Bago Bye Bye Surges To NZ Cup Favourtism

AUSTRALIAN owned greyhounds are strongly favoured to win both of the Group 1 features at the Addington Raceway on Thursday.

Bago Bye Bye, who is prepared by Dave and Jean Fahey, has surged to outright favouritism for New Zealand's richest greyhound race, the $125,000 2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup.

His kennelmate Sheza Rippa is the warm pre-post elect for the $35,000 2018 The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint.

Bago Bye Bye, who is owned by Queenslander Gregg Watts, has been absolutely flying in his Addington 520m assignments. Four races ago he lowered the venue 520m track record to a slick 29.59s.

Last Wednesday Bago Bye Bye slipped through his NZ Cup semi-final in a tidy 29.63s. He has been a revelation since he crossed that Tasman having now strongly won eight of his nine (one placing) Addington 520m races.

He will be loaded away into the one trap for this assignment. "Yes, he's very exciting. It's the first time he's got a decent draw since we got him. The interesting part will be what happens going into the first turn. If Bago is possied up handy to the pace, then yes, his strength can carry him through," commented Dave Fahey who also advised their charge is all set to deliver the race of his career on Thursday.

The Fahey's are seeking their eighth New Zealand Cup training success since 2006 and they have also qualified the promising, but inexperienced (at this level) chaser Mr. Matt.

Pinny Mack is in sublime current form for his northern conditioner Steve Clark. The Parker Parker syndicate, West Australian owned, chaser is seeking his second Group 1 victory in two months having recently won the Waterloo Cup.

He has quickly adapted to the Addington circuit when, after his bold track debut NZ Cup heat second, he cruised to his effortless 29.94s NZ Cup semi win. It is his searing midrace sectionals that stands out this fella from his rivals. We saw that when he reached the back mark in 17.62s, the quickest from the four semis.

"I feel Pinny has more improvement in him on that track. I'm rapt with the way he has handled the series so far and I'm convinced he'll go to the traps spot on, on Thursday. He is coping with the travel brilliantly and using his quick midrace sectional says it will be over to the others to catch him," suggested Clark. His charge is ideally drawn in the two trap.

A month ago local trainer Craig Roberts would have been an even money favourite to mentor the NZ Cup winner such was the firepower of quality 520m greyhounds he has in his kennels. He now heads into the decider with the poorly drawn NZ Cup third and fourth favourites.

The Brendon Wheeler owned Dyna Dave is a potent chaser with the best part of his 520m races being his strong run home times. It's his lack of early pace that is the concern for this 30.22s semi-final winner here.

"He's running for luck going into and around the first turn. Hopefully he can get a clean drag into the race and if he does, then he can make things interesting over the later stages," said Roberts who will box him away into trap four.

Conversely kennelmate Dirk Bale is renowned lid pinger and it is that asset that he must use when he exits from trap five on Thursday. The current Auckland Cup title holder, Jan Wheeler owned chaser, took out his heat in 30.12s, then he chased home Blazin' Carter 2.25 lengths astern of him in his semi.

"Dirk has no option but to lead them into the first turn. If he does and if there's any sort of trouble behind him, then yes he can pinch a break on them," confirmed Roberts. "Both of my guys are all set for Thursday," he added.

Those three trainers will nervously be glancing out to the six trap from where the Lisa Cole prepared Blazin' Carter will emerge from. He also owns a sufficiently quick first sectional (5.73s, the quickest semi clock) to ensure he can be sighted vying for the early pace. He returned 30.02s when delivering his semi win.

It's his tendency to cut inwards to the rail that worries others here. "We're very happy with both him and what he done so far down there (Addington). His draw isn't the best which says he has to be on the pace heading into the first turn. If he is then his natural improvement will see him featuring for a long way," suggested Brendon Cole about the Carol and Jeff Eaton, New South Wales owned Blazin' Carter.

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SHEZA Rippa has been fairly sizzling over the Addington 295m dash and a repeat of her pair of 17.05s Galaxy heat and 17.01s semi times will see this girl securing a deserved Group 1 title for the Fahey's and her owning Punter's HQ syndicate.  

She has effortlessly won all four of her Addington 295m sprints since she resumed from a spell. "She has come back super and we couldn't be any more pleased with what she has been doing. Her draw (six) is tricky, so hopefully she can use her early pace to clear the others," advised Dave Fahey.

Her main dangers will be Sir Duggie for Lisa Cole (trap one) and the Alison Lee trained Chitina Tin (seven). Fired Up Jasper is capable of featuring from trap three for his local conditioner Bruce Dann.

The New Zealand Greyhound Cup forms part of the nation's biggest Cups carnival in Christchurch with the New Zealand Trotting Cup being decided on Tuesday (Addington), while the New Zealand Galloping Cup will be contested on Saturday (Riccarton).