Winsome Opawa, winner of six of his seven starts over 545m, may have the edge in the $11,000 Middle Distance Final at the Otago greyhound meeting at Forbury Park today.
Winsome Opawa and kennelmate Opawa Secret, with Dave and Jean Fahey, both won heats of the series over 545m at Forbury Park last Tuesday.
Opawa Secret returned the fastest time of 32.47 compared with 32.52 for Winsome Opawa.
Speed Ticket could be the best of the three Fahey runners in the 770m Distance Final, also of $11,000. The other Fahey runners are Sofia's Girl and Nina's Girl.
Awesome Bender, winner of the Dunedin Cup on May 3 and a 755m race at Wanganui three days later, could be hard to beat in race 9. He is also trained by the Faheys.
• Corka Dream, who has not raced since October, 2009, has been entered for the Hororata Cup at Addington on Friday night.
Corka Dream, now 7, transferred to the Ashburton stable of John Vincent several months ago.
Vincent now has a share in the ownership of the gelding with Ian Dobson.
Corka Dream won 11 races, including the 2009 Marlborough Winter Cup when trained by Robert Dunn.
Temudgin, a smart 3yr-old early in the season, is now trained by David and Catherine Butt. Temudgin won at Washdyke (first up) and Addington from three starts for Gerard O'Reilly before the Christian Cullen colt went amiss.
Datmymulligan, who per-formed well last winter, is due to resume racing for trainer Karen O'Connor.
Datmymulligan won first up at Ashburton in June and he was twice successful at Addington. He was spelled in November.
• The 2yr-old Master Lavros lowered a 27-year-old record when he won in 3.31.5 for 2600m at Oamaru on Sunday.
His time was a second inside the New Zealand record set by Wedgewood at Addington in July, 1984. Wedgewood was owned and trained by ace horseman Maurice Holmes and driven by Colin De Filippi.
• Living The Dream (2yr-old pacing filly) and King Kenny (3yr-old trotter) have been withdrawn from the Harness Jewels. The defections allow Elusive Chick and Loki Brogden into the fields.
Living The Dream is remaining in Australia. She won at Menangle in 1.57.4 for a mile last month for trainers Mark Purdon and Grant Payne.
The stable has 16 horses qualified for the HJ. It has yet to be decided if Contador will travel from Auckland for the 3yr-old trotter division. He won well there last Friday.
• Derek Nolan was suspended from Thursday until the following Thursday inclusive for careless riding at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Nolan, riding Oberon, shifted out and checked Calcutta.
