Caption: Palawa King (Jack Smith) powers to the line to win last Thursday night’s Origin Greyhound Series Distance Final (710m) at Albion Park. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)

John ‘Bunny’ Brasch previews Thursday night greyhound racing at Albion Park:

Another Albion Park race meeting rich with Winter Carnival flavour on Thursday night.

The star attraction is the Super Stayers match-race (Race 8), but through the program there are plenty of dogs with aspirations for the upcoming Group 1 finals on July 7.

Race 1:  We will start with (8) He’s On Fire on top. Won this race last year and is back from South Australia to do it again this year. Impressive heat win on Sunday night and can certainly make it back-to-back. To beat (1) Contract, (2) Loquacious, and (5) Barty Hayze.

Selections: 8-1-2-5

Race 2: (4) Where’s Johnson is my selection here. Fastest heat winner here on Sunday. Returning to form. No reason why he can’t back it up in the final. Then (7) Ally Gal, (2) Tungsten Miss, (8) Magical Cyndie and (1) Boys Light Up.

Selections: 4-7-2-8-1

Race 3: The local favourite (1) Adulate is on top. Should be one of the early leaders. Has been racing consistently recently in group company. Gets his chance for a win a feature here. For second (7) Wheel And Go. Other chances, (3) Sunburst, (4) On The Off, (5) Titanium Gunn and (6) Osprey Storm.

Selections: 1-7-3-4-5-6

Race 4: The WA star (1) Elite Machine is on top. To beat (6) Cash Master, (3) Rejuvenate and other chances (2) Bat Sign and (4) Hara’s Skye.

Selections 1-6-3-2-4

Race 5: I will go with the local (3) Hara’s Herbie. Impressive first up winner here last week in 29.67. Returns in outstanding form at the right time of the carnival. One of Queensland’s best chasers. To beat (5) Amron Boy. Victorian star that has been placed in two of three outings on this track. He’s a big hope in this. Then (8) Crackerjack Aret. Found the line strongly here last week behind Panama Pepper. Then (2) Red Hot Frankie.

Selections: 3-5-8-2

Race 6: We’ll go with (3) Postman Pat. Former Kiwi, now based in Melbourne and is unbeaten in five races there. Trialled brilliantly at Albion Park over the 395 metres just outside the record on Sunday. If he handles Albion Park well first-up we could see something special on the night. To beat (5) Black Magic Rose, (4) Crumble Monelli and then other chances (6) Springtime Jet and (8) Shipwreck.

Selections: 3-5-4-6-8

Race 7: Going with (1) Blue Hornet. Has had two runs over the 700m so far for two placings. Close-up second last week behind Palawa King. Should be up near the lead and be hard to run down. (4) Dirt Farmer for second, (2) Sorority for third and then (8) Play Nice.

Selections: 1-4-2-8

Race 8: In the night’s highlight, the four-dog match-race, will go with (5) Palawa King. Small field here will suit a backmarker like him. Then (3) Zipping Orlando for second, (7) First Picked and (1) Days Of Thunder.

Selections: 5-3-7-1

Race 9: Going with (2) Hara’s River. Down the track from a wide box the last start and really didn’t have a chance to get into the race. Up to the 710m for the first time and looks as though she will run it right out. (1) Book Of Love for second. (3) Tammy, the Victorian, for third. Then other chances (4) Jewel Bee, (6) Make Noise and (8) Spot On Harper.

Selections: 2-1-3-4-6-8

Race 10: I have (4) Dundee Smokey on top. Is being mentored by local trainer Rusty Dillon while here for the carnival. Strong win here last week in 30.11. In this with a good chance. To beat (7) Mepunga Mustang, (2) Nando Dreamer, (5) Ablett Hayze and (8) Daysea’s Rowdy.

Selections: 4-7-2-5-8

Race 11: I have (1) Alpha Zulu on top and this is my best bet of the night. Well graded in this 5th grade after recently contesting the Flying Amy Classic. Had no luck in that race from a middle draw and gets its chance again on Thursday night to bounce back. (6) Cluster for second and (8) Dolly Dutton for third. Then (2) Plum Tuckered and (7) Gypsy Joker.

Selections: 1-6-8-2-7

Race 12: For the last race on the program I will go with Selena Zammit’s (6) All Natural. 30.16 winner at its last start and was also a winner in 30.12 at Ipswich. If he finds his top form here on Thursday night will be very hard to beat. For second I have (7) Van Helsing and (5) Mumma’s Brew for third. Then (1) She’s Precocious and (8) Absolute Desire.

Selections: 6-7-5-1-8