A weekend full of major milestones at Manukau
Peter Fenemor • December 30th, 2024 9:03 AM
It was a quality weekend of chasing action, highlighted by a number of outstanding races.
Using sheer pace going into the first turn saw the Lisa Cole prepared Russian Ahead skipping clear to easily win Sunday’s Manukau open-class 527m event when she completed her assignment in 30.58, scoring by a 3.75 length margin.
Kennelmate He’s All Go jumped as the red hot $1.30 favourite, however he was bounced around like a beach-ball during the early rush for positions, being relegated back to the rear group. It was a massive effort by the star greyhound to recover to finish his highly creditable second.
Russian Ahead is a litter sister to the recent Gr. 1 Spion Rose winner Fear To Tread and is raced by the same owing Funky’s Boy’s syndicate.
Winning the start enabled the Lisa and Tracey Craik prepared classy sprinter Just One Grin to seize the early race lead in the in the C5 318m dash. He was never going to be caught, freewheeling his way to the judge to score in 18.37, leading home his kennelmate Portland Ding Us by 2.75 lengths.
Another Blazin’ Hatrick victory
The “professional” greyhound Blazin’ Master carried on with what he does best at the Hatrick Raceway last Friday – win races.
It was the blue racing vest worn by the current Auckland Cup title holder Blazin’ Master that was first sighted from the 520m traps in his C5 event. That vest was never going to be caught with the Lisa Cole trained son of Mepunga Blazer and Mepunga Molly freewheeling his way to his smart 29.97 victory.
Sure, the recent Gr.1 Spion Rose winner Fear To Tread strongly chased after her kennelmate throughout, however she gallantly finished three-quarters of a length behind.
Blazin’ Master has been a model of consistency throughout his outstanding career with Friday’s win being the 45th race he has won. A further 45 minor placings sees him now sitting on an impressive $332,963 in stake earnings from his 112 races for his owner Angela Smith.
It was yet another successful night at the office for the Cole kennels, mentoring eight winners. Others who were placed on top of the podium included the inform 17.43 C5 305m sprint winner Big Time Proof, while Boom Dynamite was stunning in the manner that he won the Restricted Age 520m feature in the meet best 29.92 time.
Bonny birthday result for Goldstar kennels
The exciting up and coming stayer Goldstar Ginny presented her co-owner Bonnie Evans with the perfect birthday present when she strongly outstayed her rivals when claiming her 43.12 Friday Addington 732m win.
The race was the Happy Birthday Bonnie Evans Distance and it was her son Riley who mentored Goldstar Ginny.to her victory.
The 732m event was billed as a match race between Goldstar Ginny and the multiple Group race winning Bob Pringle trained stayer Grande Vue Ace.
Rounding the final turn Grande Vue Ace held the rail, Goldstar Nadia was on her outer and outside those two was Goldstar Ginny.
It was Goldstar Ginny who extended the strongest during the run home, scoring by a 2.75 length margin over Grande Vue Ace.
It was a delighted Bonnie Evans who races Goldstar Ginny with husband Steve, along with Riley, who brought back her pride and joy back to stand on top of the podium.
Undoubtedly the Goldstar Racing team will aim Goldstar Ginny towards the prestigious 779m Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar, which is a race they so impressively won with Goldstar Carlito in 2023.
Pictured: Sunday’s stylish Manukau 527m winner Russian Ahead
