Golden Easter Egg winner Striker Light and Melbourne Cup victor Ando’s Mac headline the star-studded heats of the Group 1 Garrad’s Winter Cup (520m) at Albion Park this Thursday night.
Five heats will take place at the Brisbane track with the winners of each heat and the third fastest runners-up qualifying for next week’s $75,000-to-the-winner final.
Striker Light (pictured, black rug) has opened up $1.40 favourite with Sportsbet in the first heat (race three), in which she will jump from box eight at her first start at Albion Park.
The Brett Bravo-trained greyhound faces a handy field which includes Fast Times ($3.20, box three) and the Vince Curry Memorial runner-up Roll So Deep ($15, box one).
Fellow star Victorian greyhound Worm Burner is also making his track debut in the second heat (race four) and has opened up at the same $1.40 quote to take out the race.
The Seona Thompson-trained greyhound has not raced since April and will jump from box six on Thursday night.
Ando’s Mac ($1.70), who won last year’s Melbourne Cup in the kennel of Jason Mackay but is now trained by premier Victorian mentor Anthony Azzopardi, looks the top pick in the third heat (race five) jumping out of box four.
Another track debutant who won last year’s Group 1 Vic Peters Classic and this year’s Group 2 Warragul Cup, Ando’s Mac has scored a win and two placings in three starts since moving to Victoria, including clocking a smart 29.53 at The Meadows on June 15.
Maja Mahi Mahi ($1.75), who won last month’s Sapphire Crown at Sandown Park for Victorian trainer Ashlee Terry, looks the one to beat in heat four (race six).
The former NSW-based greyhound has recorded four wins in her last seven starts and is bang in form for this series. She will jump from box seven in her heat.
Lucky Chap is the $1.45 favourite for the fifth and final heat following his box one draw.
Standing in Lucky Chap’s way though is Outside Pass ($4.60, box three), who has been one of Queensland’s top performers over the last two years.
In terms of the all-in market, Worm Burner and Striker Light share favouritism at $3.20 each with Sportsbet, with Lucky Chap $5 and Ando’s Mac on the third line at $6.50
For Albion Park fields, form and expert picks, click here.
For Sportsbet early market odds, click here.
