Race on to qualify for Group 1 feature

PODIUM PUPS: The top three from last Friday's feature race at Hatrick Raceway: Waikato owner/trainer Arch Lawrence won with Shandell and also claimed second place with Teemaria. Foxton owner/trainer Angela Turnwald was third with Extreme Twist. Action continues tonight with the NZ Futurity Series.PHOTO/MARK WOODS WANGANUI-DISTANCE-RACE-005

The Wellington Greyhound club hosts the Friday Hatrick greyhound meeting tonight and next Friday with the Upper Hutt Hire New Zealand Futurity series.

Four very competitive, even 520m heats this evening will decide the eight finalists who will return to contest next Friday's $21,000 Group 1 final.

The first two greyhounds in each heat qualify for the final.

Here's a look at some of the leading contenders from each heat.

Heat 1, Race 4: The promising Sweet Ruby June is fresh-up and favoured by drawing the ace-trap.

Pretty Chic travels south on the back of a solid pair of Manukau 527m wins.

Cawbourne Brick is a strong chaser who delivers competitive 520m races on this track.

Shadow Apache adds interest after winning six straight sprints since crossing the Tasman. He won over 520m when racing in New South Wales.

The strong-finishing Issey Bale is on track debut, while adding intrigue to this heat is the NZ debut for Parisian Magic.

She has been trialling well at Hatrick over recent Fridays.

Heat 2, Race 6: This heat features a mouth-watering match-up with the NZ Oaks winner Aeroplane Ritzy clashing with the NZ Derby winner Dyna Vikkers. The NZ Derby runner-up Cawbourne Matty has drawn the ace trap while his very smart kennelmate Cawbourne Crouch, who has opened as the series favourite, also commands respect.

The northern chaser Gold Class is no slouch and she can beat her lousy draw.

Heat 3, Race 8: Last Friday's 520m winner Spud Missile has the advantage of the ace trap.

Kissing Gwyneth has been delivering competitive recent 520m races on this track.

Kennelmate Smash Allegro was run down late by Spud Missile last Friday.

Spanish Fancy was a recent NZ Oaks finalist as was Opawa Rosie.

Heat 4, Race 10: The talented NZ Oaks finalist Winsome Jenny has drawn to strongly feature. Cawbourne Bright stormed home to win the C5 520m event last Friday and then strongly won over 645m here on Wednesday.

Auckland Cup finalist Fabio will step from trap six while on his outer will be the NZ Derby finalist Stylish Fancy.

The qualifying claims of $18 outsider Grader Jack from the eight trap also can't be dismissed.