Pretty Norris Collects A Pretty Handy Casino Blue Paws Bonus
Pretty Norris continued his outstanding form to take out the Blue Paws Super Series final last Friday. On the strength of three wins from his last four outings, including his heat win, Pretty Norris was always the TAB favourite, and on box rise came out running.
Outpacing his rivals in the run into the first turn, he grabbed the front and the race was all but over. On the line he won by five lengths and clocked 27.59.
The Blue Paws breeding initiative from Greyhound Racing NSW ensured the winner got a $2,500 bonus, and with the club matching that money for first prize, it wasn’t a bad day out for Colleen Northfield and her trainer son Charlie.
Casino Cup winner Bundanoon put up an outstanding performance to win the Charcoal Inn stake. She had never won over the 411 metre trip, but looked really well graded in a 4th and 5th grade. Beaten for early pace, she settled down mid field and really got “warmed up” as they got to the 620 metre boxed. Railing superbly, she motored home to grab the prize in a handy 23.45.
The Neil Falls trained Shideda Shiraz broke her maiden status in the St Mary’s High School maiden. She wasn’t the best to begin, but railed through to trail the pace to the side of the track where she snuck through. Racing away, she won by 4 3/4 lengths in 28.29.
Lismore conditioner Trevor Thompson kept up his good trot landing a double with Ruth Rose Hi and Halie Rose Hi. Ruth, presumably named after mum, kept grinding away along the paint and got up to win by 3 3/4 lengths in 23.81, while Halie ran the best over the 484 metres (27.51), in leading throughout.
King Can Do was another to score from box one, when he was never headed and hung on by a head in 23.62 for Rob Ensby, whilst the well supported Spirited Girl came home stoutly to win the Jim Hartley Distance stake in 36.42 for Richie Vrckoff.
Senorita Trick won the Tweed to Casino final when she jumped in front and denied all attempts to run her down in 23.46, and Who Says scored a similar win clocking 28.09 for Alan Lang. With the favourite out of a place, the trifecta paid over $10K. Locals could not remember a bigger dividend.
In the remaining races, Cool Five won for John Pay in 27.88; Talahatchi made it five in a row running 23.35, and Promises Pretty made it a double for Gerrad Bowe when she ran 36.13 in the second of the distance races.
Casino will hold another 12 event TAB card this Friday.