Trips to Australia on the line in Thursday’s features
Talbingo Bale is the favourite for the GRNZ NZ Nationals Middle Distance at Addington on Thursday night. Photo credit: Dave Robbie.
The reward for two winning greyhounds at Addington this Thursday evening will be an all-expenses paid trip to Sydney’s Wentworth Park.
It’s Australian Nationals time, with the respective GRNZ NZ Nationals 520m and 732m race winners taking their place in the Group 1 finals alongside the various Australian state sprint (520m) and distance (720m) winners.
New Zealand first participated in the 2019 Australian Nationals in Perth, where the Craig Roberts-prepared Dyna Dave finished a hugely creditable 520m third. Dave and Jean Fahey provided the Kiwi staying representative in Perth with Opawa Hillary.
The $25,000 GRNZ NZ Nationals Middle Distance final sees a mouth-watering clash between a number of last season’s leading 520m performers.
The Faheys return Opawa Superstar ($3.20 TAB Option 929) to Addington for this assignment, following his recent on-the-pace Ascot Park Group 2 457m win. His trap-two draw is likely to greatly aid his claim.
“He’s come through Southland very well and I expect him to push up handy early on from his good draw,” said Dave Fahey.
The couple also have the ultra-consistent Opawa Wayne ($4.50) as a sound back-up contender. He was really gallant in the manner that he charged home late for his half-length Ascot Park second to Opawa Superstar.
“He was huge at Southland, especially after he got bashed around early. I think his draw (six) will be okay and he’s all good to go,” advised Fahey.
Roberts is seeking back-to-back Kiwi representation with his slick Box-8 drawn chaser, Talbingo Bale ($2.20).
He has carried the pink racing vest to victory in three of his four races from the eight-trap. Included was his recent South Island Champs heat and final wins, with both being delivered in 29.96.
“I wasn’t happy with his sub-par last start effort (Ascot Park), which I put down to his lazy work going into that race. I’ve worked on that aspect since then and I’m happy with him fitness-wise going Thursday. His draw is likely to help him,” said Roberts.
Visiting trainer Lisa Cole adds to the intriguing list of prospects contained in this field and she also has a pair of contenders engaged.
Mustang Charlie ($8.00) owns a potent mid-race sectional and he has previously featured on the Addington track.
However, the draw allocation hasn’t been kind for Cole, with Mustang Charlie drawing the five, while kennelmate Allegro Mars ($26) jumps from inside him.
“He has to at least break quickly with the field from that draw. If he does, then hopefully we’ll see him use his sharp acceleration. I’m happy with him, although nervous about his draw,” said kennel representative Brendon Cole.
“Allegro Mars will be improved from his last race down there where he got tired late. That’s why we took him to Manukau after that – we wanted him to run on a two- turn track (527m win in 30.55). He’s 100 percent going into Thursday,” Cole said.
Charlotte Lu ($12) adds pace to this field and her conditioner Tony Hart will be hoping to see her jumping straight onto the pace while wearing the white vest. The 2022 NZ Oaks winner can make it a rather interesting race if she leads her rivals around the first turn.
Receiving the draw advantage via the ace-trap is the Janine McCook-trained Epic Cruze ($15). He hasn’t won in five attempts from the desired draw, although he has placed in four of them.
First reserve, Speedy Sue ($31), gains a start from trap-seven for her Southland trainer Brett Conner. She led all the way when she won her last Addington 520m outing in 30.34, leading home race rival here, Charlotte Lu.
GRNZ NZ Nationals Distance
Know Keeper ($1.40 TAB Option 931) receives a solid opportunity of being able to make his long awaited trip across the Tasman. The staying superstar from last season actually won last season’s GRNZ NZ Nationals Middle Distance 520m final; however, the Australian Nationals Finals weren’t held owing to Covid-19.
Know Keeper is the dog to beat in the GRNZ NZ Nationals Distance at Addington on Thursday. Photo supplied by the Auckland Greyhound Racing Club.
His trainer Garry Cleeve informs us that Kevin (kennel name) is set to produce another big effort.
“We’ve tried to freshen him, while maintaining his workload. Kev has responded to that and I’m very happy with him heading into Thursday,” advised Cleeve.
Litter brother Know Account ($18) provides the Rangiora trainer with a back-up contender. “His recent 520m races have topped him of nicely and he deserves a crack at this level. It is a rather handy looking field,” Cleeve suggested.
Opawa Anita ($6.50) produced a power-packed finish to claim her last start Ascot Park 630m victory for Dave and Jean Fahey. She looms as a stayer for the future as seen in her effortless prior Addington 645m win.
“Yes, her run home times have been phenomenal. She suits it out wide (seven), so she has drawn nicely. She came through Southland good and she’s all set to go,” confirmed Dave Fahey.
Kennelmate Centurion ($15) is shaping up as a stayer with potential and that was a tidy last start 630m second when he was run down late by Opawa Anita.
“He’s starting better now than what he was previously. He’s a nice young stayer who is ready to go,” said Fahey about last season’s Silver Collar finalist.
The Craig Roberts-prepared Raja Bale ($6.00) is poised to strongly make his presence felt after securing the one-trap. He arrives into this event following his pair of sound recent 630m and 645m thirds.
“Yes, he has to be a chance if he makes full use of his draw, from where I expect him to have a decent crack at it if everything goes all right for him. He’s pretty much in the right zone at the moment,” said Roberts.
Big Time Joy ($12) treks south for Lisa Cole to face her toughest career test. Her recent Manawatu 660m wins have contained merit, however, making her track debut and drawing trap-five has made the task for this promising stayer that much harder, especially as she’s a noted railer.
“I have no concerns about her getting the 732m trip – no worries about that. Yes, it’s a big ask first-up at Addington and her draw doesn’t help. She is super well within herself,” expressed Brendon Cole.
Woodville trainer Carol Morris will present her Silver Collar third placegetter Mr Farenheit ($21) for his track debut assignment. He is bringing handy Manawatu 660m form south with him and it will be interesting to see where he possies himself during the early rush from trap-two.
Local conditioner Matt Roberts will load away his charge Nighthawk Style ($41) into trap-three. She has helped herself to three minor placings from her four previous 732m assignments.
By Peter Fenemor
