'Red and black' raid on feature

NUMEROUS up-and-coming greyhounds will contest three 520m heats of the New Zealand Racing Series Graduation event at Hatrick this evening.

A concerted attack has been launched from Canterbury trainers, with all heats containing chasers from the "red and black" region.

The first two to finish, plus the fastest two of the third placegetters will return for next Friday's $8000 final.

The Wanganui club has carded the three heats as legs of the TAB Triple Trio (races 6-8), which carries a $10,000 guarantee.

To strike the Triple Trio punters have to correctly select the first three placegetters in each of the three heats.

The first heat sees the downgrading Opawa Michelle race for Robin Wales and Josh Lane with the promising Gary Cleeve-trained pair of Know Decision and Know Answer looming as leading Canterbury contenders.

Spirit Run from Palmerston North's Bill Hodgson kennels was a strong Manawatu 457m winner on Monday, while the locally-prepared Kerry Lane has sufficient early pace to be in the mix.

Opawa Shackley, from the powerful Dave and Jean Fahey Canterbury kennels, dominates the second heat.

She strongly won last week's Addington $7500 520m feature and from the inside trap tonight can maintain her current impressive form line.

Others to consider in this heat include the Lisa Ahern-trained Allegro Max, who is benefiting from an easing in class.

Cleeve also has Know Security and Know Hero engaged in this heat, while the leading local qualifying hope is Bit Coin for Andy Duganzich.

Talented Canterbury greyhounds bookend the third heat.

Know Value (Cleeve) will leave from the inside trap, while Opawa Val (Faheys') will leap from the outside box.

Ahern holds sound qualifying claims with Another Habit, while To The Bank produced an eye-catching 520m effort for his Wairarapa trainer Penny Denbee last Friday.

The John McInerney kennels are represented by last week's pacemaking 520m winner Botany Liz.