Roberts Youngster Primed For NZ Nationals Showing

New Zealand kicks off "Nationals" night with the running of the Kiwi legs of the Australian National Championships at Addington on Thursday.

The $20,000 events wraps-up the Christchurch hosted meeting with local conditioner Craig Roberts holding sound looking claims in both events.

Roberts mentored the now retired Dyna Dave into third in last year's Perth hosted Group 1 National Sprint Final when NZ debuted in the series.

He will load away the in form Leonard Bale into the five-trap at 6.24pm (AEST) for his 520m assignment on Thursday.

He has stylishly won his last four races at the venue including his smart 29.98s last start victory.

Adding to the intrigue factor is the presence of the Lisa Cole prepared Bigtime Cooper.

He is a very, very slippery greyhound who owns blinding early pace which is an asset he can use to his advantage from his kind two-trap draw.

However, the 520m group 1 winner is making his track debut – a tricky task on the spacious Addington circuit. He is also stepping up to 520m racing after a string of quickly run 457m wins following an extended injury period.

"It's quite astounding the blinding early pace Cooper is showing," Brendon Cole said.

"It was a serious injury (fracture) he has returned from. He's a very good greyhound although he must jump straight onto the arm," added Brendon Cole who also suggested that kennelmates Big Time Maple and Big Time Lantao also must race on-the-pace.

Roberts' son Matt will be rapt that his railing bitch She's For Us has been allocated the ace-trap.

Uthor Bale is also currently flying for Craig Roberts with his resounding recent Addington 645m wins including his 35.57s track record breaking gallop two starts ago. 

The question hanging over him is, can he run out a strong 732m at his first attempt at an extreme race distance in the NZ Distance final?

The northern Karen Walsh prepared Thrilling Nina makes her Addington track debut on-the-back of her potent last start Hatrick 755m win. She freewheeled to that 45.29s victory then.

Three 520m heats decided the field for the $27,465 The Fitz Sports Bar Canterbury Futurity final (race 9) at group 2 level.

Ozzie flew through his heat assignment in 30.01s and he can serve up a repeat pace-making dose from his kind two-trap- draw for his strike-rate trainer Daniel Lane.

He is already an Addington 520m group 2 winner and he went under by the barest possible margin to Leonard Bale two races ago.

Dave and Jean Fahey are renowned group race winning trainers, having mentored in excess of 100 black type winners. They provide five finalists (plus both reserves).

The trap-1 drawn Viking Mafia spearheads their assault on this event. 

Lane is chasing a rare double as he'll load away his sharp short course sprinter Bolty into the two-trap as a red hot favourite for the $10,000 Active Electrical Canterbury Futurity Sprint (race 10).

The Addington 295m track record holder (16.69s) effortlessly skipped through his heat dash is a quick 16.93s.

Looming as Bolty's leading challenger is his 17.21s heat winning kennelmate Seve, who races from the adjacent three-trap.