Tirau greyhound trainer Karen Walsh faces the ominous task of preventing a Canterbury victory in tonight's running of the Southern Trust New Zealand Cup at the Addington Raceway.
She will parade the only North Island trained chaser in the race - the hugely talented Thrilling Louie - tothe 520 metre traps in the $75,000 race. He has the advantage of drawing the ace-trap.
"He's really good considering he got smashed into the rail during his heat," said Walsh. "That was a sensational run from him [to qualify]. I'm hoping for him to push up on to the early pace. If he does he can finish off the race really strongly - he won't let me down."
However, Canterbury trainer John McInerney is poised to revenge his defeat last time when he produced Rubble to finish second in a race that saw the 520 metre track record broken.
He will box away the warm-favourite Another Whisky who demolished his opposition by an ever increasing nine lengths in a slick 30.15 seconds in last week's Cup heats. He has an added advantage after having drawn ideally in box-two.
"He's come through that race alright and as long as he begins okay, he can win the race. I'll be confident if he can grab the early lead. No greyhound has passed him since he arrived in this country," said kennel spokesman Jonathon McInerney about the Australian-owned chaser.
Also in the lineup for New Zealand's richest greyhound race is Another Whisky's litter brother Whisky Lodge Lad who will depart from the traps immediately outside.
The potent Balcairn based Dave and Jean Fahey kennels also have three runners racing for them. Included is the current Addington 520m track record holder Winsome Gem, who hasn't drawn all that well in four.
"She has to jump. If she does she'll be right in this. Winsome Show is another who hasn't drawn [six] the best, while Winsome Blitz is more of a railer," said Dave Fahey.
