Five interesting-looking 520m heats have been carded to commence the 2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup carnival at the Addington Raceway on Thursday evening. It’s anticipated that a finish in the first five placings is required to advance through to the 7 November semi-final rounds with four semis to be contested.

Pictured: Last year’s NZ Cup winner Nature’s Gent is returning to defend his title

Here’s a run down on all of the heat contenders with their respective TAB Futures Field quotes – Win option 1992, Top Three option 1993.

2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup - heat 1, race 7, 6.33pm
1 Know Flare $101 & $26: He’s a C3 graded chaser who has occupied the rear group in his latest 520m assignments. Did win his only race from this trap, however others hold sounder claims in this heat

2 Quistis Bale $101 & $26: She surprisingly didn’t kick on at the business end in her Monday C4 457m outing. She has raced generously here before, however she must push forward onto the early pace.

3 Shallay Pallay $16 & $4.50: He’s contesting this heat despite being exempted in having to do so owing to his Thursday 30.45s NZ Cup prelude win. He has regained 520m winning form at precisely the right time.

4 Bigtime Lily $61 & $16: She owns early pace which is an asset that this NZ Oaks finalist at this venue must use. She’s returning here after her latest Manawatu 457m outings.

5 Kiacatoo Fever $81 & $21: She overcame a first turn check to press on for her 5.5 length C4 Thursday third. She’s poorly drawn and is giving away class to others being C4 assessed.

6 Go Brat $61 & $16: He was impeded going into the first turn C4 520m Thursday, then he went down to Ascot Park on Tuesday where he finished solidly after copping a check on the turn. He’s another C4 graded chaser here.

7 Djay Dynamix $41 & $11: He was strong, very strong when he rushed home late for his 25.96s Monday Manawatu 457m win. His lack of early pace is a concern here, however he is expected to finish solidly.

8 Dyna Monty $31 & $7.50: He kicked on soundly for his 2.75 length Thursday fourth behind Shallay Pallay after he was hindered by another runner when rounding the first turn. It was from this trap that he exited from then.

Reserve – 9 Zipping Archie $51 & $13: He’s giving away a fair slice of class being a C2 graded chaser. He was last sighted racing at The Meadows (Melbourne) over 660m on April 21. His only official action since arriving here was delivering an August 3 17.88s 295m trial.

   
2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup - heat 1 contenders includes (from left): Quistis Bale, Shallay Pallay, Bigtime Lily

2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup - heat 2, race 8, 7.04pm
1 Smash Calling $151 & $36: This is a huge step up in class for this bloke following on from his October 18 C2/3 520m second where he actually ran a 520m personal best time (30.38s). His lack of wins from this trap is also a concern here.

2 Pinny Mack $5 & $1.90: His connections has abandoned a trip to contest a Melbourne Cup heat to have a crack at this event. He was the potent Group 1 Waterloo Cup 527m winner and he since gone onto deliver three strong Cambridge 457m wins. The only worry for him is being on track debut here.

3 Puzzle Tin $41 & $11: He’s a recent open class graduate who struck early traffic problems over 457m at Ascot Park on Tuesday. He’s capable delivering a sound 520m effort back here.

4 Crotty $151 & $36: He was shuffled back to the rear group on the first turn when he contested his NZ Cup prelude. His prior pace making 30.44s 520m win came in a C3 event.

5 Viktoria Vikkers $151 & $36: She cops a rough draw for her return to her former home track. She has been contesting C3 Hatrick 520m and Manawatu 457m races which says she faces a tough task in this line up here.

6 Eyrewell Turbo $151 & $36: He upgraded to C4 520m racing on Thursday where he was shunted out wide when rounding the first turn from where he was held in the midfield pack afterwards.

7 Blazin’ Aubrey $41 & $11: She’s arriving here for her track debut appearance after delivering her pair of tidy 29.99s and 30.20s Hatrick Friday 520m wins. She produced those wins from traps 6 and 8 therefore drawing out here isn’t likely to overly faze her.

