FOUR greyhounds that didn't make it through the heat rounds of the $80,000 Plasterboard Auckland Cup at the Manukau Stadium last Sunday return to racing in the main open class 520m event at Hatrick this evening.
They will line up in the DogZone C4/5 (Race 9), which is also the first leg of the late TAB Quaddie.
Greyhounds that contested those Auckland Cup heats were required to finish in a first-four placing to advance to this Sunday's semifinal rounds.
For various reasons, including being the victim of luckless racing passages, Fashion And Fame, Lonesome Nitro, Ritza Danny and Cawbourne Steve are not required in Auckland and will now race this evening, all four holding sound-looking stakes-earning claims.
Several of Hatrick's regular Friday evening attendees will make the return trip north this weekend.
Again, a first-four finish will be rewarded with a field position in the rich March 1 final.
Lisa Ahern has a pair of chasers remaining in contention.
Check The Mail impressed in the manner he backed up from his strong Hatrick 520m win last Friday.
He finished strongly along the rail for second in his heat. The concern for him on Sunday (Race 10) is leaping from trap six as he is generally sighted racing along the rail.
Kennelmate Angvella is in the first Cup semi (Race 9) after finishing third in his heat. Starting from trap five on Sunday is a concern from where he must jump straight on to the pace.
Angela Turnwald will be represented by four semifinalists. Included is the regular Hatrick chaser Royal Runner (Race 9) which impressed when delivering her pace-making 30.39s heat win.
Big Red Chev (Race 10) was huge when he nailed second in his heat after being carved up racing around the first turn. He rocketed home to stay in the series.
Coolabah Blue (Race 10) and Air Raid (Race 9) pressed on stoutly to claim to finish second and fourth in their heats.
Cawbourne Crouch (Race 9) was a nose second in last December's rich Spion Rose Cup final at Hatrick for trainer Matt Roberts.
He was gallant when leading the chase after Royal Runner, before he peaked late for his fourth placing in the heat.
Wanganui trainer Nathan Udy also has a contender still in the Cup. Fabio (Race 10) was likewise brave in clinching his field position for this Sunday after he was impeded during the early rush last week. He's a likely improver following his first look at the Auckland track.
The semifinals for the Railway Sprint is the other Group 1 event on Sunday, where several Hatrick Friday 305m sprinters remain in contention.
Included are the Ahern-prepared quartet of Allegro Class, Winning Is Easy, Exponential Lily and Allegro Chaser.
Turnwald will be returning north with Need To Chill and Big Jamesy.