Jinja Might $126 & $31: He has been sighted sprinting over the Manukau 318m dash lately. His initial racing was on this track and he also lined up in the Amazing Chase final series.
5 Opawa Deal $21 & $6: He didn’t receive any racing favours over 520m here last week. He has been competitive here which includes his best 30.16 winning 520m time.
6 Blazin’ Carter $61 & $16: He finished third in last year’s NZ Cup final, however he has had issues since then and has dropped back down into the C4 ranks.
7 Bertie Allen $101 & $26: He has been sparingly raced lately. Going close to his handy 30.01s best 520m time here can see him being competitive here.
8 Famous Lee $101 & $26: Drawing out here can aid his clams in this heat, providing he posies up handy to the early pace here. He owns strength.
Reserve 9 – Meka $151 & $34: He’s giving away a fair slice of class to his rivals being a C1 graded chaser.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup contenders includes (from left): Emgrand Park (heat 1); Double Speed (heat 2); Blazin’ Carter (heat 2)
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup, heat 3 – race 7
1 Dyna Elywn $61 & $16: He’s the current Addington 520m track record holder with his slick 29.67s clock. That factor alone says he must be respected from this trap.
2 Bigtime Broody $101 & $26: He’s making his track debut outing here after his recent Manawatu C5 457m misses. He must place himself handy to the early pace here.
3 Know Refusal $81 & $21: He found himself tangled up in midfield traffic over 520m here last week. He is generally sighted doing his best work at the business of his races.
4 Smash Calling $251 & $51: He settled in the rear group when he returned C3 sprinting last Thursday. Has previously won over 520m, although he must improve his 30.56s time.
5 Opawa May $126 & $31: She’s another who didn’t really receive any racing favours here last over last week. Must hop away quickly from her poor draw here.
6 Spring Falcon: $12 & $3.70: He has impressed in the lower grades, which includes his smart 29.99s pace making last start C3 520m miss. Tougher task, but he cannot be risked.
7 Kiwi Gal $101 & $26: She’s a northern chaser who hasn’t been using her known early pace lately. Her wide draw can assist her, providing she jumps onto the pace here.
8 Ringside $31 & $8.50: He’s a proven chaser at this level of racing who has had some recent injury issues. A bold fresh up effort from him here certainly wouldn’t surprise.
Reserve 9 – Meka $151 & $34: He’s giving away a fair slice of class to his rivals being a C1 graded chaser.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup, heat 4 – race 8
1 Diddilee $31 & $8.50: He won last season’s 520m Group 1 NZ St Leger at this venue and that factor alone says he must be respected. He then went onto to win the Auckland Cup.
2 Gem $81 & $21: She has been Group 1 520m placed around this circuit. She’ll enjoy this draw, plus she can be expected to finish strongly here.
3 Barrel Runner $201 & $41: He’s giving away a fair degree of class to others here being a current C1 graded chaser. He tends to get back in his fields from where he finishes solidly.
4 Bigtime Shadow $81 & $21: He didn’t use the sharp early that she owns in his last Hatrick 520m and Manawatu 457m races. He must rediscover that asset in his track debut race.
5 Go Glow $81 & $21: She was sighted doing her best work late in her recent C3 520m assignments. She’s racing out of grade from a lousy draw here.
6 Federal Impact $41 & $11: He travels south after producing his tidy 23.48s NZ debut C3 win over 457m in Palmerston North. He led all the way then and he’ll try to do likewise here.
7 Dyna Dave $5 & $2: This classy fella just cannot secure himself a decent draw. He was hindered rounding the first turn last week after jumping from this trap. Obviously he’s required here.
8 Must Be Rusty $151 & $31: He has been mixing his recent race distances. Drawing out here says he no option but to take a flyer when the traps lift here.
Reserve 9 – Meka $151 & $34: He’s giving away a fair slice of class to his rivals being a C1 graded chaser.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup contenders includes (from left): Kiwi Gal (heat 3); Ringside (heat 3); Dyna Dave (heat 4)
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup, heat 5 – race 9
1 Bigtime Annie $126 & $31: She owns an abundance of early pace which is an asset she must use from the kind draw she has been allocated for her track debut outing.
2 Rivalries $26 & $7: He’s facing a huge step up in class for this event after his recent set of C1 520m races. He has talent as seen by his best 30.16s 520m winning time.
