Racing: Classy bitches picked to dispute finish of Manukau feature

A titanic paw-wrestle between two classy bitches looks likely in tonight's $75,000 AGRC Supporters Auckland Cup at Manukau.

Little Mother and Tricky Shelley have been in exceptional form at Manukau Stadium lately.

Both have been delivering 527m race times considerably faster than other races for the open-class chasers.

Both have also been adopting similar racing tactics in bounding away from the traps, leading through the all-important first-turn, putting in powerful mid-race sectionals before easing away for convincing wins.

That factor was graphically illustrated during last Thursday night's cup qualifying rounds with the Brendon Cole-trained Little Mother posting 30.12 seconds, while Tricky Shelley, for trainer Ray Adcock, was just a half-length slower when recording 30.15 seconds.

By comparison, the next fastest winning heat time was returned by another Adcock-trained chaser in Shadow Boxer, who won his heat in 30.49 seconds, or just a tick under six-lengths slower.

Both greyhounds will jump from their preferred wide-traps after having drawn beside each other. Little Mother won her heat from the six and has drawn there for the final.

Tricky Shelley was successful from the eight in her heat and she moves in one spot tonight.

Noted slow-beginning greyhounds have drawn either side of this pair.

Cole has been rewriting the greyhound training record book this season, having last Friday night blasted his way through the 300-win barrier for the current term.

"She's spot on for the final and I'm hoping she can repeat last week's effort. I reckon there's just a head in ability between the pair of them, so I'm pleased Little Mother has drawn inside Ray's girl," said Cole.

"Yes, I agree the cup appears to have a two-dog look about it with both bitches being very, very equal. Shelley has been doing everything right in her Auckland races [unbeaten in three-visits] and has come through last week's gallop up there very pleasingly. I'm looking forward to a great race," said Adcock.

And what about the prospects for the northern-trained greyhounds?

"It's a tough ask for him, but he's race hardened and is really racing at the top of his game at the moment. If he jumps quickly, he can get some of the stake," said Ben Craik, trainer of Hailey's Agent, who gains a start after the scratching of heat winner Genista Rocket.

Tirau owner-trainer Gary Harding has the talented lightly raced bitch Ava Appeal leaving from the four-trap. She was brave when finishing a distant second behind Little Mother in her heat after resuming from an injury enforced spell.

"She has come through her heat run marvellously and I believe she will be much more competitive in the final," said Harding.

While Cole is seeking his first win at the elite level, he is looking for his slick sprinter and New Zealand Greyhound of the Year Hifi Allegro to provide him with back-to-back victories in the night's other feature, the Auckland Co-op Taxis Railway Sprint.