PUPPY PREVIEW: G1 Sportsbet Dapto Megastar Final

With G1 thoroughbred all over for the year in Australia, TBF has taken aim at greyhound racing with a preview of Thursday's G1 Sportsbet Dapto Megastar Final.

EARLY SPEED

YUKO GIRL [1] has the fastest first section speed of 5.36 and from the inside should hold these. Other speed influences include Forever Thankful [3] with a first section speed of 5.37, Coast Model [8] with 5.46 and Father Rick [7] on 5.48.

RUNNER BY RUNNER ANALYSIS [market at 100%]

1. YUKO GIRL – Wins 50% of the time she jumps from the cherry and will be hard to run down. Her overall times suggest she may need to one or two dogs to have a slightly impeded run to hold.

Rated $5

2. GOOD ODDS EMMA – Struck trouble last start and brings a strong SP profile to this. Her biggest obstacle is she has pace drawn either side and is a risk to get squeezed. If she can drop in behind Yuko Girl through the first section then wind up, she’ll take a power of stopping with her best overall times superior to most of these

Rated $4

3. FOREVER THANKFUL – Has good early speed but lacks strength relative to her rivals here. Would need a jam to hold on

Rated $61

4. LOCHINVAR LONA – Super consistent dog that has finished 1st or 2nd in 22 of his 29 starts and in 5 of his 6 runs at this track and distance. Lacks early speed but has the fastest overall time in in the field meaning if he gets a clear crack at them he’ll likely blouse them all late

Rated $7.50

5. ON THE BUS – Recorded the fastest qualifying time but only just and is poorly drawn Rated $51

6. PUNTER’S BANDIT – Handy bitch but is only 2 from 12 when drawn box five or wider. Did start $2.50 in Yuko Girl’s heat and if she can get some luck early, has the ability to figure in the finish

Rated $11

7. FATHER RICK – Loves box 7 with 5 wins from 9 starts sporting the black rug. Is 1 from 1 at the track and distance courtesy of his heat win over an unlucky Good Odds Emma. Has some early speed, ticks a lot of boxes. Our biggest concern is Coast Model trying to cross him early and causing a collision

Rated $8

8. COAST MODEL – Has won more races [25] than any in the field and has plenty of early pace. Her best time is almost identical to the other leader, Yuko Girl

Rated $6

TIPS

Photo: Father Rick wins his qualifier

Here's our PINEAPPLE STRATEGY [$50]

$20 WIN FATHER RICK @$10

$10 WIN LOCHINVAR LONA @$8.50

$20 STANDOUT QUINELLA 4,7/1,2,8 = 333%

Good luck!