If you drive out to Steve Clark's Maramarua Forest greyhound training base, you'll run the risk of coming under friendly fire from a number of elderly greyhounds.
That's owing to numerous retired greyhounds who are enjoying life in the country air. Included amongst the pensioners are Clark's three previous WaterlooCup winners.
Tomorrow at the Manukau Stadium, Clark will be looking to his current kennel star Pinny Mack to join his mates' names that are engraved on New Zealand's oldest racing trophy, the Waterloo Cup which was first contested for as a coursing event in 1878.
Pinny Mack will jump from the tricky five trap as the warm favourite for the group one $35,000 527m event (race 10). He earned his favouritism when delivering his slick 30.26s heat win.
"He's great - super. If he jumps like he did in his heat, then yes, he has to be tough to catch as he has serious mid-race pace and I'll be confident of Pinny winning the Waterloo Cup," advised Clark.
"We're looking for him to get around that first turn on the pace and from there he's strong enough to feature for the rest of the trip," said his handler Paul Freeman.
Lisa Cole mentored Bigtime Paddy to victory in last year's Waterloo Cup and she has Blazin' Carter and Bigtime Lily representing her tomorrow.
"Both of them are set for big races, although both have to jump onto the pace," stated Brendon Cole.
It is extremely rare to see any Dave and Jean Fahey trained group one contenders being ranked as outsiders at this level which is the case for both of their finalists Egomaniacal and Too The Nail.
"They are both racing for luck," commented Dave Fahey.
