Northern Domination As Pinny Mack Wins NZ Cup

IT was complete northern domination at the Addington Raceway on Thursday evening with greyhounds trained in the region stylishly winning both of the Group 1 races contested.

Pinny Mack controlled the pace throughout when he landed the $125,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup, while earlier Buddy Boom gallantly held on for his $35,000 The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint win.

Pinny Mack, who is prepared by Steve Clark, hummed away from the six-trap and he was never headed when he delivered his bold freewheeling 30.11s victory in the $125,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup, run in steady rain.

"Ecstatic; unbelievable," was the initial reaction from Clark.

"I knew he was right when leaving home, however he started vomiting just out of Wellington. I considered scratching Pinny but decided to carry on when he settled better. He's one hell of a greyhound," he added about his second New Zealand Cup training success, having mentored Blitzing Mayhem to victory in 2014.

Pinny Mack is a son of Cosmic Rumble and Flying Sienna and he is owned in West Australia by the Parker/Parker syndicate.

He has now raced on 55 occasions, maintaining a high winning strike rate as seen by his 31 victories. He has placed in another 16 with his career stake earnings now at $214,276.

A Group 1 title still eludes Dyna Dave who, after being a tad slow and was caught in some early jostling, charged home late for his 1.5 length second placing.

It was the same placing the Craig Roberts trained chaser occupied in last year's cup. He has now earned his owner Brendan Wheeler $250,352 in stakes.

85-year-old master trainer Ray Adcock continues to mentor quality greyhounds as seen by his runner Start The Show finishing just a head further behind.

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The Fitz Sports Bar Galaxy Sprint was a total triumph for the "grass roots" kennels.

Partners Jared Udy and Denise Cottam train from their Te Kauwhata kennels.

Their greyhounds are rarely sighted at the elite level of racing.

There was a look of disbelief on their faces, which gave way to sheer joy when their sharp sprinter Buddy Boom led home his rivals in the Group 1 295m sprint just prior to the rain setting in.

It was the 20th race win from just 28 outings for this son of Captain Coutts and La Cigale. He has placed in another three races with his career stakes now sitting at $42,857.

The sprinter controlled the pace around the turn from where he gamely stuck to his task to repel the serious late challenge that the Daniel Lane prepared race favoutite Bolty threw at him. Buddy Boom held by a head margin, recording 17.17s for his biggest career win.

Bolty lost no admirers with his brave effort when losing his unbeaten race record at his ninth race day outing. Pressing on late for her third placing 1.75 length further astern was the Ray Adcock trained Flora Dora.

"I'm pinching myself as this win means everything to us. It's an absolute magic result. We always knew that Buddy was a special greyhound, but wow this is phenomenal," stated Udy.

It was a night under the stars for Cottam as she not only boxed away Buddy Boom, but she was at the lure pull up three races later to catch the New Zealand Cup winner Pinny Mack, therefore she handled both of the Group 1 winning greyhounds.

"It's still sinking in – it's a surreal feeling," she advised.