NZ qualifiers throw doubt over Angle Park Nationals final fields (2024)

The two New Zealand winners of the NZ National Sprint Championship final and the NZ National Distance Championship final have thrown the final makeup of the 2024 Group 1 National Championship finals at Angle Park into chaos.

On Thursday, August 8, 2024, Caterpie Bale won the NZ National Sprint Championship final at Addington, which allows automatic entry to the 2024 Group 1 National Championship final at Angle Park on Saturday, August 24.

2024 NZ National Sprint Championship Final – Caterpie Bale (30.78) T: Craig Roberts

Similarly, Know Defence won the NZ National Distance Championship final and is an automatic entry into the 2024 Group 1 National Championship final at Angle Park.

2024 NZ National Distance Championship Final – Know Defence (44.29) T: Garry Cleeve

But neither Kiwi greyhound is guaranteed to navigate the potential travel ban minefield required to be able to take their place in the finals.

In 2023, Opawa Louise took advantage of the NZ qualifier before finishing fifth in the Group 1 final at The Meadows.

NZ did not provide a sprinter for the 2023 Sprint Championship final.

In 2022, Opawa Superstar was allocated a box in the Group 1 National Sprint Championship final at Wentworth Park but did not take its place.

In the same year, Know Keeper for NZ trainer Garry Cleeve finished fourth in the National Distance Championship final.

The National Championships were not run in 2021 or 2020 due to COVID-19.

In 2024, it would seem travel arrangements are no longer straight forward with the international transfer of greyhounds now a political football and woke airline brands jumping on the latest fad.

Earlier this year, Air New Zealand airfreight had adopted a policy of not handling racing or breeding greyhounds.

Their policy says clearly, “Greyhounds used for racing or breeding purposes are prohibited on Air New Zealand services.”

The two NZ greyhounds hoping to take part in this year's National Championships are therefore left to navigate a difficult pathway to get to Australia, relying on special approval with Qantas to get them in the air.

If the two Kiwi greyhounds can organise flights in time to get to Adelaide for their respective Group 1 finals, they will cause the second-ranked wildcards to not just be relegated to reserve but to be totally omitted from the fields.

After the state qualifying finals around Australia held on Thursday, August 8, Flying Zulu was the second ranked wildcard greyhound eyeing a place in the National Sprint Championship Angle Park final.

In the National Distance Championship final, Drill Sergeant is currently the second highest ranked wildcard that might be called on for the Angle Park Group 1 final.

Should either or both NZ greyhounds be drawn into the Angle Park finals and not be able to make the trip, the SA provided reserves will take their place in the final.

Both Caterpie Bale's trainer, Craig Roberts, and Know Defence's trainer, Garry Cleeve, are keen to contest the Angle Park final.

Roberts said, “Yes, I'm keen to go.

“However, she needs to get there in time for her to trial at Angle Park.

“Hopefully, it is possible for us to fly via Sydney from Christchurch.”

Cleeve, who contested the 2022 National Distance Championship with Know Keeper, said, “We now have to work out the travel arrangements in making the decision of going over during the 10 day window that is available to us.

“Or if Know Defence stays there longer for other races.

“It looks even harder this time (than 2022).

“At this stage, we don't know if we can fly from Christchurch or have to drive to Auckland first.”

Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) is assisting the Kiwi trainers with their travel arrangements and dealing with Qantas approvals.

Hopefully commonsense prevails and the final fields are not determined by Greyhound Clubs Australia (GCA) and host regulator Greyhound Racing South Australia (GRSA) until the NZ greyhound travel plans are finally determined.

Why GCA, knowing this situation would arise, did not organise prior approval for the two NZ National Champions remains a mystery.

The worst possible outcome for all involved would be for Caterpie Bale and Know Defence to be drawn into the final fields but then not be able to travel, denying Flying Zulu and Drill Sergeant their chance and denying greyhound fans the best possible fields.

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