Group 1 National Futurity winner Striker Light (pictured), last year’s champion Mitcharlie Mia and hot newcomer Marj Petal are among the headliners of the Group 2 Ladbrokes Richmond Oaks (535m) heats.
In-form White Sox Ethics and exciting NSW Northern Rivers talent Two Jay also look strong contenders in the four heats of the $40,000-to-the-winner series, which were rained off last Friday night and which are open to female greyhounds only.
Striker Light (box three) returns to NSW in the first heat after winning January’s Futurity for gun Victorian trainer Brett Bravo.
The daughter of Kc And All and Pretty Fancy has run solidly in elite company since the Futurity victory and with some good runs over the 525m at The Meadows to her name, should be able to cope with the distance.
Fellow hit Victorian Up Hill Jill, a winner of the Group 2 Laurels Classic and a runner-up in the Futurity behind Striker Light, jumps from box eight in this heat and looks a massive danger for the series.
The David Geall-trained greyhound will not be helped by the wide draw here but has run soundly over the 525m at Traralgon recently and has been primed for this series.
Ebby Chance (box eight) fell on her last start - a 535m run at Richmond last month – but looks the one to beat in heat two.
The Michael Eberand-trained greyhound won her previous two starts at Richmond, has seven wins from 13 starts overall and has won once and placed once in three previous starts wearing the pink rug.
Former NSW star and brilliant 2016 Oaks winner Mitcharlie Mia (box one) has not had the best of luck since heading south to Victoria late last year but looks a big chance in heat three.
She has amassed the strong record of 25 wins and 18 minor placings from 61 starts and does her best work from the rails draw, with six victories from nine starts wearing the red rug.
Marj Petal has scored four wins and three minor placings from eight starts so far and looks the top pick in heat three.
The Darryl Wilson owned and trained greyhound clocked a smart 30.48 winning over this trip two weeks ago and has also run 30.55 over the circuit.
White Sox Ethics (box five) returned to winning ways with a 30.59 triumph at Richmond on February 24 and looks a decent outside chance for the series.
Two Jay jumps from box two in the third heat having scored six wins and two minor placings in 10 starts so far.
The Jeff Chapman-trained greyhound is making her Richmond debut but has run some quick times over the 520m at Lismore and looks ideally positioned to salute again.
The four heat winners and runners-up progress to next Friday’s decider at the western Sydney track.
This Friday’s heats are part of a great night’s racing also featuring the Group 2 Richmond Derby heats.
For a preview of the Group 2 Richmond Derby heats, click here.
