With the Sportsbet Healesville Cup heats just under two weeks away, there were a number of greyhounds who flew up the straight yesterday that will no doubt have the Cup in their crosshairs.

Race 2 – July She Lied (8)
She’s one who has been caressed through the grades well. A sharp 16.74sec winner yesterday over the 300m, in what was her first visit to the ‘Ville since March. Undoubtedly a sighter before Cup heats.

Race 3 – Solicit (8) and Zinging Hot (1)
Solicit has been winning consistently on the provincial tracks, while we’re still learning more about Zinging Hot as he gains more experience.

Race 7 – Cookie Man (6)
He’s a winning machine this bloke – 18 wins from 29 starts. A fast 19.05sec on his racing debut at the ‘Ville. He’s not freaky fast but fast enough to be a threat in a Cup heat.

Race 8 – Catch Some Rays (3) and Matt Loch (1)
It was a good battle between these two. Who would’ve thought Matt Loch would be beaten in his two visits to Healesville? But, it’s been by some very fast ones. Catch Some Rays’ last seven starts have been up the straight and he looks primed for Cup heats.

Race 11 – Highly Abrasive (6), Essence (2) and Aston Fantastic (5)
This race was red hot. Highly Abrasive held on, his sixth win in-a-row with most of them from tough box draws. Essence has plenty of speed. Aston Fantastic is a rocket and was a finalist in last year’s Healesville Cup. All should be in Cup heats.

This Sunday’s meeting at Healesville will also be an interesting one. Given the nature of the straight track and importance of a greyhound having some experience there, we’re likely to see some very handy ones have a look before their assignment in a Cup heat.

Victoria’s best straight track performers Mile A Minute and Serial Sticker will be in Queensland this weekend for Saturday’s National Straight Track Championship final. The absolute expectation is that they’ll head to Healesville Cup heats the following week.

The recent Victorian Straight Track final won by Mile A Minute (1) – a race full of greyhounds who we’ll see in Healesville Cup heats