It's straight into Group 1 racing for the greyhound code during the first week of the new season at Hatrick this evening.
Three ultra-even 520m heats for the Mi Beau Collection Wanganui Cup will decide the finalists for next Friday's $25,000 decider.
The first heat (Race 2) contains the TAB Futures market favourite Opawa Shackley ($4.50).
She travels north from the potent Dave and Jean Fahey's Canterbury-based kennels after her demolition job when crushing her rivals in the Group 2 South Island Champs.
Opawa Shackley owns superb Hatrick track form which she can further enhance in this heat.
She does have some talented opposition to overcome in her heat, including Thrilling Boris ($7.50) who is an exciting up and coming chaser for Karen Walsh.
The Jason Dunn-prepared Dirk The Jerk ($16) is a perennial Group race finalist who has drawn ideally in the ace-trap.
Lisa Ahern-trained kennelmates Sheer Miss ($31) and Flying Merkel ($16) both own early pace which they can use to their advantage from trap rise.
Know Decision ($10) is a powerful chaser, who has drawn Trap 8 to use his outright strength for his conditioner Gary Cleeve.
Timmy Trumpet ($5) arrives here with six consecutive wins beside his name for Walsh.
He has drawn to maintain that streak from Trap 1 in the second heat (Race 3).
Skuzi ($16) is a Group 1 winner on this track for Ahern and he can advance through to next Friday's final after stepping from Trap 3.
Matt Roberts trained last year's Wanganui Cup winner and he sets about securing a repeat cup win with Cawbourne Cooks ($21) here.
Expect a competitive heat effort by him.
Others to consider in this heat includes Opawa O'Grady ($21) and Majestic Action ($41) for the Fahey's while the Denis Schofield-prepared Yap's Me Mum ($31) travels south following her stylish Manukau last start 527m win.
Onto the final heat (Race 4) where Roberts will be looking to Cawbourne Brick ($12) to use his known strength to claim a qualifying position.
Berridale Lad ($8.50) owns slick early pace which he can use to taunt his rivals after stepping from the ace-trap for his Canterbury trainer Norm Wanhalla.
Angela Turnwald is normally sighted saluting the judge with greyhounds from her kennels at Hatrick each week and she will be looking to her Group 1 winning chaser Miss Eldora ($51) to provide her with that opportunity.
Joe Joe ($26) for James Black and Alysha Steele is a competitive chaser around this circuit, while the Schofield trained dual Group 1 winner Nangar Star ($31) commands obvious respect.
The Fahey's have the proven chaser Kava Blu ($12) engaged in this heat. This noted railer must step away smartly from the eight trap here to book his return for next Friday.