Berella Diva One Run From Topping GOTY Ladder
One of Ron Ball's top bitches Berella Diva is set to rise to the top of the Brisbane Greyhound of the Year leader board if she can secure a placing tonight.
Jumping from box five in the Big Dog Pet Foods Best 8 600m race (race eight), Berella Diva could take the top position on the progressive ladder to put her ahead of her main rival, Nicely Done.
The Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club's Greyhound of the Year is a progressive points tally, which runs from January 1 to December 31 each year.
The competition comes to fruition on the Queensland Greyhounds awards night, which this year will take place on February 28.
Berella Diva is currently sitting second on the table, with 132 points, behind Nicely Done on 136 points.
However, she is sure to meet some tough competition in what is the best race at Albion Park this Thursday, with Tony Zammit's top performer One Missing, and Hume Cup hopeful Technoman, also starting in the race.
Aunty Vick will also be looking for a win in this race, sitting on the leader board in twelfth place.
Hawkins Media, a name synonymous with distance races, has sponsored the third race over 710m for fourth and fifth grade runners, and will be hotly contended.
The Kayleen Thrupp-trained Spontaneous is sure to be in the finish, favouring the longer distance and an inside box.
However, Sianna Cloud will have to be one to watch in this race, coming back to the 710m start after running last in a 366m race in Capalaba last week. Sianna Cloud has performed well in the past with the drastic change in distance, placing second on September 25 at Albion Park after an eighth place at Capalaba over 366m the week before.
Another dog to watch this Thursday night is Peach Bikini, which has been struggling to find a win since its extraordinary maiden win at Lismore last month. The Glenda Dart-trained bitch will feature in the Garrads Novice 520m (race 9) from box seven.
One Queensland dog to follow on the weekend is the Reg Kay-trained Size Can Matter, who has made it to the Platinum Paws semi-final.
After winning the quarter final in 30.30, he will hopefully run a similar time to advance to the final of the $250,000 race.
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Andy Albion's best bets for Thursday:
- Race 1 Number 8 Rhubarb Rhubarb
- Race 2 Number 8 Irish Fantasy
- Race 3 Number 2 Spontaneous
- Race 8 Number 5 Berella Diva
Number 6 Technoman