Slashing Golden Chase times on Commentators Day
The third annual Commentators Day took place Monday afternoon at Manawatu Raceway under Covid level 2 guidelines. Despite a limit of 100 people able to attend, club president Paul Freeman and his colleagues made the day a great success. $10,000 was raised for KidsCan on a day where commentary greats of past and present called at least one race each on the 12 race card. Thoroughbred callers George Simon and Tony Lee put their own flavour on the early races before Ex central districts greyhound commentators Brian Martin and Darryl Robinson turned back the clock with some classic calls. South Island’s Matt Cross, Justin Evans, Craig Rail, and Trevor Wilkes were strong through the middle along with a 720m duet involving Mark Rosanowski and Andy McCook. Brian Martin finished the meeting off in style with a brilliant commentary of the last taken out by Federal Morgan.
Lisa Cole dominated proceedings with 8 victories out of the 12 races while Angela Turnwald, Gary & Sandra Fredrickson, Jean & Dave Fahey, and Sam Lozell picked up a race each. Young gun Big Time Falcon once again showed his enormous potential with a 25.87s run over the 457m bringing up win 7 from only start 12. Tekki Jim for the Fredrickson’s showed up well and truly with a superb 25.71s front running effort putting him right in the mix for Golden Chase calculations. Federal Ranger continues to impress with his seventh win from eight starts coming in a 25.81s class 3 victory. Ranger makes his way in to the top 8 of the Golden Chase leader board, and one feels he is capable of even quicker. Big Time Pluto turned around some average recent runs with a devastating 25.72s victory from box 8 on a day where the track was definitely playing on the fast side.
The distance features of the day both garnered new track records. Speed Machine who came from the clouds on Friday night to pick up a 520m victory at Whanganui, led all of the way in the Matt Cross 660m distance feature. Speed Machine out jumped Bronski Beat and held him out for the entirety of the journey, breaking his track record in the process. The time of 37.80s becomes the new track record for Speed Machine who was sensational as he and kennel mate Bronski Beat streeted the remainder of the field. The second ever 720m race at the Manawatu yielded a new track record also with Shaynee proving to all that she is the best stayer in New Zealand at present. Thrilling Nina had every chance but was unable to run her down as she posted a time of 41.49s winning by 5 lengths to Nina at the finish.
At over four and a half years of age and on the back of a fall Trojan Hoarse made it win 63 on Monday afternoon, showing no signs of slowing down. The Hoarse’s 23.04 victory was less than a length off Big Time Angel’s track record run of 22.99s, as he absolutely screamed off the boxes in the Justin Evans Feature over the 410 meters. Federal Morgan on the back of his Hatrick Classic victory took out the last race of the day in style placing himself atop the Golden Chase leaderboard with a breathtaking 25.61 out jumping speedy kennel mates Big Time Lantao and Big Time Brie.
Written by Shane Kendall
