Thrilling finish predicted between two contenders

A full on drag race can be expected during the early rush for positions between a pair of high speed greyhounds in this evening's open class 520m event (Race 9).

Cawbourne Trixy and Bigtime Paddy both own slippery early pace and the ability to maintain that pace throughout over the 520m trip.

That pace saw both greyhounds being the Hatrick track representatives in the recent Amazing Chase match race series.

Adding further intrigue to this clash is both greyhounds having been allocated the inside two traps to hop away from.

Although the Matt Roberts-trained Cawbourne Trixy is credited with a 520m personal best 30.09s time, she qualified for the Amazing Chase final by delivering a slick 29.77s 520m solo trial clock.

She will jump from trap one here.

On the other paw, Bigtime Paddy posted his swift 29.79s best over 520m for his conditioner Lisa Cole in a race.

He will be loaded away into the two trap this evening.

There is another potential match race during the evening which comes in the Race 5 open class 305m sprint.

It involves the Cole-prepared pair of speed merchants Bigtime Crackem and Bigtime Opal.
Bigtime Crackem took the honours over his kennel-mate by a 1.25 length margin in last Friday's version of this dash when delivering his swift meet best 17.25s time.

He then went onto to deliver a sharp 21.41s 375m win at the Manawatu Raceway on Monday.

Bigtime Opal travelled north to the Manukau Stadium on Sunday, where she again finished second in the open class 318m dash up there.

Bigtime Crackem receives the draw advantage this evening from the two trap over Bigtime Opal, who is required to step away from trap six here.

Meanwhile, the Cole training machine is relentlessly rolling along in the new racing season.

Ten greyhounds from her kennels was placed on top of the Manawatu post race podium on Monday afternoon.

She completed the first month of the 2017-18 racing season having mentored 79 winners.

Maintaining that strike rate for the balance of this season sees her on target to train around a staggering, record breaking, potential 950 winners.

Cole won last season's national trainers' premiership with 713 winners.