Regulars at Hatrick in cup picture

SIX greyhounds who regularly race at Hatrick on Friday evenings have qualified to race in the $80,000 Plasterboard Auckland Cup at Manukau Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Potentially a fair slice of the stake on offer can be won by them judging from their performances in the 527m heat and semifinal rounds of this Group 1 event.

Angvella, from the powerful Lisa Ahern kennels, has been installed as the cup favourite following his bold 30.23s semifinal win last Sunday.

He has drawn ideally in trap two, from where he will attempt to adopt the same pacemaking tactics he used in his semi win.

"If he gets the early lead, then he's capable of leading the field all the way," said Brendon Cole, Ahern's partner.

"It is so much easier in a field like this if you're out in front early."

Ahern has also qualified Check The Mail.

He is a strong-finishing chaser, but his lack of early pace is a concern, especially as he is required to leap from trap five.

Wanganui trainer Nathan Udy has done a great job in training his recent Aussie imported chaser Fabio throughout this series.

That included his all-the-way 30.32s semifinal win.

He has been provided with an ideal opportunity to swoop after being allocated the eight trap.

"There's a fair bit of speed inside him, so he will have to go around them. If there is trouble inside, then he can swoop on them," Udy said.

Matt Roberts has been training numerous Hatrick winners lately and he is hoping that he can transfer that form north with Cawbourne Crouch, who starts from the ace trap, after he delivered his 2.4-length semi third to Angvella.

"I'm pretty happy with his draw, but in saying that he is going to have to push up underneath Angvella. He has been improving with racing," said Roberts.

Angela Turnwald has been applying the finishing touches to Royal Runner and Coolabah Blue.

Drawing trap seven is likely to assist Royal Runner, who is renowned for her swooping style of racing from the wider traps as seen when she delivered her 2.25-length heat second behind Angvella.

Coolabah Blue has delivered a couple of second placings during this series and his claims cannot be lightly dismissed.

The two northern-trained finalists include the recent Wellington Cup (Hatrick) winner Thrilling Georga for Karen Walsh.

She has endured her share of traffic problems during the earlier rounds.

Pretty Chic completes the field for her trainer Denis Schofield. She must rediscover her renowned early pace from the traps if she's going to feature here.