Many of the usual high grade Hatrick Friday attendees are missing from action this evening as they head north to the Manukau Stadium to chase after final field positions for the $80,000 Plaster Board Auckland Cup (527m) or the $25,000 Railway Sprint (318m).
There has been four heats drawn for both Group 1 events, meaning a heat finish in the first two placings is required to gain a race start in the following Sunday's pair of rich finals.
The kennels of the nation's leading trainer Lisa Cole nee Ahern is represented by a number of contenders in both series.
Absinthe Minded will contest the first Auckland Cup heat (Race 7) after his strong 527m second on the last occasion he raced at Manukau.
Timma Turtle (Race 8) caught the eye with his stylish 527m track debut second last Sunday, while the promising Mark's Boy (Race 9) would have benefited from his track debut outing last week.