NSW star Ritza Lenny, hot Victorian duo Weekend Binge and Invictus Rapid and star local Worm Burner are among this Thursday’s star-studded Group 1 Adelaide Cup (515m) heats.
Recent Group race winners Dundee Osprey and Pantera Nera also feature in the seven heats of the $75,000-to-the-winner series at Angle Park, one of the biggest events of the year in Australian greyhound racing.
Invictus Rapid (box two) looks the top pick in the first heat, although he will need to bounce back from finishing eighth in Saturday night’s Group 2 Shepparton Cup.
The Jason Thompson-trained greyhound, a runner-up in both the Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic and Group 2 Healesville Cup in recent months, has the formidable record of 16 wins and 18 minor placings from 46 starts.
Pantera Nera, who won last month’s Group 2 Black Top and has scored 16 wins form his last 21 starts, jumps from box eight in the second heat.
The Gavin Burke-trained greyhound finished second in last Thursday night’s Group 1 Dapto Megastar behind winner Let It Develop and has scored four winds and five minor placings wearing the pink rug.
Ritza Lenny, from the gun western Sydney kennel of Mark Gatt, jumps from box seven in the third heat.
The son of Barcia Bale and Lagoon Lowanna has won 14 times and placed seven times from 27 starts and was a placegetter in the Megastar, as well as a recent winner of the Group 2 Bob Payne Spring Sprint.
This year’s Group 1 Harrison-Dawson and Speed Star winner Dundee Osprey looks handily drawn jumping from box one in the fifth heat.
The Geoff Scott-Smith-trained greyhound has won three of his last five starts and triumphed on his last start from this box at The Meadows in July.
Weekend Binge (box four) ran a scorching 29.47 on his way to the recent Group 3 SA Derby title at Angle Park and looks the best in heat six.
Worm Burner looks the best of the local hopes and jumps from box seven in the seventh and final heat.
The Cameron Butcher-trained greyhound ran a brilliant 29.17 winning the recent Group 1 National Sprint Championship and has won 13 of his last 15 starts.
He ran 29.53 on his last start from box seven at Angle Park and a repeat would make him hard to beat.
Others to watch include Shima Song (box seven, heat four) and Blazin’ Bomber (box eight, heat six).
The seven heat winners and fastest placegetter progress to next Thursday’s final.
For Angle Park Thursday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
