It is an evening for the elite greyhounds at the Hatrick Raceway with 11 of the 12 races on this evening's card involving the open class chasers.
Three heats will be held for the 520m greyhounds in the Punter of the Year Cup, which sees the leading pace getters to finish returning for next Friday's $10,000 final.
This race has replaced the Wanganui Cup which has now been elevated to Group 1 status for next season.
Accordingly, the Wanganui Cup has now been transferred to the new season, with the $21,000 event being set down to be decided on Friday, August 16.
Tonight's racing is a prelude for next Friday's action, which incorporates the Wanganui Punter of the Year challenge.
The first seven races on this evening's card involve the open class sprinters as they contest 305m heats for the New Zealand Racing Series Sprint, which rolls into an $8000 final next week.
Here's a quick run-down on the Punter of the Year Cup heats with the first being decided in Race 8, 7.33pm, which promises to be a clash of the northern trained greyhounds.
Riley's Mate is a smart chaser who has drawn to sniff out the early race lead here. He will prove tough to run down by adopting that smart tactic.
Just Jordana has created a huge impression during her short career to date. Included was her super Auckland 527m victory last Sunday.
Fancy Tip won this season's Auckland Cup and he will need to hop away quickly from the eight trap here if he is going to receive the opportunity of being able to contest another cup final.
Heat 2, at 8.03pm, is where the NZ Oaks winner Fancy Jill will be looking to advance from the kind two trap draw she has been allocated here.
Ate To Much was a strong all-the-way 520m winner the last time he was presented on this track and he is capable of doing likewise tonight.
Thrilling Blitz processes slick early pace and he can prove hard to reel back in by using his pace-making tactics here.
Heat 3, 8.35pm, will see the talented Speed Legend being paraded as a warm favourite.
He has volumes of pace and strength as we saw when he came from a hopeless position on the turn to snatch his potent Palmerston North 457m win on Monday.
The talented Piggy Back draws the widest trap here and he must come away from that trap humming so he can take a forward early position during the early rush.
Pink Sock is capable of delivering a sharp 520m effort, while adding a degree of intrigue to this heat is the presence of Hypotenial.
He has been boldly contesting short course recent 305m sprints on this track. Drawing the one trap here has enhanced his prospects.