3 Jinja Bailey $126 & $31: She set the pace then she was gathered in late by a 2.5 length margin in her Sunday Manukau C4 527m race. She must use that pace back here.
4 Pearls Are Us $21 & $6: Completely overlook her last start Forbury Park C4/5 545m miss. She has broken the 30s 520m barrier around here and doing likewise here sees her featuring.
5 Nature’s Gent $26 & $7: This bloke is super resilient. He’s back for his third NZ Cup campaign after winning the 2017 edition. He’s won three Group 1 titles and he commands total respect.
6 Opawa Nat $61 & $16: She gamely chased after race rival here Pearls Are Us for her last start 3.75 length 520m second. She needs to race on the pace here.
7 Dyna Elliot $201 & $41: He has short course sprinting lately. The concern for him is his lack of form from the outside traps.
8 Bashful Buffy $251 & $51: She’s racing back in the C3 grade now. She has no option but to ping away smartly here.
Reserve 9 – Meka $151 & $34: He’s giving away a fair slice of class to his rivals being a C1 graded chaser.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup, heat 6 – race 10
1 Sakichi $81 & $21: Track debutante who has been treated kindly with his one trap draw. Suffered from traffic issues when stepping up into a C4/5 field in his last Cambridge 457m race.
2 Bahama Queen $81 & $21: She has contested Group race finals at this venue before. She owns early pace which is an asset she must use when heading into the first turn.
3 Big Time Maple $41 & $11: She’s a young, exciting track debuting chaser who boldly chased home a smart type over 520m at Hatrick last Friday for her half length second.
4 Know State $41 & $11: He put in the telling late bounds to take out his last start Forbury Park C4/5 545m outing in 32.95s. He has won over 520m here in 30.01s.
5 Dyna Varsity $21 & $6: He is proven over 520m here, although he endured a traffic impeded 520m race last week. His can beat the poor draw he receives here.
6 Uthor Bale $14 & $4: He displays immense potential and he’s taking a massive step up in class here after his easy recent C1 520m wins. He won is Maiden 520m race in a smart 30.14s.
7 Opawa Toddy $18 & $5: He’s also a promising up and coming chaser who has also just cleared the C1 chasing ranks. He was really bold in delivering his 30.18s 520m win two races ago.
8 Our Tyson $101 & $26: He’s a Foxton visitor who was shuffled back to and stayed in the rear group during his C4 Friday 520m Hatrick race. Drawing out isn’t likely to help him.
Reserve 9 – Meka $151 & $34: He’s giving away a fair slice of class to his rivals being a C1 graded chaser.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup, heat 7 – race 11
1 Bigtime Rod $31 & $8.50: He’s a Group 1 placed chaser who contested the NZ Aussie Nationals Middle Distance final here. He’s likely to relish racing from this trap.
2 Max Dancer $41 & $11: He arrives into this series on the back of a pair of C1/2 457m and 520m wins. His draw can assist as he must go close to his best 30.13s 520m time.
3 Know Threat $126 & $31: He returned an okay 32.82s when he claimed his last start Forbury Park 545m C2/3 win. His advancement claims cannot be lightly dismissed.
4 Goldstar Alaska $201 & $41: He warmed up this assignment by delivering a solid finish to claim his Tuesday 33.05s C1/2 545m win. He must improve on his best 31.07s 520m time here.
5 Opawa Rooster $81 & $21: He’s an experienced chaser who has regained form at the right time. He cruised clear when he nailed his bold 26.16s last Ascot Park C5 457m win.
6 Ophelia Allen $81 & $21: She’s resuming after last being presented for a C4 520m event back in May. She has previously won over 520m here in 30.09s.
7 Robson $12 & $3.70: The recent effortless Group 1 Waterloo Cup winner has had traffic issues since then. He has raced here before when he finished fourth in the Amazing Chase final.
8 Dyna Xarvel $41 & $11: He controlled the pace throughout when he secured his 30.53s C3 520m win. He needs to shave a few tenths of that time in this event.
Reserve 9 – Meka $151 & $34: He’s giving away a fair slice of class to his rivals being a C1 graded chaser.
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup contenders includes (from left): Nature’s Gent (heat 5); Opawa Toddy (heat 6); Robson (heat 7)
By Peter Fenemor