Racing: The battle of the three trainers

Three powerful kennels dominate this evening's running of the $40,000 NZ Breeders' Stakes at Group 1 level at Hatrick, providing the entire drawn field between them.

They also represent the three national regions which greyhound racing is split into in this country.

From the central region is the nation's current leading conditioner Lisa Cole (628 winners this season) who provides three finalists, plus the first reserve.

Her recent Palmerston North 457m Group 2 winner Allegro Gun was the quickest of the three 520m heat winners from last Friday.

Allegro Gun dictated the pace throughout for his 30.11s win and drawing trap five tonight says he must adopt that same tactic.

"He has had a solid preparation for this final and we expect him to produce a similar race in the final," said the trainer's husband Brendon Cole.

"He has pulled up real good."

Spare Some Time stylishly won the recent Group 1 NZ Futurity at this venue and he holds sound winning claims in the final after taking out his heat in 30.15s.

"He is in career best form, being right in the groove at the moment. He has drawn (seven) ideally for his racing style," confirmed Cole.

Bigtime Flyer is developing into a more than handy greyhound and he showed that when chasing Allegro Gun all the way in his heat for his three length second.

"He is improving all the time," said Cole.

"His race will be decided what he does from the traps. We are happy with the way he has developed in his recent races."

Canterbury trainers Dave and Jean Fahey mentored Opawa Shackley to victory in this feature last year. They are also returning with three finalists.

The draw says that their strongest winning prospect appears to be Opawa Brad, who will jump from trap one.

"He overcame a first turn to check to qualify. He needed a good draw which he has and he is all set to produce a strong race," said Dave Fahey.

"Albie Punter will go down to the rail (from trap three).

"Opawa Racer is racing with a lot more confidence now. Her race will be decided at the jump," added Fahey.

Karen Walsh is travelling down from the northern region with her pair of finalists Thrilling Flo and Thrilling Surge.

"Thrilling Surge has drawn completely the wrong side of the track [trap eight]. He will go down looking for the rail," said Walsh about her 30.15s heat winner.

"I expect Thrilling Flo to be improved following her heat.

"She is a winning chance providing she gets around the first turn okay," she said about her strong finishing stayer.