8 Dyna Dave $6 & $2: This fella started the recent Addington 520m track record breaking spree with his July 5 29.75s clock. He has since gone quicker when he delivered a 29.72s gallop. He is better suited to the inside traps, although he must be respected on his track achievements here.

Reserve – 9 Zipping Archie $51 & $13: He’s giving away a fair slice of class being a C2 graded chaser. He was last sighted racing at The Meadows (Melbourne) over 660m on April 21. His only official action since arriving here was delivering an August 3 17.88s 295m trial.

  
2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup - heat 2 contenders includes (from left): Pinny Mack; Blazin’ Aubrey; Dyna Dave

2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup - heat 3, race 9, 7.22pm
1 Edge Of Town $101 & $26: He dropped back to Forbury Park 310m sprinting for his lead in outing to this series where he was denied racing room going into the turn. His prior race saw him delivering a stylish Ascot Park C4/5 26.01s 457m win.

2 Bigtime Vanessa $101 & $26: She was badly checked in her Monday Manawatu 457m assignment. Her prior 457m form there was strong including her quick 25.68s previous 457m win there. The worry here is her tendency of racing out wider on the track as she makes her track debut here.

3 Cawbourne Krusty $31 & $7.50: Her last September 28 Hatrick 520m race saw her finishing solidly for her third after she was hindered when leaving the traps. She is a 520m Group 1 winner who has raced credibly around this circuit before including her NZ Oaks second and her NZ St Leger win here.

4 Bago Bye Bye $7 & $2.40: He really ignited this series when he scorched to his recent 29.59s 520m track record win here two weeks ago. He then produced a more “sedate” 30.34s Thursday C3 520m win with his time being a reflection on some early jostling he was caught up in. His race is likely to come down to what type of start he makes here.

5 Malaga Molly $101 & $26: This girl owns early pace and it is that asset that she must use when exiting from this trap. She found herself tangled up in early traffic when jumping from trap one in her NZ Cup prelude last Thursday.

6 Dyna Walter $81 & $21: He was the victim of lousy racing luck when he was carved up and fell rounding the first turn in last week’s NZ Cup prelude. Prior to that he was held in midfield traffic in the previous NZ Cup prelude. He must push forward onto the early pace here.

7 Goldstar Ashton $126 & $31: He warmed up for this assignment by delivering his 8.7 length Thursday 645m third. His previous outing saw him racing in the rear group throughout in a C4 520m event.

8 Mr. Matt $41 & $11: This guy owns a decent amount of potential, however he is stepping considerably up in class in this heat. He ran a 10.25 length third to Bago Bye Bye when he shattered the 520m track record here when he was running out his C2 nominations.

Reserve – 9 Zipping Archie $51 & $13: He’s giving away a fair slice of class being a C2 graded chaser. He was last sighted racing at The Meadows (Melbourne) over 660m on April 21. His only official action since arriving here was delivering an August 3 17.88s 295m trial.

  
2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup - heat 3 contenders includes (from left): Bigtime Vanessa, Cawbourne Krusty, Bago Bye Bye

2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup - heat 4, race 10, 7.42pm
1 Nature’s Gent $21 & $6: He’s the defending NZ Cup title who has drawn perfectly to commence his Cup defence here. He pressed on solidly for his distant third in the Manukau 527m NZ Cup prelude. Take a close look at his outstanding stats from this trap.

2 Blazin’ Carter $21 & $6: Until two races ago this Waterloo Cup runner up had to be rated as a serious NZ Cup contender. He still is, however his last pair of Hatrick 520m races hasn’t exactly been as good as his earlier 520m tidy efforts at that venue. He adds the intrigue factor for this heat being on track debut.

3 Must Be Rusty $81 & $21: He boldly led the initial chase after the pace setting Shallay Pallay in last Thursday’s NZ Cup prelude. He peaked on his gallop when approaching the home turn to finish in a midfield position. He must jump straight onto the early pace here.

4 Panel Beater $81 & $21: He was bold when he gamely chased after the classy Avenger Bale when he wound up 8.5 lengths astern of him over Thursday’s 645m trip. He had previously finished up in the midfield in a C2/3 520m event here.

