The heat is on Adelaide's top greyhounds to restore some Australian pride in the $30,000 Sister City Challenge at Addington, Christchurch, tonight.
South Australia's best greyhounds were clean bowled in last year's inaugural challenge in Adelaide, when Canterbury's Token Token, Red Hot Zinger, and Go Jenny Go took the trifecta.
Gary Mellor, who with wife Marijane trains this year's top rated Adelaide greyhound Pristine Raider, says there will be some serious head scratching if the Adelaide contingent plays second fiddle again.
"The four that are here are the best we had in the heats," Mellor said.
"The series is a great concept. This is the first time that Australian-trained greyhounds are actually representing their country in New Zealand."
This year's Canterbury line-up looks just as competitive.
Blue Double Dee, Novice, Montiko Bale, and Aqua Fling lead the charge, with Token Token making the bench as first reserve.
The visitors have secured the inside draws with Brynmor Bale (one) and Pristine Raider (two). But Pristine Raider is probably better suited from wider out.
Mellor said Pristine Raider, last season's joint South Australian greyhound of the year, tended to run straight, but liked a bit of room on the corners.
"Pristine Raider is in the best form of his career," he said.
"He is just an ordinary beginner, but then accelerates and I just hope that its a clean run race and he gets a chance to show what he can do."
Mellor gave Pristine Raider a sneak preview of Addington's loam surface last Sunday, giving him a run over one lap (460m) from a moving start, clocking 24.40 seconds.
Pristine Raider's best time in Adelaide is 29.49secs over 515m - five metres short of tonight's Addington feature. He has an impressive strike rate, winning 27 of 53 starts for earnings of $A42,405, including success in last year's $A10,000-plus Gawler Cup.
Blue Double Dee, trained by co-owner Heather Cairns, is Canterbury's top qualifier, winning two heats. He is also the fastest of this year's Canterbury contingent, having won previously in 30.28secs for 520m.
Craig Roberts, New Zealand's champion trainer last season, is represented by Novice and Montiko Bale, who both have early speed. The latter is raced by Australian breeder Paul Wheeler, who also races Brynmor Bale from the kennels of Colin Wachtel.
= NZPA
Racing: Gloves to come off in greyhounds night on the town
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