Golden Easter Egg winner STRIKER Light is on course for another Group 1 final with the Brett Bravo-trained greyhound odds-on to take out her heat of the Group 1 Garrard’s Winter Cup (520m) at Albion Park tonight.
STRIKER Light (pictured, black rug) is $1.45 with Sportsbet in the first of five heats (race three), with the multiple Group 1 winner jumping from box eight.
Tonight’s race will be STRIKER Light’s first start in more than a month and a first look at Albion Park, but Bravo believes his greyhound is a strong chance.
“This is the first time she’s been in a plane (but) she usually travels well and she’s looking fine,” Bravo said.
“Yes, she’s had a break but she needed it. She’d been racing against tough company these last few months.
“It’s a tough race and this will be a hard 500 metres for her, but she’s a talented greyhound for sure. I guess we’ll see if she’s up to it tonight.”
STRIKER Light will compete against Lismore 420m track record holder Fast Times ($3) who jumps from box three.
In the second heat (race four), Worm Burner is also a $1.45 favourite, with in-form local Bubbly Guppy on the second line of betting at $3.40.
Worm Burner, who is making his Albion Park debut and having his first run in two months, will jump from box six.
Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Ando’s Mac is another greyhound having his first competitive look at Albion Park but is still the $1.85 favourite in heat three (race five).
A winner of more than $630,000 prize money, Ando’s Mac has won once and placed twice in three starts since transferring to the Victorian kennels of Anthony Azzopardi.
He faces a tricky field here including fellow talented Victorian Extreme Magic (box six, $2.80) but looks the one to beat.
Recent Group 1 Sapphire Crown winner Maja Mahi Mahi is the $1.90 favourite in heat four (race six).
The Ashlee Terry-greyhound has brilliant early speed and is in good form, with two wins and two placings in her last four starts.
Star local Outside Pass (box three) heads the market in the fifth heat (race seven) as a $1.65 chance with Sportsbet after the scratching of Lucky Chap.
The Tony Apap-trained greyhound has not raced competitively for more than two months but has clocked a dazzling 29.61 at the track.
The five heat winners and three fastest runners-up progress to next week’s $75,000-to-the-winner final, the biggest race of the year in Queensland.
For Albion Park Thursday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Click here to view Sportsbet’s prices for tonight’s Group 1 Garrard's Winter Cup heats.
