It sure is shaping up to be an enthralling final for the $27,465 New Zealand Futurity decider at the Hatrick Raceway next Friday evening. Four compelling 520m heats brought together a star studded field for the Group 1 event.

Pictured: Bigtime Paddy who was the quickest of the New Zealand Futurity heat winners

Lisa Cole will head into the event with four finalists. Her kennels also will provide both reserves. Craig Roberts qualified his sharp pair of litter brothers, while his son Matt, along with Marcie Flipp are also qualified contenders.

Here’s a look back at those four heats.

It took the Craig-Roberts-trained race favourite Dirk Bale 519m to get past a very gallant Bigtime Wendle from the Lisa Cole kennels after she set up the pace from the two trap. It was brave effort by her as she was stalked by Dirk Bale throughout.

After 30.19s of hard out chasing action it only in the final bound when Dirk Bale placed his nose into the right place for the race finish photo when he scored by the barest possible margin. Bigtime Zack boldly chased the pace setting pair throughout with him finishing up another two lengths behind. His time was quick enough for him to be granted the second reserve position for Cole.

The Lisa Cole contender in the second heat made no mistake when she produced her high flying greyhound Bigtime Paddy to really sizzle through his heat assignment in a swift 29.93s. It was a dominant display by the dual Group 1 winner, landing his heat win by a 3.5 length margin.

It was a solid effort that Cawbourne Krusty produced to claim second. The Matt-Roberts-guided, recent New Zealand Oaks runner-up qualified for her second Group 1 final in just her tenth career race day outing. She held a comfortable 5.5 length gap over the Craig Roberts trained third placed runner Dyna Dave.

It was back to the Craig Roberts verses Lisa Cole kennel clash in the third heat. After a brief paw wrestle it was Avenger Bale who asserted his authority over his heat rivals, which saw him scampering away for his easy 6.5 length heat win, clocking 30.02s for Roberts.

Bigtime Lily was bold in the manner that she chased after him for Lisa Cole and she was rewarded with her final field position when finishing second. She shaded her new kennelmate Ask King Jeff by three quarters of a length at the judge.

It was Lisa Cole again the final heat which saw Bigtime Tears delivering her freewheeling, pace-making 30.20s heat win. The Marcie Flipp trained Idol Tom overcame a degree of early jostling to complete his heat assignment just three quarters of a length behind. Bigtime Craig booked the first possie on the reserves bench when he finished just a half length further back in third.

  
The other three New Zealand Futurity heat winners (from left): Dirk Bale; Avenger Bale; Bigtime Tears

By Peter Fenemor