Five Heats For Richmond Riches

FIVE heats of the Ladbrokes sponsored Richmond Riches (535m) have been penciled in for decision at Richmond this Friday night.

For the first time, the auction's tiered ticketing concept comes into play, meaning that a number of greyhound's that didn't actually proceed through the auction are eligible for this year's $40,000 to-the-winner series.

With some very talented types set to take their place, two semi-finals will be staged Friday week (May 17), leading into the May 24 finale, where $40,000 will be awaiting winning connections.

With a number of exciting gallopers engaged in the series, the headline act is without doubt Ray Smith's prodigious talent Feral Franky, the son of Collision an outstanding second to Flynn in the Group 3 Bill Collins Speed Star (515m) at Sandown Park on Sunday.

Drawn box eight in the fifth and final heat on Friday, Feral Franky is one of three runners engaged in the series for the Forbes conditioner, with the recent New Sensation hero joined by litter-brothers Inversion and Freaky Franky for the event.

The opening heat sees Peter Lagogiane's gun sprinter Demolition Duke make his 535m debut from the coveted rails alley, the regally bred son of Dyna Double One and Clockwise winner at six of his eight career starts thus far over the short course journeys.

The second qualifier sees Troy Donaldson's speedy customer Screaming Chop make her Richmond debut from box two, the likely leader pitted up against the very strong and talented Bland Purr, unlucky Nowra Puppy Classic finalist Zipping Norton, and Ray Webster's exciting talent Sir Duke.

Heat three promises to be another spirited affair with Jason Mackay's Zipping Pepper sitting up in box one for her first look at Richmond, tackling last start Temora winner Freaky Franky, as well as in-form sprinter Seven Hour Park for Mark Knowles, the son of Fernando Bale winner at 12 of his 29 starts, including his past three on the trot.

The fourth heat looks one of the more open with Adam Campton's Run Juju Run coming into the event off back-to-back victories, with one of the more interesting runners Let It Happen for trainer Peter Spiteri, the son of Spiteri's former group 1 winning chaser Let It Develop an eye-catching second at Bulli on debut Saturday.

As mentioned, the well-credentialed Feral Franky will size up the final heat from box eight but is sure to have some stiff opposition, with unraced chaser Knighthood capable of running sizzling times, while My Bro's Ethics has been very impressive for David Smith in two recent Ladbrokes Gardens successes, the most recent of those in a blistering 29.56.

Click here for all the fields and form for Friday's Richmond program