NSW premier stayer Cawbourne Magic sets pace for 2023 Group 1 Association Cup
New South Wales' leading trainers had no luck in the running of the Golden Easter Egg semi finals last night with upset results dominating, but that wasn't the case with the three heats of the 2023 Group 1 Association Cup heats.
Leading NSW trainers Andy Lord and John Finn will start four greyhounds between them in the $75,000-to-the-winner staying race on Easter Saturday.
The Lord kennel took the training honours winning the first two heats with Bandit Jane and Cawbourne Magic.
Wentworth Park's premier stayer Cawbourne Magic was having his first start since finishing last in the Group 1 Fanta Bale Stayers at The Meadows in February, but was still able to carve out best of the night figures of 41.61 to qualify fastest for the final.
The son of Fernando Bale and Cawbourne Ruby sat back relaxed in fourth and fifth position early before unleashing with 200m to go swooping around the tiring leaders.
Ritza Piper battled away to finish second, while Silver Luck snared third to give Lord his second final qualifier from the heat.
2023 Group 1 Association Cup Heat 2 – Cawbourne Magic (41.61) T: Andy Lord
Cawbourne Magic has twice been Group 1 placed in the 2022 Bold Trease at Sandown and the 2023 Zoom Top at The Meadows, but has so far recorded just the one group win taking out the 2022 Christmas Cheer invitation race at Wentworth Park.
The Stuart Dickinson-owned greyhound has 41 starts for 21 wins and 19 minor placings and has won $272,720 in prizemoney.
Bandit Jane, who was making her staying debut; was able to lead from box four and hold out Zipping Kansas before going on to lead all the way to win the opening heat for Lord in 41.90.
Victorian visitor Riptide Ruslie held down second for the entire trip to qualify for Saturday's final.
2023 Group 1 Association Cup Heat 1 – Bandit Jane (41.90) T: Andy Lord
Bandit Jane, by Fernando Bale out of Magic Earner; had demonstrated solid middle distance form at Dapto and Dubbo prior to last night's win.
The greyhound has had 31 starts for 13 wins and eight minor placings collecting $83,680 in the process.
She will be searching for her first group race win next week with her only other black-type appearance being when she finished last in the 2022 Group 3 Ladies Bracelet at Wentworth Park.
The final Association Cup heat was won by the Michael Hardman-trained Zipping Whiskey who beat Victorian trained Korda and John Finn's Zipping Orlando with all three greyhounds qualifying for the final.
Zipping Whiskey made a sustained run from near last to swoop around the field and win in 41.96.
2023 Group 1 Association Cup Heat 3 – Zipping Whiskey (41.96) T: Michael Hardman
Zipping Whiskey, by SH Avatar out of Zipping Abby; has had 22 starts for 6 wins and 6 placings with the majority of those over the staying distances, but will be contesting his first group race final next week.
2023 Group 1 Association Cup
2023 Association Cup Final Box Draw & FieldWentworth Park720mGroup 1$75,000 to-the-winnerSaturday April 8 2023
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1 Ritza Piper
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2 Zipping Whiskey
T: Michael HardmanF: 8241Career: 22: 6-4-2Prizemoney: $39,930
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3 Bandit Jane
T: Andy LordF: 1511/span>Career: 31: 13-4-4Prizemoney: $83,680
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4 Riptide Ruslie
T: Russell EdwardsF: 1182Career: 39: 6-8-7Prizemoney: $64,646
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5 Korda
T: Jeff BrittonF: 1122Career: 45: 10-15-7Prizemoney: $132,415
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6 Zipping Orlando
T: John FinnF: 3313Career: 24: 12-2-4Prizemoney: $109,475
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7 Cawbourne Magic
T: Andy LordF: 3381Career: 48: 21-10-9Prizemoney: $272,770
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8 Silver Luck
T: Andy LordF: 5373Career: 37: 6-16-7Prizemoney: $59,010
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9 Zipping Kansas
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10 Punter's Bandit
T: Andy LordF: 3534Career: 35: 12-8-5Prizemoney: $134,705
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