The New Zealand TAB bookmakers will be on track at Addington tonight for the Christchurch Greyhound Racing Club's premier meeting.
Over $100,000 in prizemoney is up for grabs - for the first time at a greyhound meeting in New Zealand - with the group one $60,000 Southern Trust New Zealand Cup
(520m) holding centre stage.
The top sprinters will chase a $16,500 pot in the George Calvert Cleaners Galaxy Sprint (295m).
The bookies will offer odds on all races on the programme, giving punters a chance to capitalise if anything slips under the guard of the bookies.
Fashion Thief, raced by major harness owner Kypros Kotzikas from the Balcairn kennels of Jean and Dave Fahey, should be suited by the outside eight box.
The No Intent dog has enough early speed to lead from wide out, and has won four and been placed four times from the pink trap.
The Faheys also have a strong hand with Slender Maree, which starts from box two. She won her heat well in 30.28sec.
Likely favourite, the John McInerney-trained Cawbourne Pat, will need to step from the inside trap.
Cawbourne Pat was very impressive leading and winning the fastest of the three qualifiers last week in 30.09sec.
The Rapid Journey dog starts has been unplaced in three starts from the inside trap, which is a slight concern.
Catch Me Soon, last year's cup winner, raced gingerly early last week and finished well for second.
The way he found the line suggests he is peaking at the right time for trainer, Ray Adcock.
Spotted Hand gives Adcock a big say in the Galaxy, but the white dog could be vulnerable from the inside trap.
He likes room to move but has won six from 13 from box one.
- NZPA
