Group racing highlights tonight’s Hatrick action
Peter Fenemor • September 5th, 2025 10:46 AM • 5 min read
Two Group races will be contested at the Hatrick Raceway this evening with the Wanganui Cup and the Wanganui Stayers being decided.
Lisa Cole trained the retired outstanding greyhound He’s All Go to victory in last season’s Wanganui Cup and she will be lining up six greyhounds in this edition of the Group 1, $20,000 final.
Three 520m heats held last week sorted out the final field.
Delivering the quickest heat time was last season’s Spion Rose winner Fear To Tread ($5.50 & $1.75 – TAB Fixed), who controlled the pace throughout during her freewheeling 30.01 gallop.
Cole’s daughter Georgia provides her thoughts on the kennel runners prospects.
“That was a top run by her in her heat, and she can back up last year’s Group 1 win. It will be interesting for her from her draw. The field could open up for her from out there (trap 7). The key for her is to get to the front early.”
Big Time Maestro ($14 & $310) clocked 30.04 and Big Time Ashton ($18 & $3.60) with a 30.30 gallop were the other heat winners.
“Mastro is an underrated greyhound, who continues to pop up for us. The worry is that he can cut down from out there (trap 8), although he does have strength on his side.
“I’m really happy with Ashton. He can get the run (from 5) and he has pace which makes it interesting from his draw.
Boom Dynamite ($3.20 & $1.35) won the NZ Futurity final in July, and he can lead this field all-the-way while wearing the TAB 3 rug.
“He was jostled early in his heat. I expect improvement from him in the final. He’s likely to cut down to the rail. He’s a good dog and we know what he’s capable of running.”
The depth of the Cole runners is illustrated by the presence of the current Auckland Cup title holder More Magic ($3.20 & $1.35), who will race from trap-four.
“The key for him is for him to get out and go, which he can do. He has massive strength on his side and if he’s handy turning for home, then he can make his presence felt.”
“She has been going really well lately, racing against good dogs. Hopefully she’ll jump and put herself straight in the race.”
The stake claims held by the remaining two contenders cannot be lightly dismissed.
“He has been doing everything right since he’s come back from a spell. I know he’s as fast as anything else in the field. I know he’ll be hard to beat and he’s pulled up great,” advised Pruden.
The Matt Roberts and Jack Johnson prepared Romantic Rebel ($7.50 & $2.10) gains a start from the two-trap from off the reserves bench.
“He races good up there. He does like to use a bit of the track, however if he can fluke a good run into the first turn, then take a sit in behind the leaders, he can finish over the top of them,” stated Johnson.
Whanganui Stayers
Expect the pace to be hot from the outset when the field for the Gr.2 $20,000 Wanganui Stayers is released from the Hatrick 755m traps.
It is anticipated that the freewheeling stayers Chief Dribble ($1.55 & $1.02) and Johnny Football ($2.90 & $1.09) will set up a cracking early pace.
That was evidenced by the flying early sectionals that both stayers put in during last Friday’s pair of heats.
The Lisa Cole prepared Johnny Football cut out his first 305m sectional in 17.67, while Matt Roberts and Jack Johnson produced Chief Dribble to post a 17.77 first split.
They owned similar mid-race sectionals with the Chief reaching the back mark in 32.48 while Johnny clocked a 32.44 split.
The strength owned by Chief Dribble was evident during the run home with him running home in 12.36 for an overall 44.84 race time.
Johnny Football completed his final sectional in 12.58 which made up a 45.02 race time.
So how do their respective kennels rate their prospects, who are both finalists, along with the scratched Grande Vue Ace, for the 2024/25 NZ Stayer of the Year award, in the final?
“Chief Dribble is feeling and looking like a million dollars. He would have taken good confidence out of his heat.
“He can again set them up in front and just keep on running,” suggested Johnson, who will be celebrating his 21st birthday on the Gold Coast over the weekend.
“Johnny Football’s first two sectionals were phenomenal, running through the first sectional in 17.67 which would match it with the open class sprinters.
“For him to win the race he must put a decent break on them. He pulled up sound and he’s ready to go,” advised Georgia Cole.
Sweet And Sassy ($8.50 & $1.50) has been a sharp mover after opening at $18. Her conditioner Jamie Pruden is expecting a strong race from his trap-two drawn stayer.
“It was a bit of a rushed preparation to get her ready for this race. I thought she went good in her heat, just peaking late on her run.
“She will definitely be improved from her heat, and we know from the Silver Collar series that she will back up on Friday,” suggested Pruden.
