Strong showing for Ahern's dogs at Hatrick

Hatrick Raceway PHOTO/FILE

GROUP 1 racing returns to Hatrick this evening where two heats for the New Zealand Breeders' Stakes will decide the finalists for next Friday's $26,000 final.

Smash Allegro has been sighted setting up the pace in his latest assignments on this track for his trainer Lisa Ahern. He must adopt those same tactics in the first heat (Race 6) as there are a couple of handy visiting chasers engaged here.

The Bruce Dann, Canterbury-prepared Opawa Rosie has drawn handily in trap two and she certainly is capable of delivering a bold run here after having produced a recent strong 520m effort.

Spud Missile raced in a Group 1 final at this venue last month for his northern trainer Steve Clark and he holds solid claims of securing a finals berth from this heat.

Another northerner is Let's Go Lettie from the Hayley Mullane kennels. She stylishly won a lower grade Manukau 527m event on Sunday and she is peaking nicely for this assignment at the right time.

Another Ahern-trained chaser is Premier Division and his qualifying claims from the ace trap cannot be lightly dismissed. The second heat (Race 7) will see the talented Kilchurn embark on the road for a deserved Group 1 win.

Injury and illness has denied this bloke a black type victory in the past.

He returns here on the back of his strong 30.04s in the $11,000 NZRS Advanced final and it would appear that only shocking luck will prevent this Glen Hodgson-prepared chaser from returning for the final.

Willis has caught the eye when producing strong finishing efforts on this track for his southern trainer Ray Adcock.

Included in those efforts was his 4.25 length feature second to Kilchurn.

Forget about his traffic impeded Southland 457m miss on Tuesday.

Kissing Gwyneth finally secures an inside draw for Ahern from where she is capable of pushing forward during the early rush.

She can qualify by using that healthy tactic.

Drawing out in the other end of the traps is the Robin Wales and Josh Lane-prepared Opawa Diesel Again it is a similar scenario for him in being required to break quickly at trap rise.

Allegro Max adds plenty of interest in this heat for Ahern as he is resuming from a three-month spell in doing so.

He appeals as a type who can deliver a bold fresh-up race.