Tonight's race a 'prelude' for series final

Peter Fenemor | Friday, February 3, 2012 6:58

Tonight's Keenan Concrete open class 520m race (race 8, 7.35pm) is very nearly a prelude to next Friday's $11,000 New Zealand Racing Series (NZRS) final at the Hatrick Raceway.

All NZRS races are restricted to New Zealand-bred greyhounds, with half of the stake money won by the place-getters being allocated to the breeders of the greyhounds involved. Four of the chasers involved in tonight's clash will contest next week's 520m final, while another two will be racing at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday.

The very promising Lisa Ahern youngster Bigtime Kinvara leaps from the seven-trap tonight, from where he is likely to receive a nice drag into the first turn behind kennelmate Darlyne Ottey. From there he is likely to try to dash clear down the back-straight.

However last Friday's gallant Opawa Racing Wellington Cup runner-up Freddy John for Alan and Janet Hall certainly won't be presenting the likely race favourite with an easy passage to victory, especially after gaining an improved draw tonight.

Kazz Razz and Visionary Man are two others racing in tonight's 'prelude' who own sufficient early pace to make things interesting from trap-rise.

And the Karen Walsh, Tirau trained pair of littermates in Thrilling Ransom (he disappointed in the Wellington Cup) and Thrilling Boss will warm up for next week by contesting a 527m event in Auckland on Sunday.

The Kiwi bred stayers will also be in action next Friday when they will be chasing after breeders' bonus payments in their $11,000 NZRS final for staying greyhounds over 755m.

Featuring amongst the acceptances is the Walsh trained littermates Thrilling Brat and Thrilling Quest.

Both of these stayers preformed with real distinction in Sydney late last year.

Since then Thrilling Brat has demolished staying fields over 650m at Cambridge, while Thrilling Quest delivered a couple of searing intermediate grade victories, notable for very swift times.