Super Addington Racing

The Addington Raceway sure was the venue to be at late last week where two days of high-quality Group 1 qualifying chasing action was witnessed. Thursday evening saw seven heats for the $125,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup 520m heats being decided. On Friday afternoon the entire 12 race card comprised of heats for the straight out speed merchants when they contested their $35,000 The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy heat sprints over the 295m dash.

Pictured: Dyna Dave delivering his swift 30.14s NZ Cup heat win (pic supplied by Dave Robbie)

 

We now move onto the semifinal rounds for both Group 1 events during the Christchurch hosted Wednesday evening meeting where four semis for each will decide who will advance through to contest the rich November 14 finals. Entering both features at this stage are a number of contenders who gained exemptions from last week’s heats via their placings in the recent nationwide held set of NZ Cup Preludes.          

 

Here’s a look at the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup semi contenders with their respective TAB Futures & Top 3 quotes (winner of the final). A first two finish is required to advance through to the finals.

 

Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup semi 1, race 1

1 Egomaniacal $41 & $11: He’s commencing his NZ Cup journey here after his recent 30.88s NZ Cup Prelude win. He couldn’t have wished for a better draw for it.

 

2 Nature’s Gent $18 & $5.50: He’s the “elder statesman” of NZ greyhound racing, having won the 2017 edition of the NZ Cup. He was sound when delivering his heat second and he’ll enjoy racing from this trap.

 

3 Famous Lee $91 & $21: He kicked on soundly for his heat third. He owns strength, therefore he’s likely to be sighted finishing stronger than most here.

 

4 Go Vegas $18 & $5.50: He was really bold when he repelled the challenge thrown at him by a smart type to claim his 30.51s heat win. He led all the way in doing so which is a tactic he must repeat here.

 

5 Bigtime Shadow $31 & $7.50: He set up the pace and it took a real smart type to gun him down when he made his track debut in his heat when finishing second. He must use his known early pace from this tricky draw.

 

6 Know State $51 & $13: She settled just in behind the pace from where she kicked on stoutly for her heat third. She must go close to her 30.01s best winning 520m time here.

 

7 Max Dancer $41 & $11: She had to do a fair amount of work after striking early traffic issues in her heat. It was a bold recovery from her to claim her heat third.

 

8 Smashed Calling $251 & $51: It was a brave effort by this C3 graded chaser to make it this far after she was impeded during the early rush for positions. She has no option but to take a flyer from out here.

 

Reserves – 9 Oster Bale $101 & $26: He received a hindered racing passage into the first turn in his heat. He’s likely to be sighted racing in the second NZ Cup semi here.  

 

10 Opawa May $126 & $31: She found herself jammed up in midfield for the bulk of her heat trip from where she kicked away soundly for her heat fourth.              

 

  

Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup semi 1 contenders includes (from left): Go Vegas seen here winning his heat; Nature’s Gent following his 2017 NZ Cup win; Egomaniacal who has drawn ideally in trap 1 here

 

Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup semi 2, race 2

1 Dig Dig Dig $151 & $34: He’s returning to his former home track here after winning the Manukau hosted NZ Cup prelude. His last start miss came in a heat for the 755m Wanganui Distance at Group 1 level.

 

2 Opawa Toddy $14 & $4.20: This fella has made an awesome start to his racing career which includes his tidy 30.55s heat win. He holds advancement claims from this trap.

 

3 Kiwi Gal $91 & $21: She displayed the known early pace she owns from the jump in her heat, the n she was gathered in late by a 3.5 length margin by a rival here Know Refusal. She must use those same pace making tactics here.

 

4 Know Refusal $41 & $11: He extended strongly during the run home to claim his 30.71s heat win. A similar strong finish can be expected from this bloke again.

 

5 Diddilee $51 & $13: He gamely chased after the heat pacemaker from where he plugged away for his heat fourth placing. This dual Group 1 winner is capable of making his presence felt in this semi.

 

6 Pinny Mack $7.50 & $2.50: He was solid when he boldly chased after the pace making winner for his close up heat second. Last year’s NZ Cup finalist would have benefited from that outing. 

 

7 Bigtime Cooper – Scratched

 

8 Uthor Bale $21 & $6: It was a brave effort by him to qualify after he endured a traffic impeded early racing passage. Yes, he’s just a C2 assessed chaser who owns a tidy 30.14s best winning 520m time.

