Levi Lands Another Big Time Victory

The outstanding racing career that the ultra-consistent greyhound Bigtime Levi has been enjoying hit another peak at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday afternoon, when as per his usual racing script Levi dashed home late to secure his 39th career win in the $12,000 NZRS Advanced final over 527m.

Pictured: Bigtime Levi following his Sunday NZRS Advanced win

Bigtime Levi made his usual moderate start when he hopped away from the six trap. Making the best start from trap three was the Ben Craik prepared Te Amo and she controlled the pace around the first turn.

Pushing forward to place themselves handy to that pace was the kennel mates Kiwi Gala and Jinja Might from the inform Jared Udy and Denise Cottam kennels. Meanwhile, Bigtime Levi, who was clearly last on settling, punched his way forward to post himself in his preferred wide racing possie on the outer of the midfield pack.

He maintained his strong gallop down the back straight closing in on the pacesetters with every big stride he took. Bigtime Levi swung in for the run home with the freewheeling Ti Amo firmly fixed in his sights of his muzzle. He extended strongly gathering in the brave pacemaker just shot of the line after 30.85s of hard out 527m chasing action.

Ti Amo was gallant when this daughter of Barcia Bale and Katcha Fire held for her second placing when going under by a three-quarter length margin. There was a further 1.5 lengths back to the third-placed Jinja Might with this son of Fabregas and Jinja Ruby gamely sticking to his task.

This race was all about Bigtime Levi which saw him providing his owner and breeder Brendon Cole with the full slice of the winning and breeders portion of the stake. It was also the 278th training success from Lisa Cole for the current season.

Here’s a clear illustration on the marvellous, consistent career record that Bigtime Levi, who is a member of the September 2015 whelped litter between Spring Gun and Bigtime Karen. He has now raced on 147 occasions which has yielded those 39 race wins. He has placed in another 60 races which all adds up to a very sum of $162,239 in career stake earnings (excluding Breeders’ bonus payments).

Auckland GRC Chairman John Roberts presenting the NZRS Advanced trophy to Georgia Cole, with handler Sam Lozell attending; the second-placed Ti Amo and third-placed Jinja Might  

By Peter Fenemor