Massive evening of Greyhound Group racing at Cambridge
Peter Fenemor • March 13th, 2025 9:58 AM • 3 min read
Outstanding NZ Derby field
It’s a massive evening of greyhound action at the Cambridge Raceway this evening with four Group race finals being decided.
Headlining the compelling chasing action is the Group 1 $50,000 New Zealand Derby.
Four competitive 457m heats held last week has brought together an outstanding field of male greyhounds. Seven of the finalists are trained in Canterbury.
Paw Bradley ($2.35 & $1.16 – TAB Fixed) threw down the gauntlet to his rivals when the Addington 29.50 525m track record holder clocked his smart 25.36 heat time for Craig Roberts.
“I would like to see him jump and get handy to the pace. If he does that then he can finish over top of them. I believe he will be improved with the run and he can go faster,” advised Roberts.
It’s likely to be game on from trap rise as Paw Bradley has drawn nicely in trap-two. Exiting from the one-trap will be slick Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie prepared Jerry Cola ($2.45 & $1.18).
Jerry Cola currently owns the 16.47 Addington 295m track record and he stylishly stepped up to 457m racing to win his heat in 25.41.
“We’re very pleased with his heat run and we’re very pleased with his draw. We expect further improvement from him in the final,” confirmed Wyllie.
The Fahey/Wyllie combination have a solid back-up contender with the 25.55 heat winner Opawa Simpson ($7.50 & $1.90).
“We’re really stoked with his heat effort. The only part that lets him down is his box speed. Apart from that he’s pulled up good and is all set to go,” stated Wyllie.
The potential bolter in the NZ Derby final is Opawa Simpson’s litter brother Opawa Blake ($23 & $3.80) who took out his heat in 25.58.
He is the only northern trained finalist and is prepared by the inform trainers Wayne and Tracy Steele.
Wayne was quite blunt when summing up his charges prospects, saying, “Nothing else in the field scares me if he puts his best foot forward.
“He definitely has got a motor. To be honest I don’t know what to expect - he could deliver a very competitive race or finish dead last – there’s no in-between.”
There has been a significant scratching with Goldstar Tyson coming out of the field. The Auckland Cup winner More Magic ($11 & $2.40) will now jump from trap-three and he provides Lisa Cole with the opportunity of mentoring back-to-back NZ Derby titles after the talented He’s All Go prevailed for her last year.
The stayers race over 747m
The evergreen stayer Grande Vue Ace ($1.70 & $1.07) dominates the field for the $20,000 Theresa McDonald Memorial Cup at Group 2 level.
In last week’s 650m warm-up assignment she flicked on her after-burners when she rocketed home for her 1.5 length second to the freewheeling pacemaker Charley Horse.
“That was a pretty handy warm-up outing for her last week in that sprint (for her) when running her 26th career second placing. She has come through that in her usual calm manner, like you wouldn’t know she had a race. The 747m will suit her admiralty,” confirmed her mentor Bob Pringle about his trap-one drawn stayer.
The further they race, the better it suits the Riley Evans prepared Goldstar Ginny ($3.90 & ($1.30) and todays 747m trip is perfect for the proven Addington 732m stayer.
“Yes, her last 650m race up there was too short for her. The 747m on the big Cambridge track is ideal for her where I expect to see her roaring home late,” advised Evans.
Tess ($6 & $1.60) is another stayer in the field who is expected to relish the 747m distance as her conditioner Garry Cleeve confirms.
“I didn’t think her run last week (650m) was that bad, especially when she got shuffled back at the wrong time. She came home pretty good and the longer trip on Thursday will suit her.”
Lois Henley Memorial Trophy
Lisa Cole trained female greyhounds dominate this Group 2 $20,000 race after she qualified five-finalists following last Thursday’s pair of 457m heats.
Those heat winners are litter sisters with Russian Ahead ($2.35 & $1.14) cruising to her 25.47 heat win.
“If Russian Ahead breaks the lids quickly, then yes she can lead all-the-way. She’s a beautiful galloper,” stated Brendon Cole.
Sister Fear To Tread ($2.90 & $1.20) has a Group 1 title listed beside her name and she’s a realistic chance of adding this event to her CV following her 25.91 heat win.
“She runs similar traits as her sister – maintaining a straight line. She is super capable of running a fast 457m time, although she may need a touch of luck from that draw (6),” advised Cole.
The Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie prepared Opawa Shirley ($3.50 & $1.28) is a noted railing greyhound and she is perfectly suited to her trap-two draw as Wyllie confirms.
“She won’t know herself with her nice draw, finally getting close to the rail. In her heat she crossed the field and she was a happy girl when getting there (rail).”
Angus Wright Memorial Sprint
The Craig Roberts trained Hadwin Bale ($6 & $1.85) set the time standard for this dash when clocking 21.03 from last week’s three-heats for this Group 2 $20,000 375m sprint.
“Once he got the lead he was never going to come back to them. I expect improvement from him for the final. If he makes a quick start, then the others will have a hell of job catching him,” suggested Roberts.
Big Time Tactics ($8.50 & $2.30) is a consistent Lisa Cole trained sprinter who took out her heat in 21.15.
“I feel her prospects were extinguished with her draw (6) which is inside out for her. The only option she has is for her to lead out,” stated Brendon Cole.
The Lisa and Tracey Craik northern trained Quintessential ($3.80 & $1.50) is a proven sharp sprinter as seen by his 21.19 heat win.
“He has exceptional box speed and a fast first sectional. Yes, he’s a winning prospect if he can lead them out,” confirmed Lisa Craik who will also be represented by Lion’s Den ($8.50 & $2.30) in the final. .
The claims held by the Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie trained Opawa Mocha ($2.90 & $1.30) can never be lightly dismissed after he overcame traffic issues in his heat.
“We were really thrilled with his heat run. I was very impressed with the way he rocketed home after he was taken out wide. He needs to make a clean start from out there (8),” advised Wyllie.
Picture at the Top of the Page: The quickest NZ Derby 457m heat winner Paw Bradley with handler Dan Roberts. Credit: Sarah Cockburn, Waikato GRC
