3 minute read

Some of Victoria’s sprinting stars clash in Thursday night’s Free-For-All at Sandown Park.

Reigning greyhound of the year Hector Fawley meets dual Group 1 winner Transponder and track specialist In The Hub.

It'll be Hector Fawley's fifth run back from a spell and his fortune since resuming has been mixed. Despite that race caller Dan Hibberd is in Hector's corner.

"I really like him. He's been jumping well and his effort at The Meadows last Saturday was huge after what happened at the start," said Hibberd.

"He should follow Aston Costello early and with In The Hub likely to do In The Hub things it's really on Hector's racquet."

Sportsbet have installed In The Hub as favourite. In the past year he's set five of the fastest 10 times at Sandown Park – 29.213 being his slowest and 29.102 his fastest. Explicit holds top spot with 29.085.

Transponder will need to begin better but is drawn suitably in box 7 and has Rock Me Rocco on his outer who should hold his line from the draw.

Another notable runner on the card is last year's Phoenix favourite Pass The Buck in Race 8 – he's opened as favourite narrowly ahead of Bagman.

Race 11 is also a beauty which features Excavation who was absolutely superb at The Meadows last Saturday night. He meets Vincent Bale and Inconspicuous who is a recent and sharp addition to Anthony Azzopardi's kennel.

This Saturday night's card at The Meadows is headlined by heats of the Topcat Video Cup (730m).

Aunt Virginia backs up from last Saturday's National Distance final in Heat 1 while Drill Sergeant returns to The Meadows in Heat 2 for the first time since he was runner-up to Ella's Babe in last month's Fireball.