KEY POINTS:
Although the Canterbury trained greyhound Another Whisky goes into tonight's Pacific Sheet & Coil Auckland Cup as a very warm order, he will have to do everything right if he is to annex the thick end of the $40,000 stake on offer at Manukau Stadium.
The challengers are
queuing up thick and fast, with virtually every other runner in the field laying claim to at least being able to secure a portion of the stake - such is the even nature of the contestants engaged.
Races like the group one Auckland Cup can be hard, uncompromising affairs. One just has to look at last year's edition which saw the chances of a few leading contenders being terminated in the inevitable jostling that tends to occur in a race like this.
"Another Whisky holds a good chance - but I guess it comes down to what other dogs do around him. We are the ones who have to travel and you have to respect the locals," said trainer John McInerney, who has also qualified Roman Castle for the 527m contest.
It will pay to disregard his heat time (30.96s) as aside from having just his fourth race since arriving in Auckland, he was also having his first look at the Manukau track last week.
"He's a good little dog who went a fair first-up race up there. I believe he's as strong as anything else in the field and has pleased us since," said McInerney.
Denis Schofield trained the Auckland Cup trifecta in last year's race. He has since retired from the "hands on" role and has passed on the collars and leads to son David.
Kalden Kaos and Top Fancy were long-shot winners of their heats last Thursday, while the brilliant but moody Cheeky Bonnie completes the David Schofield three-prong attack this year.
Schofield revealed his thoughts on how he felt the kennel's defence of the Auckland Cup could unravel.
"Top Fancy is a greyhound who will improve out of sight for the final. I believe he can be the smokey in the field if he lands on the early pace.
"Kalden Kaos has the box speed to put himself into the race early. I'm very happy with him having drawn out in eight - a trap he has never drawn since he arrived in this country.
"Cheeky Bonnie is quite capable of doing anything - it just depends on her attitude on the day. She has proven she has the speed and strength to feature here."
When it comes to group racing the Canterbury training partnership of Dave and Jean Fahey has forged a fine record. On this occasion they have two runners engaged, who obviously require respect. Winsome Daisy, the recent NZ Oaks winner, has seen her chances enhanced appreciably after having drawn the ace trap.
Fanta Claws has had a busy, but successful week. After setting the time standard from last Thursday night's heats (30.55s) he stepped out at the same venue to deliver an empathic, all-the-way-victory in the Thornton Auctions Auckland Derby on Sunday.
Thrilling Bonny heads into the race holding the best 527m time over her opposition. She notched a superb 30.10s (track record 30.07s) when returning after a 10-week spell two races ago. The concern is she lacks the race fitness most of her competitors possess, although she's a very clean-winded bitch.
"If she can secure a clear run into the first turn and put herself into a handy position she has the strength to hold them out. She will prove hard to run down," said her 21 year-old trainer Nathan Udy from Tirau.