 

Reserves – 9 Oster Bale $101 & $26: He received a hindered racing passage into the first turn in his heat. He’s likely to be sighted hopping away from trap 7 in this NZ Cup semi.

 

10 Opawa May $126 & $31: She found herself jammed up in midfield for the bulk of her heat trip from where she kicked away soundly for her heat fourth.             

 

   

Pictured here delivering their respective Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup heat wins (from left): Opawa Toddy (left) and Know Refusal, while Pinny Mack produced a bold heat second

 

Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup semi 3, race 3

1 Dyna Dave $2.50 & $1.40: This classy chaser cemented his NZ Cup race favouritism via his outstanding 30.15s heat win. At last he draws a decent trap and that says that this heat is his to lose after he finished second in last year’s NZ Cup.

 

2 Start The Show $6 & $2.20: He’s entering this series here after his bold NZ Cup Prelude win, which was followed by a Prelude second. His current form says he must be respected here.

 

3 She’s For Us $51 & $13: The scenario for this girl is very simple – she must contest the early pace which she has the ability to do. She can make things rather interesting for a very long way if she does so here.

 

4 Rivalries $18 & $5.50: He took control of his heat rivals when he took the race lead in the back straight from where he came away for his 30.34s heat wins. He adds to what is a competitive looking heat.

 

5 Opawa Nat $51 & $13: She kicked on solidly during the run home to land her 2.75 length heat third behind race rival here Rivalries. She raced wide down the back straight to achieve that.

 

6 Grunt $151 & $34: He makes his return to this venue after qualifying for the semis via his Manukau NZ Cup Prelude second. Drawing here isn’t exactly the best draw for him.

 

7 Bigtime Rod $51 & $13: He was bold when he chased after the pace making winner for his heat second. He must place himself straight onto the early pace here.

 

8 Our Hemi $126 & $31: That was a super effort from this now northern based chaser to qualify for this round. He’s been provided with no favours with this draw.    

 

Reserves – 9 Oster Bale $101 & $26: He received a hindered racing passage into the first turn in his heat. He’s likely to be sighted racing in the second NZ Cup semi here.  

 

10 Opawa May $126 & $31: She found herself jammed up in midfield for the bulk of her heat trip from where she kicked away soundly for her heat fourth.             

 

  

Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup semi 3 contenders includes (from left): Rivalries seen here winning his heat; Start The Show; Bigtime Rod

 

Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup semi 4, race 4

1 Robson $5 & $2: He was super in the manner that he controlled the pace to deliver his 30.32s heat win and that says he can serve up a repeat dose from this trap.

 

2 Barrell Runner $151 & $34: That was a massive effort from this C1 graded to nail his heat third behind Dyna Dave. He does tend to get back early in his races which is a concern here.

 

3 Bigtime Annie $126 & $31: She has plenty of early pace and she can make things rather interesting for a long way as she would have benefited from her heat track debut outing.

 

4 Double Speed $91 & $21: He owns early pace which is an asset that he has no option but to use here. He pressed on soundly for his okay heat second.

 

5 Avenger Bale $41 & $11: He is also entering this series via his NZ Cup Prelude second placing. He brings sound big race experience into this semi and his claims here certainly cannot be lightly dismissed.

 

6 Big Time Maple $21 & $6: She caught the eye when she set up the pace in her heat during her track debut outing after some solid recent Hatrick 520m efforts. This girl has a huge feature in front of her.

 

7 Opawa Deal $21 & $6: He took control of her heat when racing into the first turn from where he dictated the pace to his rivals which led to his bold 30.43s heat win.

 

8 Know Threat $101 & $26: He settled just in behind the pacemakers where he whacked away stoutly for his heat fourth placing, A similar type of race can be expected from him here.     

 

Reserves – 9 Oster Bale $101 & $26: He received a hindered racing passage into the first turn in his heat. He’s likely to be sighted racing in the second NZ Cup semi here.  

 

10 Opawa May $126 & $31: She found herself jammed up in midfield for the bulk of her heat trip from where she kicked away soundly for her heat fourth.             

 

  

Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup semi 1 contenders includes (from left): Robson seen here winning his heat; Opawa Deal is doing likewise; Avenger Bale – win pics supplied by Dave Robbie