Greyhounds: Over $27,000 for the Wanganui Cup tonight

A potential match race looms in this evening's $27,465 Palamountains Nutrition Wanganui Cup (Race 10).

The Group 1 520m event highlights a quality card of racing, which also sees the stayers contesting their Wanganui Stayers final (Race 9) over 755m at Group 2 level.

Bigtime Paddy and Nature's Gent took out the overall honours in the recent Amazing Chase 520m match race series.

This evening the classy pair will go paw-to-paw from the inside two traps, after both won heats for the Wanganui Cup last Friday.

The Angela Turnwald-prepared Nature's Gent thundered through his heat assignment in 29.91s.

He delivered that win from the one trap and he's looking to protect his five race unbeaten record from that trap this evening.

"We respect Paddy, however Nature's Gent certainly has drawn to take the race to him," said Turnwald's partner Paul Freeman.

Bigtime Paddy had to overcome early traffic when he delivered his 30.11s heat win, with his time being more of a reflection on how the race run.

"Paddy has the ability to begin quickly and seize the rail.

"He'll be tough to pull back if he leads into the first turn," said trainer Lisa Cole's husband Brendon.

It was the Cole-trained Bigtime Wendle who won the third heat in 30.10s when she adopted pace making tactics.

Others who can snare a minor potion of the stake in this final includes Cole trained pair of chasers Bigtime Twinkle and Ask King Jeff, while Idol Tom is expected to finish strongly for Marcie Flipp.

Two heats over the extreme 755m trip decided the $15,825 Wanganui Stayers final field.
Dusty Gambler maintained his three race unbeaten Hatrick race record when he cruised to his 44.96s win for his trainer Karen Walsh.

He is expected to take up an early forward position from trap three and he'll be real tough to head off if he does so.

"Dusty pleased me in his heat in the way he maintained a strong gallop. I expect further improvement from him on Friday," said Walsh.

Mija Sydney settled in an early rear group position, from where he used the rail to improve.

The greyhound extended strongly during the run home to nail his 45.22s heat win for Turnwald.

He will exit from trap four this evening.

"He needs to find the rail and once he does he will run on strongly. We're happy with him going into Friday," said Freeman.