The inaugural running of The Arrow is today’s highlight at Healesville and The Watchdog is tipping Utah Ghost (3 from 3 Trk/Dst – 18.93sec PB) to be the quickest overall greyhound of the four match races and claim the $20,000 first prize.

This month’s Victorian Straight Track Championship winner faces reigning G3 Healesville Cup champion Zambora Lou (24 from 54 – 18.97sec PB) in their head-to-head contest.

Group finalists Smart As Jack and Hadouken commence The Arrow, while Mr. America (8 from 15) races for the first time since March 11 v dual G2 winner Ferdinand Boy (26 from 46 – 19.00sec PB) after the battle between Zambora Lou and Utah Ghost.

Multiple Group finalist Dream Wizard and Weblec Blazer – third in Wednesday night’s G3 525m Speed Star at The Meadows – contest the final match race of The Arrow.

Eight heats of the $15,000 Highway 31 Maiden Challenge took place on Tuesday and Western Blazer – the only finalist with multiple starts – is The Watchdog’s selection in the decider.

Daniel Avocado (4 from 6 Box 1) v Green Blazer (19.14sec PB) v Duncan (19.12sec PB) v Blackpool Flash (26 from 50) v Hill Top Jonah (won last 4) should be a terrific race, while Anita Sonic Love (won last 6) and Aston Geneve (4 from 4) are aiming to extend their respective winning streaks.

At Sandown Park, Knicks Bale (2 from 3 Trk/Dst) is backing up from Wednesday night’s G3 725m Speed Star and Nikoli Bale is eyeing a third-straight win, while Group finalists It’s My Party v Here’s Tears v Fernando Frank is set to be a strong affair.

Speedsters Rilynn Bale (34 from 71) and G1 finalist Papi Go Fast (25 from 46) race at Ballarat, while kennelmates Louie Lou (9 from 17 – 4 from 5 Box 1) and the highly-credentialed Aussie Secret (27 from 51 – 24.45sec PB) are in action at Sale.

Here’s an extensive analysis of today’s Must Watch Race, and be sure to scroll down further for ? The Watchdog’s $10 spend…

? MUST-WATCH RACE: The Arrow

SMART AS JACK ? HADOUKEN
ZAMBORA LOU ? UTAH GHOST
MR. AMERICA ? FERDINAND BOY
DREAM WIZARD ? WEBLEC BLAZER

? Healesville ? Race 9 ? 350m ⏱ 12:28pm

Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538512/race/9

The Watchdog says ?: We see the inaugural running of ‘The Arrow’ and what a line-up we have. UTAH GHOST (4) heads the betting on the back of three breathtaking wins here and I think he is going to take a power of beating again. With the match race format, he should be able to get out into the middle of the track soon after box rise and with the ability to go sub 18.90sec, he is going to set the standard. FERDINAND BOY (6) was easily accounted for in the Victorian Straight Track Championship recently, however he has bounced back with two electrifying wins here and he is expected to make his presence felt. WEBLEC BLAZER (8) is the interesting runner, he is having his first look at the track, but he has some breathtaking Meadows wins to his credit and being such a high speed chaser, he should be suited to straight track racing. Reigning Healesville Cup champ ZAMBORA LOU (3) must be respected, he may not be posting scorching times like he is accustomed to; however, he is in astute hands and I’m sure connections will have him firing. His kennel mate MR. AMERICA (5) has not raced since May, and he is very hard to assess. He has a tough match up with ‘Ferdinand’, but his trainer has a big opinion of him, and he should be fully wound up for this assignment. It should be a wonderful series and expect the semaphore board to get a workout.

Selections:  4 – 8 – 6 – 3

? THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT ?
? Sunday 29 August

? $5 Multi

First ?: Head To Head – UTAH GHOST
? Healesville ? Race 9 – Match 2 ? 350m ⏱ 12:36pm          ***Must Watch Race***
TAB fixed odds: $1.35 (Head to Head market)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538512/race/9

Second ?: Head To Head – FERDINAND BOY         
? Healesville ? Race 9 – Match 3 ? 350m ⏱ 12:44pm          ***Must Watch Race***
TAB fixed odds: $1.25 Win (Head to Head market)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538512/race/9

Third ?: Place – UNQUESTIONED
? Healesville ? Race 12 ? Box 1 ? 300m ⏱ 13:57pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.35 Place
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538512/race/12

The Watchdog says ? : UTAH GHOST (4) has been enormous since going up the straight and he will take a power of beating in his matchup. FERDINAND BOY (6) has lit up the clock in his past two here and he may prove zippy mid race for MR. AMERICA (5). UNQUESTIONED (1) should get plenty of cover in the initial stages and she should figure in the finish.

Multi price: $2.27

? $3 Win – NIKOLI BALE
? Sandown Park ? Race 8 ? Box 4 ? 515m ⏱ 4:35pm
TAB fixed odds: $2.50 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538513/race/8

The Watchdog says ? : NIKOLI BALE (4) was enormous when beating Do It here two runs back over 595m and he followed that up with another terrific win here on Thursday. He drops back to 515m today and with a slow beginner on his outside and quick beginner on his inside, he should get a nice cart into the race at the first bend, and he will go to work in the middle stages.

? $2 Multi

First ?: Win – LOUIE LOU
? Sale ? Race 8 ? Box 1 ? 520m ⏱ 8:06pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.50 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538511/race/8

Second ?: Win – AUSSIE SECRET    
? Sale ? Race 10 ? Box 5 ? 440m ⏱ 8:44pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.35 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538511/race/10

Third ?: Bundle Bet – 1,3
? Sale ? Race 11 ? Boxes 1 & 3? 440m ⏱ 9:04pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.82 (Any one of the two selections to win)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538511/race/11

The Watchdog says ? : The Thompson trained duo of LOUIE LOU (1) and AUSSIE SECRET (5) appear to have a significant class edge over their rivals, and they should be leading throughout in races 8 and 10 respectively. GOLD SKULLTULA (3) has turned in some impressive performances to date and I think he can lead throughout in this event, however GO ROGUE (1) is a highly talented speedster, so we have included him from the good draw as a saver.

Multi price: $3.68

? RECENT $10 INVESTMENTS ?

Saturday 28 August: $0 (-100%)
Friday 27 August: $9.70 (-3%)
Thursday 26 August: $0 (-100%)
Wednesday 25 August: $20.76 (+108%)
Tuesday 24 August: $0 (-100%)
Monday 23 August: $9.60 (-4%)
Sunday 22 August: $23.30 (+133%)

Past 7 days: $63.36 for $70 invested (-9%)
Past 14 days: $125.82 for $140 invested (-10%)
Past 28 days: $246.73 for $280 invested (-12%)

? MONTH x MONTH RECORD

July 2021: $309.18 for $300 (+3%)
June 2021: $324.38 for $300 (+8%)

NOTE: June was the first full-month of the new-look Daily Mail, in which The Watchdog has a $10 daily spend.

*Please gamble responsibly