Big Time Lantao Lands Wanganui Cup

MISTAKE free racing at the elite level of racing was the key to winning last Friday's $30,000 Wanganui Cup for the Lisa Cole prepared Big Time Lantao.

"She doesn't run any time, but she does everything right in her races," said Brendon Cole about the 30.51, 520m group 1 winner.

Big Time Lantao won the break from the ace-trap from where she led her rivals throughout to land her biggest career win for Cole and prominent kennel client Craig Rendle.

Last year's winner and race favourite Bigtime Cooper was in strife when heading into the Hatrick first turn and the check he copped there terminated his claims.

Finishing strongly half a length behind to claim the runner-up prize was the Craig Roberts trained recent NZ Derby winner Leonard Bale.

There was just a nose back to the third placed Miss Potential from the Gary and Sandra Fredrickson kennels.

Big Time Lantao is compiling a compelling career record with her biggest win being her 14th in only 20 race day appearances. 

"It was a bizarre type of race with some normally reliable starters missing the start," Cole said.

"Lantao is a young dog, who hasn't had a season yet. I expect her to strengthen up when she does. 

"We are extremely happy and it gives us immense satisfaction to continue breeding, rearing and training group 1 winners.

That provides us with the complete competitive racing package."

Shaynee Spears to Group 2 755m Victory

Obviously, the talented stayer Shaynee is a quick learner. 

Two Friday's ago she delivered an extraordinary heat effort to qualify for the group 2 $15,000 Wanganui Stayers over the 755m journey.

She led out, then dropped away to trail the field, from where she unleashed a potent finishing burst which carried her into a neck second placing when making her Hatrick track debut.

Last Friday she seized the early race lead and she was never seriously challenged afterwards when dictating the pace to her rivals.

The Sam Lozell prepared stayer was in cruise control throughout, outstaying her opponents to land her 45.68 victory.

Kicking on stoutly for second was Goldstar Truman for Canterbury trainers Steve and Bonnie Evans.

Cambridge trainer Arch Lawrence is a renowned breeder of staying greyhounds and he conditioned the winner's sister Little Teegs to claim third, another two lengths back. 

He bred both Shaynee and Little Teegs, whelping them from Little Teegan (by Dyna Vikkers), whom he trained to win the 2013 and 2014 editions of this race.

Lawrence has consistently produced outstanding stayers breeding from a line that he picked up from and has maintained for five generations now.

And that's where the emotional portion about this result kicks in.

Sam Lozell's late grandfather Max Mathews raced the talented bitch Miss Cutie in the early to mid-1990's. She became the foundation dam for the Lawrence staying breeding dynasty. 

"The best part for me was winning this race in Poppa's memory, especially with a pup from a line he raced and which has been bred on from so many years ago. That is so special," a proud Lozell explained.

"Shaynee can have a short break now, then I'll take her down to Addington for a trial/race and then aim her towards the $30,000 New Zealand Stayers Cup (732m, November) down there."

Shaynee, who recently equaled the Manawatu 660m track record (38.26s), has now won five of her ten staying assignment (three minors) which is a record that her young trainer can be confidently expected to quickly expand on.

 Bolty Bolts Home to Equal His Track Record

The sharp short course sprinter Bolty delivered another power-packed Addington 295m dash last Thursday when he equaled his own 295m track record.

The Daniel Lane prepared speed merchant hit the line strongly to record 16.69s, the same time the son of Fabregas and Tee Time clocked back in May.

Bolty is maintaining a high winning strike rate, with this victory being his 21st from his 28 assignments. Win number 22 can be expected to be claimed this Thursday evening back at Addington (race 11).  

And Bolty's reengagement with the current NZ Greyhound of the Year, the dual group 1 sprint winner Buddy Boom in the looming 295m Galaxy Sprint series at Addington is keenly awaited by industry followers.