Caption: The Warren Nicholls-trained Kia Kaha was an impressive heat winner in The Golden Chase Sprint (431m) at Ipswich last week. (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos).
Ipswich Club’s Weekly Wrap with MIKE HILL
THE Warren Nicholls-trained sprinter Kia Kaha appears to be very well named.
According to Wikipedia, Kia Kaha is a Maori phrase meaning ‘stay strong’, and Nicholls is hoping the smart sprinter can continue to do just that in coming weeks.
He has mapped out a heavy schedule for the talented chaser.
But first the daughter of Zipping Garth and Daniel’s Loss has to negotiate The Golden Chase Sprint semi-finals at Ipswich on Friday.
Kia Kaha was an impressive all-the-way heat winner (24.82s) last week and Nicholls believes that if she can reproduce her trademark fast start she should be heading into next week’s $14,000-to-the-winner final.
“She faces a pretty similar field to that of last week,” the trainer said.
“With Hudson Bay out, Greg Stella’s runner (Rylee’s River in box 3) looks the hardest to beat.
“The dog can run time.”
Nicholls said the scratching of Hudson Bay (box 1), another heat winner from last week, had made things a little easier for his chaser (again stepping from box five).
Kia Kaha and Rylee’s River (24.93s) are the only runners in their semi-final to have broken 25s for the journey.
“And the box draw shouldn’t be a major worry for her,” the trainer said.
“She goes hard to the left when she comes out and she seems to do well out of the five.”
She’s had to.
This is the ninth time Kia Kaha has drawn the yellow rug and so far her record from the box stands at six wins and a second.
The black sprinter, with a racing weight touching 27kgs, has been very strong and a model of consistency since beginning her career with a first-up victory over 331m at Albion Park in mid-July.
Since then she has been unplaced just twice in 21 starts with stats revealing nine wins, 10 placings and earnings just over $53,400.
In fact, she hasn’t missed a place in her past 11 outings with four wins (over three different distances; 331m, 520m and 431m), five seconds and two thirds.
And smack bang in the middle of her current run of success she was an impressive runner-up to WA’s Daddy’s Girl in the Group 2 $112,500 Bogie Leigh Futurity (520m) at Albion Park in early January.
“She’s a sound, strong dog; we have been very lucky with her,” said Nicholls.
“She just loves competing.
“And she doesn’t mind the rough and tough of racing.
“She seems to come out of most scrimmages going forward; it doesn’t put her off balance.
“She’s just a very competitive chaser.”
Nicholls said he believes he can win a decent race with Kia Kaha, hopefully, in a Group final.
He said one of her main attributes was her box speed.
“Her early split makes her very competitive in her races,” the Churchable-based trainer said.
Kia Kaha’s best opening section for the 431m is 13.32s, clocked last week, and of her semi-final rivals only Rylee’s River (13.25s) and the Steve Scott-prepared first reserve Farmor Iconic (13.28s), now jumping from box one with the scratching of Hudson Bay, have gone faster.
Nicholls said after the Sprint he would aim Kia Kaha at the $45,000 Ipswich Rising Stars (formerly Young Guns) over 520m (heats March 16, final March 23) and the Group 3R $146,000 The Golden Chase over 520m (heats March 30, semi-finals April 6, final April 13), also at Ipswich.
Meanwhile, Jemma Daley goes into the Sprint semi-finals with four talented representatives.
The Park Ridge conditioner has early favourites Johnny Koala (semi-final 3) and Hara’s Stellar (semi-final 4) – both impressive heat winners – as well as Hara’s Buddy and Hara’s Honda in the opening two semis, races five and six.
Johnny Koala (Magic Sprite-Rapid State), chasing a hat-trick of wins, looks the one to beat in his semi after running a slick 24.94s last week.
It followed an impressive 24.84s at his previous outing at the track.
The black sprinter was very strong jumping from box six in his heat and will certainly appreciate the two alley this week.
CLUB patrons are reminded that Ipswich will stage its awards ceremony for the 2023 season next Saturday night, March 9.
It’s all part of the club’s big night highlighted by the final of the $22,000 The Golden Chase Sprint over 431m.
Races will be named in honour of the Greyhound of the Year (Galloping Black), Male Trainer (Peter O’Reilly), Female Trainer (Pauline Byers) and Leading Owner (Board Racing).
A club spokesperson said the awards would be presented to the four winners after the running of each race carrying their name.
*****
MARCH is a big month for racing at Ipswich.
The club is already deeply absorbed in the rich Sprint series with semi-finals today (Friday) and the $14,000-to-the-winner next Saturday (March 9).
The $7700 Past Members feature (431m) follows with heats on March 15 and the final on March 23, the same night as the $45,000 Rising Stars Final over 520m (heats March 16).
Then it’s on to the $145,750 The Golden Chase (520m) with heats on March 30, followed by semi-finals April 6 and the $100,000-to-the-winner final on April 13.
OFFICIALS would like to advise patrons of the club’s big Easter Saturday night celebrations on March 30.
“Easter Bunny will be handing out treats to the kids, a jumping castle will be in operation and our very popular face painting artist will be on hand producing some wonderful creations,” a club official said.
“It is also the last Saturday of the month, meaning it’s Steak Night with our ever-popular cuts of beef high on the menu.
“It could be advisable to reserve a table.”
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OWNER and trainers are reminded of the club’s Thursday night trials next week.
Ipswich, which conducts trials on Monday afternoons and Wednesday mornings, also schedules trials for the first Thursday of each month.
A club spokesperson said finish-on-lure-only trials would be held after the last race next Thursday (approx 4.45pm) with a $10 cost per dog.
