Defending Golden Shears Open shearing champion Rowland Smith remains on target for a sixth win in the event by qualifying in first place for today's semi-finals.
The TAB's hot favourite to win, Smith was a comfortable leader in last night's top 30 quarterfinal shootout in a near-packed War Memorial Stadium in Masterton, almost 1.5pts clear of next-man-in, 2006 champion and fellow Hawke's Bay shearer Dion King.
The first five of the 12 qualifiers have horn the Golden Shears Open final in the past and will be among the favourites to make the last step-up to tonight's six-man final of 20 sheep.
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Only two have not, including sixth-man-in and double lower grades champion Ringakaha Paewai, from Dannevirke, living in Gore, and brother of Six60 drummer Eli Paewai.