The Thursday night lights shine bright at Q1 Lakeside as greyhound racing fans gear up for another thrilling evening of action.
The fields are deep, the pace will be electric, and there’s no shortage of angles for punters to play.
I’ve crunched the numbers, watched the replays, and sniffed out a few best bets, so let’s dive into the form for all 12 races and chase down some winners.
Panther Potter (3) looks well placed to add another win to her tally.
The Warren Nicholls-trained bitch won back-to-back races over 390m here before stepping up to this distance two starts ago.
In both her two most recent races she’s led before being run down late, however last start resulted in 25.67 seconds run which is the quickest recorded amongst this field.
She should lead from box 3.
1 Unit – Panther Potter (3)
Akela Iaido (8) has taken a real liking to this course and distance after dropping back from 710m.
The son of Ballymac Kingdom showed good early speed to lead all the way from box 1 two starts ago for a narrow victory in a best of the night 36.62 seconds.
She then copped a check out of the lids which impeded her progress but to her credit she fought back to finish third and record her best time of 36.44 seconds.
Box 8 should allow her to gather momentum early and settle handy or lead.
1 Unit – Akela Iaido (8)
Secret Story (1) has started his career in sparkling fashion with five wins from his seven starts.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go to plan for the Tom Tzouvelis-trained dog last start over this course and distance when copping a check early after a below par start.
However, he was flying before that which included a best of the day 19.61 seconds over 366m at Capalaba two starts ago.
Aside from last start, he boasts a very good record over this course and distance, registering a personal best of 25.45 seconds the last time he raced at Q1 Lakeside which was five starts ago.
He can take a step to get going, but he’s ideally drawn in box 1 to drive up on the bend.
1 Unit – Secret Story (1)
Zipping Dalila (5) looks ready for a return to the Q1 Lakeside 550m after finding the line strongly over 457m here last start to finish second.
The Tom Tzouvelis-trained bitch recorded a personal best of 30.69 seconds over this course and distance four starts ago when leading all the way for a four-length win.
She defeated Mossy Boots that night who she meets here.
This looks a good race for her and I suspect she may prove too strong given many of her rivals have been competing over shorter trips.
1 Unit – Zipping Dalila (5)
Brunswick Jet (3) takes on Q1 Lakeside for the first time but has been flying lately with two wins from his past three starts.
The son of My Redeemer stormed home to win over 520m at Q2 Parklands last start in 30.43 seconds and while he didn’t win two starts ago, he did break 30 seconds to finish third at that same track.
He’s a jet (as his name suggests) early as he showed three starts back when winning over 395m at Albion Park in a best of the night 22.54 seconds.
From box 3 he should get on the arm and give this a big shout.
1 Unit – Brunswick Jet (3)
Riorson Bale (3) can bounce back from an unlucky run over this course and distance last start when slow away and then copping an early hard check.
The Feral Franky bitch took a step to get going three starts back but powered around the field on the turn to win in 25.59 seconds.
She set a personal best two starts back when jumping well from the inside box before running past the leader and dashing clear for a 6.25 length win in 25.20 seconds.
Her best jump should see her settle handy from box 3 and that will make her hard to beat.
1 Unit – Riorson Bale (3)
Teresita (7) has quickly found form following a lengthy break.
The Tom Tzouvelis-trained bitch finished fourth first-up before impressing in her first start over this course and distance where she circled the field from box 8 before dashing clear to win in a best of the night 25.34 seconds.
She impressed last start when recording the best heat time by a considerable margin in 25.20 seconds.
She flew the lids that night and a repeat of that from box 7 should see her clearing the field and going all the way.
2 Units – Teresita (7)
Red Dirt Road (2) is one of Queensland’s best stayers but won’t be fazed by dropping back to this distance.
The Tim Britton-trained dog was last seen winning a heat of the Queensland Cup over 710m at Q2 Parklands in 41.24 seconds.
He returns to the 642m at Q1 Lakeside for the first time since finishing fourth in Group 3 Dashing Corsair Final where he was squeezed heading into the home turn.
That followed an impressive win over this course and distance when he set a personal best of 36.28 seconds.
He should get on the arm from box 2 and prove hard to beat.
2 Units – Red Dirt Road (2)
Blue Blend (2) holds the Q2 Parklands track record for 520m but won’t mind dropping back to this shorter trip.
The Jeff Crawford-trained dog was last seen qualifying for the Brisbane Cup Final when winning his heat in 29.53 seconds.
That was a few weeks ago so he’s had a trial up the Capalaba straight where he clocked 19.86 seconds which was faster than Validate who trialed the same dame before setting a class record here.
He’s yet to win in two starts over this course and distance but did set a personal best of 25.38 seconds in a heat of the Lakeside Cup.
The vacant box to his outside suits as does the small field.
1 Unit – Blue Blend (2)
Let’s Go Frosty (4) has raced well with back-to-back runner-up finishes since arriving from New South Wales.
The son of Fernando Bale stormed home from the back to finish 1.25 lengths second over 366m at Capalaba two starts back.
Last start he was impeded when looking to make his move on the home turn before charging late to finish second over this course and distance in 25.72 seconds.
With a clear run, he should prove too strong for this field.
1 Unit – Let’s Go Frosty (4)
Brindle Fugitive (1) loves box 1 and once again comes up with the prime draw.
The Ray Burman-trained dog ran down Untamed Velocity last start when wearing the red rug to win over 390m here in 21.91 seconds.
This is just his second start over this course and distance with his first attempt resulting in a 1.75 lengths third in 25.69 seconds after leading from box 8.
He’ll be better for the experience and if he can hold the rail then he should take some stopping.
1 Unit – Brindle Fugitive (1)
Black Silencer (7) returns to the races for the first time since finishing 8.25 lengths third over 595m at Angle Park.
The son of Hooked On Scotch is a proven Group 1 performer with runner-up finishes in the Sale Cup and the Bold Trease.
While this is short of his best and his first start over this course and distance, he has a talent edge over his rivals.
He just needs to stay in touch early as he should be strong late.
1 Unit – Black Silencer (7)