Quality New Year Cambridge Chasing Action Assured

Absolute quality greyhound chasing action is guaranteed at the Cambridge Raceway during the traditional Waikato GRC hosted twilight New Year meeting. A compelling set of numerous feature races will be decided, headlined by the $21,000 Farmlands CopRice Waikato Classic at Group 2 level (race 11). Keenly contested heats held during the Christmas Eve meeting finalized the feature final fields.

Pictured: The quickest Farmlands CopRice Waikato Classic heat winner Melita Vella

 

Three 457m heats for the Farmlands CopRice Waikato Classic saw the Lisa Cole prepared Melita Vella posting the quickest heat time when she completed her track debut assignment in a tidy 25.37s. The recently imported Aussie chaser showed her heat rivals a clean set of paws when she cruised to her effortless ten length heat win. She delivered that from the seven trap and she’ll be loaded away into the same trap here.

 

Her kennelmate Big Time Seth contributed to a hugely successful afternoon for the Cole team when he maintained a strong gallop throughout when delivering his pace making 25.74s heat win while also on track debut. He has drawn handily in the two trap here. The kennel also provides the second reserve with Bigtime Annie who kicked on boldly for her 6.75 length heat fourth to Seve.

 

The promising chasing prospect Seve carried the gold racing vest to his impressive 25.39s heat win and he will do likewise in the decider for his trainer Dan Lane. His effort contained a fair amount of merit and again this bloke was also having his first look at this big, sweeping track. He is another who is expected to have benefited from that outing as he chases after his ninth career win in just his twelfth outing.

 

Seve’s half brother and kennelmate Bolty is the first reserve after this exciting chaser was forced to overcome early traffic issues from where he pressed on stoutly which resulted in his 14.5 heat third placing behind Melita Vella. His stake earning claims cannot be lightly dismissed if he gains the one scratching he requires to contest this final.

 

Dave and Jean Fahey are travelling back north with three finalists, with two of them bookending the 457m traps. Being loaded away into the ace trap will be the promising chaser Opawa Toddy, who gamely led home the vain chase behind the freewheeling Melita Vella. He has displayed railing tendencies therefore his draw is likely to assist him here.

 

Out at the other end of the traps will see Go Vegas hopping away wearing the pink racing vest. His heat effort contained merit when boldly chased after the pace setting Seve, finishing up four lengths astern of him. Kennelmate Archie John Hill stepped up in race distance for his heat outing after contesting recent sprints. He kept up a solid gallop throughout when pushing Big Time Seth to a half length margin. He’ll exit from the four trap for this task.

 

The field is completed by two locally prepared greyhounds. Thrilling Stomp owns a strong finish as seen when he finished resolutely for his 5.75 length heat third placing to Seve for his conditioner Karen Walsh, who trained Thrilling Talk to victory in this event last year. He tends to race out in the middle of the track therefore he’s likely to seek a clear early racing passage after he hops away from trap four.

 

Cambridge trainer Arch Lawrence will parade his charge Zoro to the traps wearing the green racing vest. He was sighted finishing solidly, when after settling into the midfield pack, he pressed on for his 3.5 length heat third to Big Time Seth. He had led home his race rival here Thrilling Stomp by a length when he delivered his prior C2/3 25.81s 457m win here.

 

  

The other Farmlands CopRice Waikato Classic heat winners were Big Time Seth (left) and Seve

 

$10,000 Farmlands Virkon Waikato Cup (race 10)

 

The Christmas Eve meeting saw two 457m heats sorting out this field. Bigtime Brody fairly skipped across the sand/loam surface when he delivered his quick 25.21s heat win for Lisa Cole. He wasn’t fazed by his five trap then and he isn’t likely to be from the eight trap here. His kennelmate Bigtime Brett was bold when chasing him home 4.75 lengths behind him, while another kennelmate Bigtime Shadow who finished up a half length second behind the other heat winner Opawa Viking will jump from the five trap here.

