Feature to accompany NZ awards

There is no greyhound racing at Hatrick this evening due to the Greyhound Racing NZ annual awards and AGM function being held in Hamilton this weekend.

And yes, the normal Wanganui Friday evening meeting will return next week.

The weekend commences with a race meeting at the Cambridge Racewaytonight where a new feature race, instigated by GRNZ, will be contested.

The Trainers' Invitation Stakes carries a $10,000 stake and rotates around the centres that host the annual awards weekend.

Race entry is by invitation only and is extended to the leading trainers from the previous season's trainer premiership tables.

The trainers involved are asked to nominate a greyhound from their kennel.

Tonight's inaugural race (Race 10, 8.41pm) will be dominated by the all conquering Piggy Back, who has already secured himself three group races this season, including the group 1 Wanganui Cup.

The highlight during tomorrow night's awards will be the announcement of the 2012-13 NZ Greyhound of the Year.

Three classy greyhounds have been selected by the national seven-person selection panel as finalists for the code's ultimate award.

Clone Your Own, Pretty Good and Thrilling Brat are the selected trio, with the last two named having performed with distinction at Hatrick during last season.

The ultra-consistent Pretty Good was the stylish Wellington Cup winner here, while he also delivered a gallant third in the Spion Rose Cup. Both races were at group 1 level.

Despite a limited injury-restricted season, champion stayer Thrilling Brat went on a group 1-winning spree, claiming three staying races at the elite level. Included in that list was victory in the Wanganui Distance.