Talented Trio Eye Rookie Rebel Berth

AVA Wine will join fellow Rookie Rebel hopefuls Incapacitated and Cawborne Footrot in a high-class Ladbrokes Anniversary Cup (630m) at Nowra on Sunday.

And while the $10,000 first prize is nothing to sneeze at there's far more at stake with connections eyeing an invitation to the Group 1 Rookie Rebel (600m) at The Meadows on February 13.

The final field for the $75,000-to-the-winner middle distance feature will be determined by the selection panel on Monday morning along with the line-ups for the Temlee (525m) and Zoom Top (725m).

27 greyhounds were initially invited for Rookie Rebel consideration but a number of injuries and other engagements is understood to have dramatically reduced that number.

The Justin King-trained Incapacited charges into Sunday's feature event with a group 3 victory, group 2 second and group 1 fifth within his past five appearances.

It's credentials that should safely see the Christmas Gift winner selected for the Rookie Rebel after connections decided to forego their Temlee invitation.

But for Ava Wine and Cawborne Footrot Sunday's event carries far more weight as the pair look to solidify their Rookie Rebel claims.

The Peter Lagogiane-trained Ava Wine roars into the race with two dazzling Richmond wins over the 618 metres, posting blinding times of 35.32 and 35.40.

A brother to TAB Million Dollar Chase winner Handsome Prince, Ava Wine downed Cawborne Footrot at Richmond last Friday, with the son of Cosmic Rumble out to turn the tables on Sunday.

Winner at 14 of his 25 starts, Cawborne Footrot has posted a near record 34.19 at Dapto for the 600 metres as well as a slick 34.21 Sandown Park victory over the 595 metres.

Trained by Andy Lord, Cawborne Footrot joins kennel mate Just Terms in Sunday's Nowra feature.

The grand bitch has been invited to defend her Group 1 Zoom Top (725m) crown following her epic victory in the race last year for trainer Anthony Azzopardi.