Group 1 chasing at action at Hatrick this evening
Peter Fenemor • December 19th, 2025 10:49 AM
The talented Lisa Cole prepared Lulu’s Dream set the time standard from Friday’s three Group 1 Spion Rose 520m heats when she skipped though her assignment in a slick 30.02.
Lulu’s Dream is from the exciting Bernardo - Big Time Izzy litter, which makes her a half-sister to the outstanding chaser He’s All Go. She quickly raced through the grades with this final being just her 15th race start. She will be racing in the TAB 3 rug.
“Lulu’s Dream is an exciting prospect, and she confirmed her potential with her heat time. Her draw should work out good for her as she should be handy to the pace going into the first turn,” explained Brendon Cole.
The 650m/660m staying specialist Johnny Football was all power when he extended strongly to claim his 30.43 heat win for Cole. The winner of $214,968 brings vast racing experience into the decider, which is an asset that the current Hatrick Classic (520m) title holder can use to his advantage here.
“You can never count Johnny out of any race. Sure, he doesn’t have the early pace that the younger ones have, but he’ll win out if this final turns into a torrid battle. It will depend on where he is positioned when they turn for home. If he’s handy, then yes, he can out finish his rivals,” advised Cole.
It was Criminal Minds who Johnny Football cut back during the run home when he yielded by a 1.50 length margin. The litter brother and kennelmate to Lulu’s Dream has displayed the same potential that his sister has.
“Criminal Minds has done everything right in his short career to date (17 races). He has pace, which he must use from out there (7). Potentially he can swoop on the others, and he’ll run a quick sectional down to the back mark,” said Cole, who added, “All three of our runners are in good shape for the final.”
Veteran Palmerston North conditioner Bill Hodgson is returning to contest yet another Group 1 final. His charge My Mini Me stylishly controlled the pace when leading throughout to secure her 30.17 heat win.
My Mini Me produced the quickest heat first sectional when clocking 4.93. She will be sighted racing from trap-one on Friday, which does concern her conditioner as he explains.
“She’s not all together suited by her draw. However, if she traps alright, she should be okay. She has to lead early to have a chance in that class of a field,” a proud Hodgson explained.
A proud Canterbury trainer Dylan Voyce is returning north with two finalists.
Wingatui Wizard was solid when he was sighted extending strongly during the run home for his three-length heat second to My Mini Me when making his track debut. He is required to exit from the outside trap.
Kennel and littermate Magic Jonty was resolute in the manner that he pressed on from the rear group to claim his track debut 3.50 length heat third to Lulu’s Dream.
“I was stoked with their races, especially with them having their first look at the track up there. I expect them to take improvement from the experience.
“I was rapt with Magic Jonty who I freshened after the NZ Cup meeting,” advised Voyce.
Te Awamutu conditioner Corey Steele applied the finishing touches to Opawa Sooty who was bold when setting the pace prior to being caught by a two-length margin by Lulu’s Dream.
“I thought his effort was huge as that was the first time he’s been on a two-track for 13 months. I was rapt when he got out to lead and was hoping he would hold on as I knew he would capitulate during the run,” said Steele.
Catching the eye when sighted finishing strongly was the Sam Lozell and Georgie Clark prepared Opawa Stacy. She settled back in the field, and it was from back there where she was sighted doing her best work at the business end of her heat when winding up a 5.25 length heat third to My Mini Me.
“I was rapt with her heat run, especially with the way she finished so strongly. She picked out a gap and she powered home,” reflected Lozell.
High class Ascot Park chasing action
Sheer pace from the Ascot Park 457m traps set up a resounding victory by the slick chaser Jerry Cola in Tuesday’s Gr. 2 20,000 Far South Challenge, while strength and determination saw the class stayer Chief Dribble prevail in the 630m Gr. 2 $20,000 Galway Cup.
The Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie mentored Jerry Cola was never going to be headed after exploding away from the one-trap, freewheeling to his 25.69 win and in going so landed his third 457m Group race title.
Kennel mate, the recent New Zealand Cup winner Original Warrior, boldly chased after the pacemaker finishing 1.25 lengths behind.
It was the Craig Roberts prepared Paw Xian who who extended during the run home to secure his third placing.
“Yes Jerry went great. I was fairly confident that he would hold on once he put his early break on the field, feeling his lead was good enough to hold out the strong finishers.
“It was a good run by Original Warrior as he isn’t really a one-turn track dog, being better suited to the circle tracks,’ explained Fahey. “It is very satisfying in us training the quinella.“
When asked about the immediate plans for the classy pair Fahey responded with, “Jerry is likely to go Manukau for the Railway Sprint, and Warrior will go into the Auckland Cup heats.”
It was anticipated that the Galway Cup was going to develop into a match race between a pair of classy stayers and so it did.
Opawa Shirley flew the 630m traps for Fahey and Wyllie, while Chief Dribble quickly positioned himself into a trailing position.
It remained that way for the greater part of the journey which Chief Dribble beginning to slice into Opawa Shirley’s lead when rounding the final turn.
It took the entire length of the long Ascot Park track for the Matt Roberts and Jack Johnson trained Chief Dribble to gather in a gallant Opawa Shirley which he achieved after 37.04 seconds of hard out chasing, landing his win by a length margin.
The winners kennel mate Fox On Fire underlined his staying potential when finishing a creditable third.
“It was a very creditable performance by Chief Dribble. I thought he was handy enough on the home turn, then it was a case of him working through his gears during the run, which he did to perfection when getting there late. He’s machine,” confirmed Johnson.
