Dave Will Start As The Warm NZ Cup Favourite

It is truly remarkable that the talented greyhound Dyna Dave hasn’t won a Group 1 title yet. This winner of $211,527 has been there and done that in terms of other feature races which includes at one stage holding the Addington 520m track record. Dyna Dave receives a sound opportunity of being able to rectify that glaring anomaly in Thursday’s running of the nation’s richest greyhound race, the $125,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup.

Pictured: The 2017 NZ Cup winner Nature’s Gent showed he’s on target for this year’s edition when delivering the quickest cup semifinal time (pic Dave Robbie)

It has taken a series of preludes, heats, then semifinals to establish what is a classy, competitive field who will parade to the Addington 520m traps for the race 9 decider (9.10 pm).

Dyna Dave ($2.50 & $1.25 – TAB Final Field & Top 3) was again caught in some traffic when rounding the first turn in last week’s semifinal. From there the recent third-placed New Zealand representative in the Group 1 Australian Sprint (520m) final delivered his trademark strong finish when he closed to within 1.5 lengths TO Start The Show.

“Geez, he certainly deserves a Group 1 race. He’s jumping okay but he lacks a length of pace during the early rush and that’s what has been costing him. In saying that I think he has more up his sleeve, and he owns the strongest finish in the field, so yes if he gets around the first turn okay, then I expect him to be right in it.

“It will come down to him getting clear air around the first turn and into the back straight. It will be bloody nice if Dave can tear of the Cup. He’s all set to go,” suggested Roberts about his charge who will load away into the three trap on Thursday after his second placing in last year’s NZ Cup.

Northern trainer Steve Clark was really happy with the effort that his finalist from last year’s NZ Cup Pinny Mack ($3.60 & $1.35) produced when winning his semifinal in 30.17s. The Group 1 winner pinged away from trap six to deliver that win and his trainer will place him into the same trap in the final.

“Rapt – totally rapt with the way he handled his heat and semi races down there. He has come through those races scarily well and I know there’s further improvement in him after his recent set back (wasp sting). It’s great to see his mid race sectional back again and I reckon he’s back to the Pinny that he was twelve months ago,” suggested Clark.    

GRNZ Greyhound Hall of Fame Trainer Ray Adcock has qualified two finalists. Start The Show ($4.50 & $1.40) has drawn nicely in trap two after his bold pace making 30.25s semi win. His early pace is the key to his clams here and if leads around the first turn, then this bloke can make things very interesting for a long way here.

“Yes, he’s a chance if the white dog (Double Speed) doesn’t touch him early. If he gets an early break on them, then the others will have to catch him. He has worked nicely since his semi,” confirmed the 85-year-old conditioner.

Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup favourite Dyna Dave after his NZ Cup semifinal second placing; Pinny Mack and Start The Show display their free-flowing form when winning their respective NZ Cup semis – pics Dave Robbie

Start The Show’s kennelmate Double Speed ($10 & $2.40) also won a semi (30.29s) and he draws the ace trap. He has previously been a Group race finalist and he also has the ability to contest the early pace, although he does tend to move out a tad wider. “He’s just a runners’ chance as he has never run time.  He has come through his heat alright. Look I’ll be happy with some crumbs from either my runners,” advised Adcock.

Nature’s Gent ($10 & $2.40) is a canine marvel for his trainer Angela Turnwald being just two months shy of his fifth birthday. He’s having his third lick at an NZ Cup, having won the 2017 edition. The winner of $217,732 showed he’s on target to produce a competitive effort after he delivered the quickest of the four 520m semi times via his 30.13s win. He must contend with the tricky five trap draw.

“I feel his semifinal race was his grand final but hey in saying that he’s in the final. He won’t race any different from what he has been, and his draw is what it is – he’s smart enough to work it out for himself. It took him a couple of days to get over his semi. It is a case of managing him after his races which Angela always does very well. As long as he comes through the final okay, then we’ll be happy,” said Paul Freeman.

It would be foolhardy to ignore the stake claims held by the pair of Dave and Jean Fahey trained contenders. After all they have mentored eight of the last 12 New Zealand Cup winners. Opawa Deal ($14 & $2.90) was solid in his semi when he chased home Double Speed for his 3.5 semi second. He had previously won his heat in 30.43s (leading home Double Speed). He will be sighted wearing the blue racing vest in the final.

Max Dancer ($26 & $3.90) settled back during the early rush in her semi from where she gradually improved her field position all the way, which led to her 7.25 length second to Nature’s Gent. She delivered that effort from the seven trap and she’ll hop away from the same trap here.

“Both of them will need early racing luck if they’re going to get any of it (stake). Opawa Deal has to jump quickly. Max Dancer came home really good in her semi. We will be rapt if either of them places. Both of them pulled up alright from last week,” confirmed Dave Fahey whose kennel also provides the NZ Cup first reserve Opawa Nat ($26 & $3.90) after her 2.25 length semi third placing to Start The Show.

Double Speed is captured here delivering his Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup semifinal win; The two Dave and Jean Fahey trained NZ Cup contenders Opawa Deal and Max Dancer after their semifinal second placings

Gary Cleeve is all good with the eight trap draw that his charge Know Refusal ($18 & $3.40) has been allocated. This Manukau Group 2 winner isn’t known for his early pace however he is known for the strong finish that he owns as seen when he delivered his 5.5 length semi second behind Pinny Mack.

“We’re very happy to be in the final – at least he’s in the fight. I don’t mind him being out wide as I feel it gives him some options. His racing style suggests he needs a bit of luck, especially around the first turn. He has come through his recent races very good,” said Cleeve.   

Geez, that was a super effort that the Ashely Bradshaw prepared Barrell Runner ($31 & $4) produced to make it onto the reserves bench as the second elect. You have to take into account that this bloke holds a C1 grading assessment when he produced his 4.75 length semi third to Double Speed.

Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup contender Know Refusal and both of the NZ Cup reserves Opawa Nat and Barrell Runner

By Peter Fenemor