From the Kennels - News from the Greyhounds
Peter Fenemor • November 25th, 2024 1:34 PM
NZ Greyhound Cup Night Reaches New Wagering Heights
Wagering turnover records during the recent Springston Hotel New Zealand Cup meeting were annihilated with an impressive $1.427m being invested during the November 14 Addington meeting.
Here is a press release detailing the record turnover from GRNZ.
Wagering on the New Zealand Cup meeting at Addington Raceway obliterated previous turnover records for a New Zealand greyhound race meeting, Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) can confirm.
Wagering through Entain New Zealand’s two betting brands, TAB and betcha, totalled $1.427m - a 40% increase on the previous year. This also exceeded the 2022 previous record result of $1.068m.
“These results highlight the strong support of punters for greyhound racing as a product and that this race meeting is a key component of the tri-code racing promotion that is NZ Cup Week in Christchurch”, said GRNZ Chief Executive, Edward Rennell.
“GRNZ is indebted to Entain NZ for their support and outstanding coverage of the event through Trackside. This promotion showcased greyhound racing to the public in a unique and positive manner, befitting the quality of racing on the night.”
“GRNZ also congratulates the Christchurch Greyhound Racing Club for its excellent work in putting together an outstanding programme of racing and hosting a terrific event that continues to grow and generate great support from the racing community.”
“These results demonstrate the important contribution greyhound racing makes to the overall racing industry and the support of punters for greyhound racing.”
Entain NZ Managing Director, Cameron Rodger said more than 12,200 customers placed a bet through TAB and betcha, up from 8,800 in 2023.
“This 40% increase matches the increase in turnover we saw at the meeting to reach this record level,” Rodger said.
The highlight from a racing perspective was One Hot Bandit winning the 2024 Springston Hotel New Zealand Cup, bringing up Jean and Dave Fahey’s 11th NZ Cup win as trainers.
Cole brings up a Million
It was entirely appropriate that the classy greyhound He’s All Go blasted the Lisa Cole kennels through the million dollar stakes barrier for the current season.
The $3,300 winning stake brought up the milestone and it was achieved in stunning fashion with the White Horse Toaster syndicate owned He’s All Go rocketing through his 520m assignment in a searing 29.56 seconds, recording a personal best clock in doing so. (Watch a replay of this race)
Incredibly the same time had been recorded earlier in the meeting when his kennelmate, the talented Boom Dynamite flew through his C4 520m task also in 29.56. (Watch a replay of Boom Dynamite's victory)
And prior to the meeting a couple of key trials was undertaken. Cole sent her recent New Zealand Cup third place-getter Johnny Football over 520m and he record a respectable 29.62 gallop.
Dave and Jean Fahey’s kennel foreperson Katie Wylie brought the New Zealand Cup winner One Hot Bandit north to give him his first look at the Hatrick Raceway. He trialled over the 305m dash, delivering a handy 17.35 sprint.
All of the above slippery times sets up what looms to be an enthralling round of heats for this Friday’s Gr. 1 Spion Rose 520m heats.
Ascot Park back in action
Racing resumes at the world’s most southern located greyhound track Ascot Park in Invercargill on Wednesday afternoon. The big one-turn track has been closed for that last six-weeks to undergo track renovations.
The main 457m event is the Top Class Run (Race 8) where the Dave and Jean Fahey well-travelled Vary Rarely returns south after his luckless Hatrick Friday 305m sprint. The recent Galaxy Sprint runner-up is a proven Ascot Park 457m chaser, who has drawn nicely for his racing style out in trap-eight.
Engaged in the field is the Dylan Voyce trained Daddy Longlegs who is a much better 457m chaser around this circuit that what his current form indicates. Also included in the field are five Malcom Grant trained contenders with Diamond Ranger, Diamond Alex and Diamond Felon all holding claims of being able to sniff out a portion of the stake money.
Hot Melbourne Cup field assembled
Eight action-packed 515m heats held at Sandown Park on Saturday decided the final field for what is an exceptionally high-class field for this Saturday’s A$1 million Sportsbet Melbourne Cup final.
Leading Victorian conditioner Jason Thompson qualified two finalists, including the early $2.80 favourite Explicit who produced a slick 29.05 heat time. He will load away into the six trap for the decider.
Gaining a much more favourable draw via trap-one is kennelmate Joey The Jet ($3.70) following his 29.20 heat win. Thompson also applied the finishing touches the sole Kiwi heat contender, the Jose Arthur owned Master Pablo who never saw clear racing air when finishing sixth in his heat.
Recording the quickest heat was the West Australian chaser Sunset Frazier ($5.50) who reeled off a turbo-charged 29 seconds flat for his trainer Jeff Britton. He will jump from trap-four in the final.
Check back here later this week for an in-depth preview for the Melbourne Cup which is regarded as one of the world’s premier greyhound races.
Photograph at the top of the page: The classy He’s All Go won his 31st career race last Friday. Credit: Wanganui GRC