5 Barge Bale $126 & $31: He has been contesting recent 645m races around here, which includes his bold last start pace making 38.47s win over that trip. Three races ago he was held in the rear group in a C3/4 520m event here.

6 Egomaniacal: $21 & $6: He had his first taste of distance racing two weeks ago when he led over 645m, until being run down late over the concluding stages. He is proven at this level as seen when he delivered his Waterloo Cup 527m third.

7 Classy Witch $101 & $26: She isn’t the quickest away from the traps which is a worry here for this C4 graded chaser. She does own a strong finish, therefore the question is can she stay handy enough to the pace so she can effectively deliver that finish?

8 Cawbourne Liz $101 & $26: She’s a recent open class graduate who was held in the midfield pack throughout over 520m at Hatrick on Friday. She does have early pace and she must hop away real smarty for her track debut from out here.

Reserve – 9 Zipping Archie $51 & $13: He’s giving away a fair slice of class being a C2 graded chaser. He was last sighted racing at The Meadows (Melbourne) over 660m on April 21. His only official action since arriving here was delivering an August 3 17.88s 295m trial.

  
2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup - heat 4 contenders includes (from left): Blazin’ Carter, Panel Beater, Egomaniacal

2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup - heat 5, race 11, 8.10pm
1 Don’t Knocka Gee $31 & $7.50: She travels south after her three potent Manawatu 660m wins which includes being just 0.01 of a second outside the track record on Monday. She does own a smart 29.86s Hatrick 520m clock. She has drawn to feature here.

2 David’s Legacy $101 & $26: He was impeded by a fallen runner when going into the first turn and he lost all claims owing to that in Thursday’s NZ Cup prelude. He has proven to be a competitive 520m chaser around here and the improved draw he receives here is likely to assist him.

3 Carltonian $18 & $5: He’s a promising recently imported chaser who wound up 4.25 lengths behind Bago Bye Bye in his 520m track record outing around here. He then went onto prove too strong when he delivered his bold recent 32.82s Forbury Park C1/2 545m win. Obviously this is a tougher task here.

4 Opawa Rooster $41 & $11: He is more than capable of being able to feature in this heat, as he is a Group 2 520m winner on this track. He has been mixing his recent race distances as seen in his last start traffic impeded 645m outing.

5 Dirk Bale $12 & $2.80: Pace, plenty of early pace is what this current Auckland Cup title owns. He use that asset two races ago to deliver his 30.20s 520m win, then he did likewise when he yielded late to his litter brother Avenger Bale in last week’s NZ Cup prelude.

6 Idol Tom $51 & $13: This bloke has been an open class graded chaser for his last 23 races – he hasn’t won any of them. However he has placed in 14 of them including in three 520m races at Group 1 level. Expect him to be sighted doing his best work at the business end here.

7 Bigtime Wendle $81 & $21: She was pressing forward going into the turn when she was denied racing room 457m Monday. Drawing out wide is likely to assist her for her track outing here.

8 Know Shame $81 & $21: She hasn’t experienced racing in a C5 event yet, so this will be her first taste of top level racing after she endured a luckless C4 520m outing around here last Thursday. Drawing out here is a concern for this girl here.

Reserve – 9 Zipping Archie $51 & $13: He’s giving away a fair slice of class being a C2 graded chaser. He was last sighted racing at The Meadows (Melbourne) over 660m on April 21. His only official action since arriving here was delivering an August 3 17.88s 295m trial.

  
2018 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Greyhound Cup - heat 5 contenders includes (from left): Don’t Knocka Gee, Dirk Bale, Idol Tom

Pawnote: The Futures quotes for the NZ Cup prelude heat exempted greyhounds who are eligible to join this series for the semi finals (Wednesday, November 7) are: Dyna Elwyn $6 & $2; Avenger Bale $14 & $4; Ask King Jeff $18 & $5; Bigtime Levi $51 & $13; Kiwi Gal $101 & $26 and Cameo Syd $101 & $26.

By Peter Fenemor