Rocket And Respectability Rekindle Rivalry

For 90 years, greyhound trainers from around the country have been making the pilgrimage to the Northern Rivers of NSW to take part in the annual Grafton Winter Carnival.

Many targeting the riches on offer in the Grafton Greyhound Racing Club’s three prestigious feature races – the Grafton Maiden, as well as the Sprinters and Stayers Cups.

But it’s not just the prizemoney on offer that attracts a raft of exciting and established chasing talent to the region every July.

Club president John Corrigan believes the camaraderie of the yearly event is what keeps bringing people back year after year.

“This carnival has been going since 1933 and some of the trainers here this week have been coming here for forty straight years. Dennis Barnes is up from Cudal again, Neil Staines drives from Yass every year, plenty of them use this as a holiday and they all enjoy one another’s company, that’s what makes it a little bit special,” Corrigan said.

“We’ve always coincided with the horses too. They have their big features on Wednesday and back in the day, the dogs would race in the morning and the horses started after lunch. Now it’s flipped around but the town is always abuzz this time of year,” he added.

Corrigan also excited by the prospect of three thrilling feature finals in 2023.

“The more I look at the Sprinters Cup, the harder it looks to pick. Impress Dressel was very impressive last week but I’m unsure Box 1 suits him. Wiradjuri Jack ran a big race in the Heats and I think he’ll be hardest to beat," Corrigan said.

“I think Ezra Man is well boxed in the Maiden final. He had a run on the track before the Heats which will only help and I think he’ll stay out of trouble and be very hard to beat,” he said.

“And the Stayers Cup is between Nangar Rocket and Respectability. Carroway is still on the way up and has shown some promise but these other two are at a different level. I think if Carroway gets in the way of Nangar Rocket and Respectability gets away, he could win. But he’d want a big lead because Nangar Rocket is a star.”

The Westlawn Finance Stayers Cup, raced over 660m and worth $12,000-to-the-winner, really does look a race in two, with 2022 Grafton Maiden Winner Nangar Rocket and Group 2 runner up Respectability almost certain to fight out the finish.

Respectability’s trainer, Mick Patterson, excited by the prospect of taking on one of the State’s best stayers for the second time in the space of a few weeks.

“Respectability is going as good as I can have him going but everyone knows how good Dennis’ dog is. It got beaten in the biggest staying race in the world [The 715] by 0.03 of a length and beat us last start so it’ll be tough, but I think my guy is going a bit better now,” Patterson said.

“We gave him a 700 in a Group 1 field and I know he led and capitulated late, but he’ll be better for that run. Dennis said to me last time they met (at Grafton on June 24 when Nangar Rocket saluted by 1.75 lengths), “that’s one of the best races I’ve watched” and I agreed. When two dogs like these two match motors it’s a great thing, so he’s ready to rock and roll,” he said.

Tyson Barton has a runner in each of the three features, but the Casino local expects his best chance to come in the Village Green Hotel Sprinters Cup with Phantom Jasper.

The race set to be held over 450m, with the winner taking home a cool $15,000.

“I give him a good chance from Box 7. He’ll need to be in front but if he can find his way to the lead and there’s a bit of trouble behind him, he could pinch it,” Barton said.

“I’m confident he can run top three on Wednesday at worst because he’s a good dog who basically trains himself and doesn’t get phased by much. He’s had a crack at a few different things lately, he had a go at The Thunderbolt, he got a last-minute call up for the Straight Of Origin, and now this so we’re excited he’s in some big races,” he said.

Barton believing the DAVE Irwin-prepared Impress Dressel would be hardest to beat after drawing Box 1 and qualifying fastest for the final.

Irwin more than happy to lob Barton’s bloke back into the mix.

“I think Phantom Jasper will be pretty hard to beat actually but there’s a few in there that can jump straight to the front and go whoosh. I hope my guy can win but if he doesn’t use the box, he’s in trouble,” Irwin said.

“He’s handled it in the past [7: 2-2-2 record from Box 1], so it just depends on what the others allow him to do. He’s got early pace but he’s not brilliant you know, but he’s a lovely old dog and he’s only been unplaced three times from 19 starts since I got him. We’ll need luck though because without luck, you only get experience,” he added.

The Fair Dinkum Builds @ CV Sheds Grafton Maiden is perhaps the hardest race on the card to assess with so many of the finalists having very little exposed form.

The race, worth $20,000-to-the-victor, has produced some talented animals in the last few years, with the likes of Zipping Maserati and the aforementioned Nangar Rocket both claiming the title.

Heat winner and second fastest qualifier, Ezra Man, will be hoping to emulate that pairs success and will jump from Box 8 for Brett May.

“He’s 100% and raring to go and I cant do much more because fitness wise, he’s spot on,” May said.

“I thought his Heat run was good [25.48] and when the lids came up, he looked like he wanted to go right a bit so maybe Box 8 will suit him in the final. I know it’s hard to say with a young dog with one start, but I’m not too concerned with the box,” he added.

“He’s got good pace once he jumps and he actually went 25.39 a few weeks ago at the track so if he gets a clean run down the outside, I think he could get down in the 25.2 area. If there’s any tightening on the inside between the rest of them, he should be in with a show.”

The 10-race Grafton card, featuring The Westlawn Finance Stayers Cup (Race 5), The Fair Dinkum Builds @ CV Sheds Grafton Maiden (Race 6),  and the Village Green Hotel Sprinters Cup (Race 7) kicks off at 7:21pm on Wednesday, July 12.