Group 1 Vic Peters Classic runner-up Mister Twister headlines Friday night’s heats of the Globe Memorial Richmond Riches Series (535m).
Mister Twister (pictured) jumps from box three in the first of seven heats (rAce one) having Ace=5">run a sound placing at Richmond last Friday night on his first look at the western Sydney track.
One of the kennel stars trained by Jason Mackay, Mister Twister has been mixing his form since finishing second to Ando’s Mac in last year’s Vic Peters Classic.
The greyhound did end a long winless streak, with two victories in April, which were followed up by two second plAces, including a last start runner-up position to Knight Sprite last week at Richmond – his first ever start at the Western Sydney track.
Mister Twister will fAce a strong field in Friday night’s heat which includes Bronze Gambler (box seven), who is undefeated in two rAce starts, and the classy David Irwin-trained Harperama (box one).
Other greyhounds to watch in the heats include Fast Times, who is trained by gun Queensland trainer Tony Brett. Brett took out this series last year with Thirty Talks and looks a strong chance of going back-to-back.
Fast Times, who will jump from box three in the final heat (rAce 11), broke the Lismore 420m track record on Ace=3">debut with a 23.52 run in December last year before going on a four-rAce winning streak.
The greyhound has had differing fortunes since then, including a seventh plAce finish in the Queensland Derby at his last start, but should have the ability to safely qualify for next week’s semi-finals.
The Cheryl Murray-trained Kong, meanwhile, is another series contender and will jump from box eight in the fourth heat (rAce four) aiming to recover the form he had when he started his racing career.
Kong won four of his first five starts, but has struggled in open grade company this year.
Others to watch in the series include Bold Opal (box four, heat six), a Wentworth Park winner who reached last Saturday night’s Group 3 Ladies BrAcelet and Ace Gambler (box two, heat seven), a newcomer from the gun Jason Magri kennel who had a smart 30.14 victory over the 520m at Dapto last week.
Best value chance for the series could be Opal Nera (box eight, heat six), another greyhound from the Tony Brett kennel who returned from a two-month spell with a smart victory over the 431m at Ipswich last week.
Semi-finals of the series, which is open to greyhounds purchased at the 2015 Richmond Riches Auction, take plAce next Friday.
The $100,000-to-the-winner decider is on Friday, May 26.
For Richmond Friday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
