Ring The Bell eyes Collar
and Jimmy Rea in the Listed Mark Hinkler Handicap ( 1200m).
“It’s grand final day for us. These are the races these horses have been set to win,” Richards said. “It’s been great to win a couple of black- type races on the way through, but these are the races we’re here to win.”
Melody Belle is the most favoured to win. A clinical 4 ¾ - length winner of the Gr 2 QTC Sires’ Produce Stakes ( 1400m) at her last start, the Gr 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes and Karaka Million winner is as short as even money with Australian bookmakers.
“She’s in really good order. She came through the Sires’ run the other day really well,” Richards said.
“She’s a straightforward filly, doesn’t overtax herself on the training track. Opie [ Bosson, jockey] was happy with her work on Tuesday. She’s in good form and we can’t fault her. What she’s been able achieve in her career so far has shown us she’s pretty special.”
Shocking Luck, a $ 5 favourite for the Derby, returns to the scene of his Gr 3 Rough Habit Plate ( 2000m) triumph last month, having weakened to sixth in heavy going in the Grand Prix Stakes ( 2200m) at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago.
“He worked with Zambezi Warrior on Tuesday and Opie was really happy with him, too. He said it was as good, if not better, than going into the Grand Prix,” Richards said.
“Going back to Doomben on a better surface is going to help him and he’s got a lovely barrier [ drawn one]. He’ll get handy and track the speed and should get a good run from there.
“This is the last start he’ll have for us before heading up to Hong Kong so hopefully we can send him off on the right note.”
Richards rated Zambezi Warrior a “realistic chance” in the Brisbane Cup ( 2400m) after a fourth placing in the Gr 3 Chairman’s Handicap ( 2000m) at Doomben and second in the Premier’s Cup ( 2200m) at Eagle Farm at his past two starts.
“He’s in good form. He’s improved out of sight on the trip and he’s thrived since the race the other day,” Richards said.
“He’s not great away from the gates so he’ll probably get three or four back on the fence from the draw [ barrier three] and he might need some luck from there. Jeff Lloyd rode him in work on Tuesday and he was happy.”
Richards said the carnival had been a “massive learning curve” for him personally, having to deal with the frustration and repercussions of missing the payment deadlines for Melody Belle and Shocking Luck, meaning both had to have late entry fees paid, but a successful day today would give him immense satisfaction.
“It’s pretty daunting to have the favourite for both the JJ Atkins and Queensland Derby, but also a massive feat for us and that all stems from the horses Dave [ Ellis, Te Akau principal] buys, the support from our owners and the efforts of our entire staff. It’s exciting but I’m more nervous than excited at this stage to be honest.” The Plasterboard Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar is New Zealand’s most prestigious greyhound race.
The $ 80,000 race i s contested over the gut busting 779m journey. What makes it even tougher for the eight staying canine athletes involved is tomorrow’s quick back- up requirement following last Sunday’s 779m heats.
The Australian staying greyhound Ring The Bell was super impressive when he tore apart his Kiwi trained rivals during his freewheeling 46.31s heat win. His trainer Gerry O’Keeffe is confident about his winner of A$ 268,574 delivering another competitive race.
“He has pulled up great and hopefully there is a few lengths improvement in him. I couldn’t be happier with him,” O’Keeffe said.
We do know that the grand old lady of Kiwi stayers Shandell, who won her heat in 46.52s, will strongly back up. After all she did win the great race in 2015 and was the runner up last year.
“Shandell was bouncing around full of herself on Monday. I say bring it on as she is ready to show the others that she remains as competitive as ever,” Lawrence said.
The warm Angela Turnwald prepared pre- series Silver Collar favourite Tranquil Blossom displayed tremendous courage to qualify after she was badly checked in her heat. Her claims certainly cannot be ignored.
“She was flying when she was brought to a standstill last week. We expect her to finish powerfully on Sunday,” the trainer’s partner Paul Freeman said.
He also suggested that kennelmate Bradman Begins can snare a stake if he brings improved starting manners back with him. He flopped away from the traps in his heat.
Canterbury trainer Garry Cleeve is flying north with his finalist Know Jinx. She was another stayer who was the victim of an impeded heat racing passage.
“I was relieved to get her through to the final. Hopefully she gets a clear racing passage. She has been full of herself since Sunday,” said Cleeve.
It has also been a stamina test for the colourful northern greyhound commentator Peter Earley. Tomorrow will be Earley’s 45th Silver Collar delivery and that is recognised by the running of the $ 6000 Peter Earley Classic ( race 9).
Jamie Richards