KEY POINTS:
The $60,000 winner-take-all New Zealand Shootout always carries a decided edge to it, as it will be the connections of only one greyhound who will leave the Manukau Stadium tonight with all the lollies.
The connections of the other three chasers will have watched their $5000 entry fee
evaporate on the track in a tick over 30 seconds.
So who is likely to emerge as the victor following the 527m paw-wrestle that will unfold at 8.24pm?
Magic Spike has been marginally installed as the early favourite by the TAB bookies. The Steve Clark-trained chaser has come up with the all important ace draw. Throw into the mix his unbeaten race record on the Manukau track, coupled with his searing 30.04sec Waterloo Cup win, and he deservedly earns the favourite's mantle.
"He must jump and put himself right into the race from this trap. He's looking terrific and trialled real good here on Sunday," said Clark.
"This is his track here and he's proven on it - I'm looking forward to a great contest."
Canterbury trainers Dave and Jean Fahey made a virtual clean sweep of national feature greyhound races last season, including this race with Aussie Opawa.
They are lining up a lethal contender in the recent NZ Cup winner Rockabye Lad tonight. Against him is his first race at Auckland, but then again he solo trialled here in attractive style last week.
"His draw could have been better as he does like the rail. I had to do a bit of work on him after the cup, but I'm satisfied with the way he is now," said Dave Fahey.
"I'm still not overly sure how good he is, but I know he's a strong dog."
Adding additional intrigue to the race is the reinstatement of the Ben Craik-trained Riddle Man into the field following the scratching of Atlantic Bale.
This bloke warmed up for tonight with a strong win here on Sunday. That was his seventh win from nine races on his home track.
"He's as good as gold after Sunday's race, but to be realistic I consider he must be 100 per cent on his game and the others 90 per cent," says Craik.
The remaining contender is the super-slick Wanganui 520m track record holder Diamond Zac from the Brendon Cole kennels.
His winning claims lengthened when he was allocated the widest trap, as Cole explains.
"I have concerns about his draw as it won't be easy for him to cross those inside him from out there, even though we know we have a good dog.
"He needs to lead them around the first turn to be a realistic winning chance."