Speed Merchants All Set To Dash For Cash

Short course racing is all about power sprinting and that’s exactly what Friday’s $16,000 Wanganui Toyota Dash For Cash field comprises off. Five competitive 305m heats now sees a slippery field of speed merchants lining up in the annual Group 2 dash (race 9) here.

Pictured: Sir Duggie was back to his best when he delivered the quickest of the Dash For Cash heat times

It has been well documented that issues that the resilient Lisa Cole prepared sprinter Sir Duggie ($3.40 & $1.38 – TAB Final Field) has endured. He just keeps on bouncing back as we saw last week when he put in a 6.70s burner of a first sectional which saw him completing his dash in the heat best 17.36s 305m time. The 2018 The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint winner must use that same blinding early pace when he hops away from the eight trap on Friday.

“Duggie keeps on giving us everything he has – he has a marvellous temperament. Yes, his draw has made it harder for him in the final, but in saying that if he makes a similar quick start, then the others will have to catch him. He’s come through his heat in great shape,” advised Brendon Cole.

There are four other sprinters contesting this sprint for the Cole team. Bigtime Shine ($8 & $2.30) has drawn nicely in trap two and she is more than capable of hopping straight onto the pace after she stylishly closed to within a length of Sir Duggie in her heat.

“She could have been anything if she hadn’t torn a gracilis muscle. She is still a smart, competitive sprinter and her draw brings her right into contention. She pulled up great from her heat,” added Cole.

Trojan Hoarse ($6 & $2) put in some potent strides in his heat which led to his strong pace making 17.39s heat win. The dual Group 1 457m and 520m winner from last season owns strength and that asset can certainly come into play if this sprint turns into a torrid affair. He must step away smartly from his lousy five trap draw here.

The Hoarse’s litter brother Cheese And Chalk ($21 & $4) can and he must ping away from his six trap draw. He stepped away quickly in his heat to set the initial pace and it was only during the run home when he yielded by a two-length margin to the boom sprinter of the moment Buddy Boom.

“Trojan Hoarse has thrived since we dropped him back to sprinting. The concern we have for him in the final is that he’s likely to jam up across the face of those drawn inside him. Cheese And Chalk can contest the pace and he can get some of it (stake money) if he does so. Both of them are all set for Friday,” said Cole.

Lisa Cole prepared Wanganui Toyota Dash For Cash finalists includes (from left): Bigtime Shine; Cheese And Chalk; Trojan Hoarse

Bigtime Ziggy ($26 & $4.80) leap clear from her trap eight draw in her heat and using that healthy tactic saw her leading throughout for her tidy 17.65s heat win which was a personal best 305m time for her. She moves in one spot for this decider.

“She was the surprise qualifier for us. Her first split (6.89s) is sharp enough to win most open class 305m sprints and if she pops out like that again can see her making things rather interesting in the final. She is spot-on for the final,” suggested Cole.   

Then ultra-consistent sprinter Buddy Boom ($2.70 & $1.40) dug in really deep when he extended strongly during the run home to claim his 17.46s heat win for his northern conditioners Jared Udy and Denise Cottam. Can he claim his second Group race sprint title from the four trap within a month after his stunning Galaxy Sprint victory?

Udy informs us. “Buddy continues to do everything that we ask from him and that’s all we can expect. He puts so much into his races, that he tends to pull up with some minor niggles. He doesn’t require much work between his races and he’ll strip a fit and ready dog on Friday.”

The biggest concern that Buddy’s trainers has going into the final is the presence of his kennelmate Kiwi Boy ($13 & $3.30) drawn inside him. This proven short course sprinter tends to race a tad wide, therefore there’s potentially some early brushing looming between the kennelmates. Kiwi Boy dug in really deep when he claimed his 17.86s heat win. His time was more of a reflection on how this heat was contested.

“Kiwi Boy travelled shocking going down there last week when he had a stomach bug. Winning his heat just shows what a determined greyhound he is. He will have to jump straight onto the pace on Friday and if he does, then yes, he is strong enough to feature. He’s much better this week. It wouldn’t surprise us to see him getting some of it (stake),” suggested Udy.

The partners also supply the second reserve with Miss Claude ($16 & $3.80) who returned to her former home track to deliver her 3.5 length heat second behind Bigtime Ziggy. She was in solid Manukau 318m sprint form prior to this series. She can sneak into the minors in the unlikely event she gets a race start here.

Flora Dora ($6.50 & $2) was really solid when she delivered her track debut 2.75 length heat second to Trojan Hoarse for her master conditioner Ray Adcock. She finished a sound third behind Buddy Boom in the Galaxy Sprint final, which she delivered from the ace trap. She will be again wearing the red racing vest in this decider.

“She got a bit of luck in her heat. I feel this time she will jump better, which she has to do as she’s only small (25kg) and she tends to get sideswiped if she gets caught up with others. She is all set to go on Friday,” confirmed Adcock.

Wanganui Toyota Dash For Cash contenders includes (from left): Buddy Boom; Kiwi Boy; Flora Dora

The Angela Turnwald kennels provide the first reserve with Trophy Trophy ($12 & $3.20). This recently imported chaser was involved in a torrid paw wrestle with Kiwi Boy when he missed the win by a nose. He has displayed railing tendencies and securing an inside trap here can bring him right into contention in this dash. 

By Peter Fenemor