 

Yes, there is justice in the racing game because Opawa Viking annexed his thoroughly deserved heat win when he delivered his 25.54s win for his trainer Sean Codlin. His last Cambridge outing saw him having the C4/5 457m race completely wrapped up when the lure halted just short of the finish. No one could begrudge Opawa Viking his Waikato Cup heat win.

 

Karen Walsh will be represented by her 24.96s Cambridge 457m track record holder Thrilling Amigo in this feature. This bloke is race fit and match hardened following his prior 650m and 645m staying assignments and kicked on for his 6.25 length heat third to Bigtime Brody.

 

The Group 1 Spion Rose Cup 520m winner He’s All Shine certainly adds to a competitive field for his trainer Sam Lozell. He was sound when producing his 4.75 length heat third to Opawa Viking when  on track debut. Emma Potts provides the other two finalists which includes the nicely trap one drawn Opawa Light, while Our Rick will load away into the seven trap for her.

 

  

The Farmlands Virkon Waikato Cup heats winners Bigtime Brody (left) and Opawa Viking

 

$6,000 Denis Cole Memorial Sprint (race 8)

 

It was the Lisa Cole kennels to the fore in both heats for the traditional open class Denis Cole Memorial Sprint final with Trojan Hoarse (20.98s) and Bigtime Kiss (21.04s) stylishly prevailing in the two 375m heats.

 

Trojan Hoarse has come up trumps in the box draw, being allocated the one to hop away from, which was the same trap he easily won his heat from. Bigtime Kiss than backed up at the Manawatu Raceway on Monday when she clocked a quick 23.08s for her 410m win. She’s racing in the green on Thursday.

 

Keeping with the same kennel theme is local trainer Shirley Ross who provided both the heat second place getters. Both have drawn wide with Athenais in trap seven and Typical from the eight. Thrilling Peta for Karen Walsh owns a tidy 20.93s best winning 375m time, while Captain Kev for Wayne and Tracey Steele is a proven 375m sprinter around this circuit.

 

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The two Denis Cole Memorial Sprint heat winners were Trojan Hoarse (left) and Bigtime Kiss

 

$7,500 Thrilling Brat Distance (race 9)

 

Again, two 645m heats sorted out the finalists for the Thrilling Brat Distance feature. Thrilling Nina confirmed her staying potential for Karen Walsh when in just her second attempt over s staying trip she prevailed in 37.66s. She draws nicely in the one trap here.

 

The other heat saw a 37.80s pace making victory delivered by the Angela Turnwald prepared Emgrand Rose. He must adopt those same racing tactics here as his form from his eight draw isn’t exactly the flashiest. Kennelmate Opawa June was solid for her 4.25 length heat second to Thrilling Nina.

 

Shaynee has been bold in her 650m races, which includes Sam Lozell producing her for her four length heat second to Emgrand Rose. Student Loan is a potential improver for his conditioners Dave and Jean Fahey. He was making his track debut when he produced his 7.25 length heat third behind Emgrand Rose and his trap two draw is likely to assist him here.

 

 

 

The two Thrilling Brat Distance heat winners was Thrilling Nina (left) and Emgrand Rose

 

$6,000 Mighty Waikato Maiden Final (race 7)

 

Geez, that was an explosive 25.33s 457m heat win that Thrilling Rosa delivered for Karen Walsh who has patiently handled this girl after having debuted back in June. It was scintillating gallop from this girl who will race from trap two here.

 

Lisa Cole chose to debut Big Time Mac in this rich Maiden series and he duly obliged when jumped quickly from the one trap to lead his rivals all the way for his tidy 25.79s heat win. He will be sighted wearing the red racing again in the decider.

 

Walsh produced Thrilling Baxter to deliver his sound 2.25 length heat second to Big Time Mac and drawing the three trap here says that he’ll deliver another bold effort here. Leading the vain chase home behind the freewheeling Thrilling Rosa when finishing 7.5 lengths behind her was Pebble Beach for his trainer Dan Lane. The main action is potentially likely to emerge from those inside traps as he’ll wear the red racing vest here.

 

 

Mighty Waikato Maiden heat winners Thrilling Rosa (left) and Big Time Mac