15 Monday Races – 15 Commentators

An attractive 15 race card, called by 15 different commentators from both sides of the Tasman will ensure plenty of Australasian interest in the Palmerston North GRC hosted meeting throughout Monday afternoon.

Pictured: The line-up of commentators who called at last year’s Commentators Big Day Out meeting

The full list of commentators can be seen in the race names for the meeting. The Australians includes the return of the TAB Melbourne Cup greyhound commentator James Van de Mast (race 7) who was part of last year’s commentator’s line-up. Victoria Shaw (race 9) shares the Healesville straight track commentating duties with Van de Maat and she is regularly heard via the Sky Racing feed on this side of the Tasman.

Perth commentator Peter O’Neill (race 8) has a huge weekend in front of him. On Saturday evening he will call the Group 1 Perth Cup and Galaxy Distance events prior to making the long haul over to Palmerston North. Tim Newbold (race 12) is the voice of Sydney’s Wentworth Park and he delivered the commentaries on the world’s richest million dollar greyhound races at the venue.

Also crossing the Tasman for the event is the Sky Racing Catching Pen team who will record next week’s edition at the Manawatu Raceway.

The regular equine Kiwi commentators are returning and are joined by their greyhound counterparts. Making New Zealand commentary history will be the debut call delivered by Trackside presenter Pippa Morris (race 3).

Commentators during last year’s Commentators Big Day out meeting included (from left): Tony Lee; George Simon; Dave McDonald

Golden Chase Qualifying Update            

The action is hotting up for the contenders to annex a final field possie for the March 27 running of the $35,000 City Of Palmerston North Golden Chase. Just one more day of qualifying is available therefore the action on the track during Monday’s big Commentators Day Out meeting will be outstanding.

There’s a $25,000 TAB Pick6, which is a terminator, therefore the entire pool must be paid out. The first leg is race 10 on meeting 3, then it rolls through onto all five races on meeting 9.

There was a new entrant to the Golden Chase leader board during Wednesday’s Manawatu meeting. The promising Lisa Cole prepared Big Time Harley jumped up into seventh position with his bold 25.92s C2/3 win. The impressive Manukau 527m winner Nova Willow moved into 13th place when she delivered her handy 26.09s C1 457m win for Cole. Both greyhounds are drawn into Monday fields.   

The withdrawal by Daniel Lane of his talented chaser Bolty (fourth on the table) from the series allows last year’s Golden Chase winner Robson into tenth place with his 26.04s 457m race win for Auckland Cup winning trainer Peter Ferguson. His cup winner Silenci is a likely improver following his track debut 26.23s C4/5 457m win. Both greyhounds are likely to solo trial over 457m following Monday’s last race.

Emgrand Park continues to set the pace with his 25.78s gallop for his conditioner Angela Turnwald. Lane still has Seve firmly placed in the second possie with his 25.81s clock. Cole has another three chasers inside the top eight. Bigtime Rod (25.87s), Big Time Seth (25.90s) and Big Time Jackson (26.01s) are those involved.

The Dave and Jean Fahey trained Spring Falcon will meet the qualifying criteria when he contests his race 9 457m event. He is sitting in fourth place compliments of his previous 25.89s solo trial. The promising Karen Walsh prepared chaser Thrilling Rosa occupies the sixth possie with her 25.91s clock. The current standings has Ringside being the ninth placed chaser with his 26.03s gallop for his conditioner Ray Adcock.

There’s also the March 27 $10,000, $7,000 and $6,000 457m Golden Chase 457m support feature races to consider with the field positions for them to be filled in order of the respective contenders final 457m qualifying times.

The current top ten on the $35,000 City Of Palmerston North Golden Chase leader board are:       

1 Emgrand Park          25.78s

2 Seve                         25.81s             

3 Bigtime Rod            25.87s             

4 Spring Falcon           25.89s 

5 Big Time Seth          25.90s             

6 Thrilling Rosa          25.91s             

7 Big Time Harley      25.92s

8 Big Time Jackson     26.01s             
9 Ringside                   26.03s             

10 Robson                   26.04s

Current $35,000 City Of Palmerston North Golden Chase contenders includes from left: Emgrand Park; Thrilling Rosa and the new addition to the leader board Big Time Harley