Heats at Hatrick for the hottest dogs tonight
Peter Fenemor • November 29th, 2024 10:32 AM
Group 1 heat action highlights this evening’s Hatrick racing action, while across the Tasman the focus of attention is on tomorrow’s rich Melbourne Cup final.
Two engrossing 520m heats will decide the finalists for the following week’s $50,000 Spion Rose final.
The Lisa Cole trained current NZ record stakes holder ($400,808) Federal Infrared won this race last year and Cole has a strong team of greyhounds contesting both heats. Brendon Cole kindly supplies us with the kennel thoughts on their prospects.
Featuring in the first heat (Race 7) is the outstanding He’s All Go, who warmed up for this assignment when delivering his sharp 29.56 520m win last Friday. (Click here to watch a replay of this race)
The multi code owned star chaser is chasing after his seventh Group 1 title and he has been installed as the $1.70 TAB Fixed favourite to win his heat. The winner of 31 of his 38 races will be carrying the TAB 3 rug.
“He’s All Go is spot on and he was super last week. He’s come through that race in great order.”
Kennelmates Russian Ahead ($7.50) and the NZ Cup third place-getter Johnny Football ($4.50) both hold advancement claims, while adding to the qualifying puzzle is Brockie’s Luck ($14) who returns to Hatrick following his strong 25.86 last start 457m Cambridge win. (Watch a replay of Brockie's Luck win)
“Russian Ahead has a top draw (1) for her and she races good here. Johnny Football trialed really good here last week (29.62) and he can use his good draw (2) to telling effect.”
“Brockie’s Luck was very strong at Cambridge and he races good at Hatrick. His draw (6) could be a slight niggle for him.”
Canterbury interest in the heat is held by the inform Dave and Jean Fahey prepared Opawa Shirley ($8.50). She holds railing tendencies, therefore she must break away quickly from her seven-trap draw.
Sinead Bale ($17) was a recent NZ Cup finalist for Craig Roberts, while his son Matt is returning with north with the multiple Group 1 finalist Claws In Zorro ($12).
The Fahey mentored recent NZ Cup winner One Hot Bandit ($1.70) will be sighted wearing the pink racing vest in the second heat (Race 8). He’ll have to use his known pace and strength to clear his inside drawn rivals during the run into the first-turn
The Fahey’s sent him north last Friday to check out the Hatrick venue for the first time, where he ran a tidy 17.35 305m trial.
The Fahey’s bookend he field with the trap-one drawn Opawa Archer ($12) who would have benefited from his first look around this circuit last Friday.
Let Him Cook ($7.50) was the gallant runner-up in the NZ Cup and Matt Roberts has previously prepared him to contest a Hatrick Group 1 520m final. He will exit from trap-seven here.
Obviously the Cole kennels hold a strong hand here and last week’s stunning 29.56 520m winner Boom Dynamite ($4.50) can beat his poor trap-five draw by using his known early pace. (Watch Boom Dynamite winning last week in 29.56)
“Boom Dynamite was sensational last week. He has returned from an injury that could have been career ending. He’s much fitter now and he’s the complete package. The key to his race will be rounding the first turn.”
The claims that the four-year greyhound Blazin’ Master ($6) holds at this level can never be overlooked. The winner of $317,968 endured a completely luckless outing in the recent NZ Cup final. He can bounce back here while wearing the TAB 3 rug.
“He had an issue during his luckless NZ Cup race. He’s going into this fresh, however he’s a professional dog who knows exactly what he needs to do.”
Space Boy ($34) never saw clear racing air last week, however his prior 520m second here contained merit. Fear To Tread ($12) owns early pace which is an asset that she must use from trap-six.
“Space Boy has had his recent issues and he isn’t currently the same dog he was before. Fear To Tread was super unlucky last week. She is very fast early, although her draw (6) is a worry.”
Wanganui Distance heats
The stayers will also be racing for Group.1 glory next Friday and they chase after final field positions in their two-heats for the 755m Wanganui Distance.
The first heat (Race 5) will be completely dominated by the recent NZ Stayers Cup winner Chief Dribble ($1.05 – TAB Fixed). Realistically the interest should be by what margin does the Matt Roberts mentored stayer win by?
Kennelmate Maestro Mojito ($15) is expected to secure a position for the final from this heat, while the only other open-graded stayer in the field is Boom Lateral ($11). Rob Roper travels down from the north with his Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar (779)) finalist. He will enjoy stepping back up to 755m racing.
The second heat (Race 6) features the 2023 NZ Stayers Cup winner Grange Vue Ace ($1.40) who will lap up the 755m distance here for her conditioner Bob Pringle. She is a previous Group 1 755m winner at this venue and her conditioner reports that she’s cherry ripe for this assignment.
The field drops away after her, although Matt Roberts is lining up a couple of potential qualifiers in Adobe Peach ($6.50) and Bit Of Bacardi ($7.50).
The Jamie Pruden trained Smart Bowler ($5) is a stayer with potential as seen by her bold on-the-pace last start 38.20 Cambridge 650m win.
Hot Melbourne Cup field assembled
Eight cut-throat 515m heats held last week decided the final field for Saturday’s rich Sportsbet Melbourne Cup final (Race 10) at Sandown Park.
A$500,000 awaits the connections of the winner of the race that is referred to as ‘the world’s greatest greyhound race’ with the field coming under starters orders at 11.56pm (NZT).
Sheer early pace characterizes the field with all eight finalists owing sharp early speed and it is that factor that’s likely to have a huge influence on the shape of the field as they race into the all-important first turn.
The vastly experienced Sky Racing host Dave Carlson will be leading the on-course presenting team live from Sandown Park and he kindly provides us with his pre-race thoughts.
“There’s so much early speed in the field and I feel that the charge into the first-turn will be crazy as they all will be in the zone heading there. Hopefully they all get around without any trouble. If that happens then I expect the Cup to turn into a torrid battle.
“Owing to that speed I’m selecting last year’s runner-up Big Energy ($7.50 – TAB Fixed) on top. I believe he will handy to them rounding the first-turn and from there his strength during the run home can carry him home.
“Joey The Jet ($3.90) has the gun draw (1) and he can settle on the rail and then hold his place for the balance of the race.
“If Epitomize ($5.50) pings the lids from the two, then he has sufficient pace to race on-the-pace. He ran a quick 4.97 first split in his heat.
“You can never overlook Explicit ($3.70) He is prepared by a master in Jason Thompson and he owns all the qualities to win the Cup,” suggested Carlson.
The Sportsbet Bold Trease for the stayers over 715m is the other Group 1 race on the card (Race 8 – 11.07pm NZT) and four compelling heats held last week brings together an intriguing looking field to contest the final.
Again Dave Carlson provides us with his thoughts on the event.
“I’ve settled on the trap-one drawn Black Silencer ($3) as the on top selection. I know he ran second in his heat, however I think that run would have peaked him perfectly for the final.
“Flying Envy ($9) is running out her races strongly and her 41.76 heat win was eye-catching. She won’t mind racing from the eight-trap.”
“Ella’s Babe ($6) was solid when finishing second to Flying Envy in her heat, while Ethanol Water ($6) is quite capable of featuring at the business end after her 41. 71 heat win.”
Photograph at the top of the page: Federal Infrared after her 2023 Spion Rose win. Credit: Wanganui GRC