It is a slightly low-key greyhound meeting at Wanganui's Hatrick Raceway this evening, mainly owing to the absence of the open class middle-distance chasers, with a number of them heading up to Manukau Stadium for Sunday's racing.
They are contesting the Manukau Cup (race 10, 5.12pm), which is the lead-in event for the forthcoming Auckland Cup Carnival.
Included in those trekking north, is the champ Little Mother, while the combatants in last Friday's $11,000 NZ Racing Series Wanganui final, Kazz Razz and Big Time Kinvara, will clash with her. Kazz Razz won that encounter by a rapidly-decreasing head.
As usual, tonight's TAB Quaddie kicks off on race 5 (6.15pm), which sees a competitive field of intermediate graded chasers matching their paws over 520 metres. Those holding sounder claims in it include Kango Klink, Emma Marie, Lindop and the recently downgraded Go Boof.
A greyhound who misses earning a stake in four consecutive races within the same grade, benefits by dropping back a class - which is known as downgrading. Generally, an immediate improvement in form occurs, especially for those dropping back from open class (C5) to C4.
The second Quaddie leg sees four sprinters escaping from the open class ranks - they are Bound By Pride, Molly Darling, Jennings and Another Drizzle. The box-draw for this dash suggests that Bound By Pride is the leading contender.
The third leg sees the northern visitor Blue Jean Alice being relegated out of open class, so she's required. Flag Waver grows an additional paw whenever she draws the one-trap and she will be racing from there tonight, and consider Sally Say So as the bolter.
The Quaddie is completed by Homebush Zita, Cawbourne Flick, Belfast Noddie and Cawbourne Smudge.
Reserve runner Another Lady gains a race from the six-trap and she is quite capable of adding spice to the Quaddie.