Charlotte Lu On Track For Breeders Classic

EARLY pace verses stamina is the ingredient mix for Thursday’s Addington hosted $30,000 New Zealand Breeders Stakes final at Group 1 level.

EARLY pace verses stamina is the ingredient mix for Thursday's Addington hosted $30,000 New Zealand Breeders Stakes Final at Group 1 level.

Possessing sheer early pace is the Tony Hart prepared Charlotte Lu (pictured).

She used that healthy asset she used when skipping to her 29.99s 520m heat win, the quickest from the three heats, restricted to NZ bred greyhounds only, contested last Thursday.

FIELDS AND FORM ADDINGTON THURSDAY

An illustration of Charlotte Lu's slick pace can be gauged by her skipping to the second quickest second sectional recording ever posted at Addington, clocking 17.47s (NZ Cup winner American Warrior is credited with 17.46s). 

Charlotte Lu has no option but to set up the pace if she is going to prevail as most of her rivals will be looking to gun her down at the business end of this event. 

"Her early pace is unbelievable and I believe she can only get better. It is just her last sectional that is the concern. She is strengthening up," advised Hart.

"Her work on Monday was fantastic and we are rapt with her going into the final."  

Opawa Chrissy continues to finish off her races strongly for her prolific group racing winning conditioners Dave and Jean Fahey.

She did so when delivering the 12.18s heat best final sectional (Charlotte Lu 12.52s) which rounded off her 30.02s overall race time. 

"Chrissy is more of a one-pace galloper, who can maintain a reasonably strong gallop all-the-way," said Dave Fahey. 

Kennelmate and litter-brother Opawa Superstar owns a potent midrace sectional and that makes the NZ Cup third place getter a serious contender for overall honours  

He was the victim of first turn buffering in his heat from where he built momentum, to get to within a length of another kennelmate Milky Way in his heat.

"Superstar tends to be average early, however he can really burn through his midrace sectional. He is a likely improver as we had some minor issues with him going into this (series). He is all good now," added Fahey.      

Chatty Mavis has done little wrong in a limited career too date and drawing handily in the two-trap can only aid the claims held by this 4.5 length heat runner-up to Charlotte Lu. 

"This represents a huge step up in class for her. Her box speed is her biggest asset and if she lands on the early pace and if there's any trouble behind she can make it a real interesting race," suggested Fahey. 

Completing the quartet of Fahey mentored finalists is Milky Tea who took out her heat assignment in 30.14s when leading throughout. 

"She tends to hang out a bit, therefore her draw (six) can work for her. She also has early speed and can be right up there going into the first turn," commented Fahey.

When asked whom he favoured from his team, Fahey responded with, "Probably Opawa Superstar or Opawa Chrissy. I would like to see them handy to the pace rounding the final turn. All of them are set to go." 

It is an evening of premier chasing in the Garden City, featuring an excellent support card, highlighting numerous classy New Zealand bred greyhounds with other features also restricted to home-bred chasers.

Included is the rising Kiwi staying star Know Keeper who will seek to add to his six-race unbeaten staying-record.

Breeder and trainer Garry Cleeve has expressed strong interest in crossing the Tasman for a crack at the rich Newcastle "The 715m" in June.

Know Keeper stylishly won his only other Addington 732m (43.44s) assignment and only atrocious racing luck can deny him another victory. 

 Pic – Dave Robbie

 

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