The Barron’s Supplies South Island Champs final on Friday evening possibly could have a lot more riding on it than just a Group 2 win for the victor.

Victorian trainer Gerry O’Keeffe says the closer to the rail Ring The Bell draws the better he is. Ouch – the star Aussie stayer will jump away from trap two in Friday’s $25,000 Christchurch Casino NZ Stayers Cup decider.

The Amazing Chase, sponsored by Formpro, is locked away in the starting traps.

The Opawa Racing team has strongly encompassed that package and that translated into Opawa Brad effortlessly winning Sunday’s $15,000 NZ Sires’ Produce Stakes at Group 2 level.

The NZ Sires’ Produce Stakes is all about recognising the New Zealand based sires. This annual Group 2 527m event is restricted to the progeny of locally sired greyhounds.

The quickest of the three 520m heat times for the $15,000 final at Group 2 level was posted by the Ray Adcock trained Tom Tee.

Enthralling – that best describes the two sets of Addington Group race heats for the Christchurch Casino NZ Stayers Cup over the 732m.

The high power staying action continues at the Addington Raceway on Thursday evening where two heats over the 732m journey will decide the finalists for next Friday’s $25,000 Christchurch Casino NZ Stayers Cup at Group 1 level.

“I guess you can call this win decent compensation for Flo after missing the Silver Collar,” a relieved Karen Walsh said after training Thrilling Flo to an effortless victory in Friday’s NZ Breeders’ Stakes.

It’s time for the annual TAB licence hosted by the Ashburton Club to be conducted which occurs at the Addington Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

The $40,000 New Zealand Breeders’ Stakes is all about the Kiwi-bred Restricted Aged greyhounds.

“For me, this win is bigger than either the Sandown Cup or the Australian National Distance winners I trained,” commented Victorian conditioner Gerry O’Keeffe following the effortless victory he mentored his charge Ring The Bell to in Sunday’s $80,000 Plasterboard Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar.

For northern greyhound commentator Peter Earley on Sunday it was his 45th Plasterboard Duke of Edinburgh Silver Collar race delivery – surely an Australasian record for the most consecutive calls of a Group 1 event.

“I just love New Zealand. Im so proud of him. To come across here and win your biggest staying race is immensely satisfying,” said Melbourne trainer Gerry O'Keefe after he produced his powerful staying greyhound Ring The Bell to crush his kiwi rivals by an emphatic 11.75 lengths in the $80,000 Plasterboard Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday.

The anticipated three kennel clash between Lisa Cole, Karen Walsh plus Dave and Jean Fahey for the NZ Breeders’ Stakes final materialised when the finalists for Friday’s $40,000 final was decided following three 520m heats held at Hatrick last Friday.

Both Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar 779m heats resulted in strong pace-making victories.

The Lisa Cole mentored Allegro Gun showed his rivals a clean set of hind paws after bouncing smartly away from the two trap. It was a set of paws that his rivals viewed throughout in the North Island Challenge Stakes (457m) event.

Wow! The promising Lisa Cole trained Bigtime Bell had established herself as a powerful finishing greyhound. The finish she delivered to annex her Auckland Oaks title at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday was simply astounding.

They are chasing after Breeders bonus dollars in the deep south on Tuesday afternoon which sees the Southland Club hosting their $8.000 NZRS Graduation final over 457m.

The Queen’s Birthday Holiday Group race chasing action continues at the Manawatu Raceway on Monday afternoon where the $15,000 North Island Challenge Stakes final will be decided.

This is the greyhound race where the winner earns the right to momentarily wear the solid silver collar donated by Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh. Momentarily, because the value of the collar is such that it’s stored in the Auckland club’s bank vault for the other 364 days each year.