Today marks 50 days until the TAB Melbourne Cup – the world’s greatest greyhound race – takes place and to commemorate the occasion, a $10,000 to-the-winner 515m Special Event highlights the Sandown Park meeting.

McCooly’s Lad (8 from 12 – 29.09sec PB) has won all three starts since returning from a nine-month layoff in August, but The Watchdog believes he is awkwardly drawn today.

G3 winner Barooga Smoke (5 from 8 Trk/Dst) has been selected to triumph in this outstanding race, but other Group winners Lakeview Walter (3 from 6 Box 2) and Weblec Jet (3 of last 6) must be respected.

Earlier on the card, Wow She’s Fast (29.09sec PB) returns to Sandown Park after winning her first two starts by a combined 35 lengths, while dual G3 placegetter Koblenz (20 from 32) is expected to prevail despite the appearance of G1 Sandown Cup champion Zipping Rambo (18 from 38).

Caroline (4 from 9) v Merlot v Call Me Buster (5 from 9 Trk/Dst) v Russian Sub (3 of last 5) and Group finalists Jarick Bale (won last 2) v Got The Torque (29.31sec PB) should be great contests.

G1 finalist Nihari Bale (3 from 6 Box 1) faces in-form chasers Hebridean Black (4 of last 6), Geelong Oaks winner Osprey Rose (3 of last 4) and Aston Amigo (4 of last 5), while Ben Mayo (3 from 5) and Molly Blazer (6 from 13) are both predicted to boost their strike rates.

Dr. Ryker v Old News (3 from 3) and Zeeba’s Legacy (5 from 13) v Mepunga Mustang (4 from 4 Trk/Dst) will provide terrific duels in the two 450m G3 TAB Great Chase heats at Warrnambool, while Zipping Zarbo (30 from 66) should be victorious once again.

Specialty (3 of last 5) and Revolution (5 from 6) headline the mouth-watering 460m G3 TAB Great Chase heat at Geelong, while there are Tier 3 meetings at Cranbourne (starts 11:28am) and Shepparton (starts 7:02pm).

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: 50 Day Countdown Special Event

BAROOGA SMOKE ? LAKEVIEW WALTER ? WEBLEC JET ? MCCOOLY’S LAD

? Sandown Park ? Race 8 ? 515m ⏱ 5:44pm

Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539054/race/8

The Watchdog says ?: MCCOOLY’S LAD (6) has made an amazing return from what appeared to be a career ending injury just over 10 months ago and he will be looking to continue his amazing run today. After two blistering Horsham wins, he made his return to town with a breathtaking 29.11sec win here and that showed he is back to his brilliant best. Tonight’s assignment is a little harder and the box draw has not done him any favours. He speared the lids last week and if he can do that again, he is a serious chance, however if he hesitates just a little, he may be posted wide through the first bend and he faces an uphill battle from there. BAROOGA SMOKE (1) has come up with the gun draw and he is a Sandown Park specialist having won five-of-eight over this journey. With an even getaway today, he should be able to push through and hold a top two spot at the bend and he is a powerful type when he gets into the clear. Group 1 winner LAKEVIEW WALTER (2) has not saluted for a while, but he has turned in some great performances of late and he is knocking on the door of another victory. The inside draw should suit today and with a clean getaway he should be on the pace throughout. WEBLEC JET (4) is a gifted speedster, and he should appreciate the empty draw on his outside, He was narrowly beaten in a heat of the Adelaide Cup last Thursday night and he is racing with tremendous confidence at present. MEPUNGA WARRIOR (8) is drawn poorly today, but he deserves a mention. He has been racing with tremendous confidence in recent months and if he can somehow find the rail without too much trouble, he could cause a boil over.

Selections:  1 – 2 – 4 – 8

? THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT ?
? Thursday 7 October

? $3 Multi

First ?: Place – KENNY THE BRUTE
? Sandown Park ? Race 4 ? Box 2 ? 715m ⏱ 4:17pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.55 Place (Top two finish required)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539054/race/4

Second ?: Place – GRACE’S SPIRIT
? Sandown Park ? Race 10 ? Box 3 ? 515m ⏱ 6:19pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.65 Place
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539054/race/10

Third ?: Win – ASTON TANGO
? Geelong ? Race 12 ? Box 1 ? 400m ⏱ 11:00pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.75 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539123/race/12

The Watchdog says ? : ‘Kenny’ has been desperately unlucky of late and drawn closer to the rail tonight, a forward showing is expected. GRACE’S SPIRIT (3) caught the eye here last week and in a race which is loaded with early speed, she should get a nice run through mid-race and can pick off a few tiring runners late. ASTON TANGO (1) is a highly promising speedster and should be leading all the way from the good draw.

Multi price: $4.47

? $1 Win – MERLOT     ? Lucky Longshot ?
? $4 Place – MERLOT
? Sandown Park ? Race 3 ? Box 3 ? 515m ⏱ 3:54pm
TAB fixed odds: $8.50 Win
TAB fixed odds: $2.30 Place
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539054/race/3

The Watchdog says ? : He was desperately unlucky in his heat at Geelong and with the two inside runners expected to hold the lead at the bend today, he should be able to rail through into a threatening position mid race and he has the ability to cause a boil over.

? $2 Trifecta – 1,4 / 1,2,4,7 / 1,2,4,6,7,8 (6.66%)
? Sandown Park ? Race 8 ? 515m ⏱ 5:44pm     ? Must Watch Race ?
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539054/race/8

The Watchdog says ? : I expect BAROOGA SMOKE (1) and WEBLEC JET (4) to dominate the race early and one of those runners can get the cash. ‘Walter’ must be included for second and we have also put the strong TYLER DURDEN (7) in for second at value. MCCOOLY’S LAD (6) is a star, but I think he is a risk tonight, so we have only included him for third along with several other runners.

? RECENT $10 INVESTMENTS ?

Wednesday 6 October: $0 (-100%)
Tuesday 5 October: $7 (-30%)
Monday 4 October: $22.40 (+124%)
Sunday 3 October: $16.60 (+66%)
Saturday 2 October: $0 (-100%)
Friday 1 October: $7.80 (-22%)
Thursday 30 September: $19.57 (+96%)

Past 7 days: $73.37 for $70 invested (+5%)
Past 14 days: $138.38 for $140 invested (-1%)
Past 28 days: $210.44 for $280 invested (-25%)

? MONTH x MONTH RECORD

September 2021: $220.69 for $300 (-26%)
August 2021: $262.63 for $310 (-15%)
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