Jackson Lands Cambridge Graduation Breeders Bonus
Big Time Jackson confirmed his potential when he stylishly won Thursday’s running of the $8,500 NZRS Graduation final at the Cambridge Raceway. The intermediate graded feature 457m event for New Zealand bred greyhounds for a triumph for the Palmerston North-based Big Time kennels as Jackson’s kennelmate Big Time Kobe delivered a sound third placing. That ensured a fair dollop of the Breeders’ bonus payments attached to this NZRS final returned to the kennel.
Pictured: Thursday’s NZRS Graduation winner Big Time Jackson (pic Waikato GRC)
Big Time Jackson returned north after delivering a competitive pair of early January Cambridge 457m races. His claims for this feature final was enhanced when he was allocated the one trap to hop away from. He didn’t really use it when he settled in the midfield, however, he punched up along the rail to take the race lead going into the turn and he was never headed afterwards, cruising to his biggest career win, clocking a handy 25.54s for his conditioner Lisa Cole.
Jinja Murthy (Barcia Bale - Unshaken) made an okay start from the two trap to race handy to the pace. He was rewarded for sticking to his task with the runner-up possie 1.25 lengths behind the winner for his local trainers Wayne and Tracey Steele.
The winner’s kennelmate Big Time Kobe (Spring Gun - Allegro Touch) made a moderate start from trap five, settling back in the field. He slipped down onto the rail and using that tactic saw him finishing strongly to claim the third placing a further 2.5 lengths behind.
The favoured runners Thrilling Murphy (Fernando Bale - My Girl Chloe) for Karen Walsh and the Emma Potts prepared Opawa (Light Fabregas - Opawa Stretch) both struck early interference, which effectively saw both of the previous week’s heat winner losing their claims.
Big Time Jackson is a member of the promising Fernando Bale and Vegas Danny litter who is raced by his trainer along with Craig Rendle and they also raced mum Vegas Danny. There is no doubt that this fella will quickly expand on the tidy race record he is compiling with this win being his sixth from 14 race day outings. His $12,156 (excluding Breeders bonus payments) has been further assisted by his four minor placings.
It was a successful Thursday trip north for the Cole kennel as they also prepared another three winners on the 11 race card which also included Big Time Jackson’s litter brother Big Time Jonie. Cole is charging towards the record-breaking 861 winners the kennel mentored last season and will commence Friday’s Hatrick meeting with 436 winners, plus over $1 million in stake earnings, already secured for the current season.
Vegas Danny who whelped Thursday’s NZRS Graduation winner Big Time Jackson; runner up Jinja Murphy and third-placed Big Time Kobe
By Peter Fenemor
