Nature's Gent Blooms In Group 1 Decider

GROUP 1 racing is all about mistake free chasing and delivering an unblemished 520m race and in last Friday’s $46,000 Spion Rose final that was the former Victorian greyhound Nature’s Gent.

GROUP 1 racing is all about mistake free chasing and delivering an unblemished 520m race and in last Friday's $46,000 Spion Rose final that was the former Victorian greyhound Nature's Gent.

The Angela Turnwald prepared chaser seized the early race lead after exiting from trap three which was the winning of the Group 1 520m Hatrick Raceway hosted event as he cut out his 520m assignment in a tidy 29.96s.

The race turned into a total triumph for Turnwald and her partner Paul Freeman as they also provided the runner up Diddilee, who commenced his racing career on New South Wales tracks, boldly claiming the runners up prize, 4.5 lengths astern of his winning kennelmate.

Running the race of his career was the only Kiwi bred greyhound in the final. The Marcie Flipp prepared Idol Dude kicked on solidly during the run home winding up a further 2.5 lengths behind for his third placing.

Losing their claims during the early stages was the Group 1 winners in the field. Waterloo Cup winner Pinny Mack made a mistake at trap rise, while the recent New Zealand Cup winner Bago Bye Bye was galloped on when entering the first turn and he lost all claims at that point.

Nature's Gent had some issues when heading into this series. That was obvious during his heat when the normal strong finishing chaser was outstayed over the concluding stages. A modification to his diet and to his normal routine worked the oracle for the 2017 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup winner.

"We knew Nature's Gent had a slight issue which we worked on – what we didn't know was if we had rectified the issue and the only way we were going to find out was when the pressure when on him during the final. He responded brilliantly," confirmed Paul Freeman.

"It was great reward for Nature's Gent owners and for his followers who would have enjoyed picking up his dividend ($15.80). I thought it was a very professional win. Diddilee has really come of age and that was helped by his recent trip to Christchurch. He is a dog who is chasing with real purpose now."

Sheza Rippa's Deserved Group Race Breakthrough

If ever a greyhound deserved a Group race title it had to be the Dave and Jean Fahey conditioned Sheza Rippa.

The Dash For Cash 305m Hatrick Group 2 sprint was billed as a match race between Sheza Rippa and the recent Group 1 Galaxy Sprint winner Sir Duggie from the Lisa Cole kennels.

Both sprinters had dominated the clock in their respective heat wins the previous Friday.

Sheza Rippa secured the ace trap to jump away from and she quickly pushed forward onto the early pace from there.

Kathlee, who is a kennelmate to Sir Duggie, speared forward from trap three and in doing so she held Sir Duggie out wide after he exited from the seven trap.

Disaster struck when running the turn when Kathlee shifted out towards the middle of the track, escorting Sir Duggie further out and that move effectively ended the claims held by both of them.

Sheza Rippa was left lonely in front and that transpired into a convincing six length victory for the Australian based Punter's HQ team. She completed her task in 17.35s when landing her 19th career win (from 33 races).

"It was a top class display of sprinting from Sheza Rippa. Both Sheza Rippa, Joe and the team at Punters HQ thoroughly deserved this win. Bonnie (kennel name) is a really happy good natured greyhound and a real pleasure to have in our kennels.

"Sheza Rippa had to be scratched from the New Zealand Oaks final when she was one of the favourites. Providing she checks out okay we'll probably look at taking her up to Cambridge for the Christmas/New Year meetings," said Dave Fahey.

 

 

 

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