Thursday night’s Free-For-All at Sandown Park is a race that will get any greyhound racing fan salivating at the sight of the field – it’s stacked with jets.

It’s led by the much anticipated return of the popular powerhouse, Hector Fawley.

He hasn’t raced since May due to a suspected spider bite. He had four trials in preparation for Thursday’s return, most recently the first of the session on Sunday morning at Geelong in 25.50.

“He hasn’t broken any records but at this time of year and with the weather we’ve had conditions haven’t been fast. He’s ready to go but we feel he’ll be peaking next week,” said trainer Lisa Cockerell.

Stating the obvious it’s an incredibly tough gig to meet this type of field first up.

“Far out, it’s a hot race. We would’ve liked it easier, but the upside is these dogs are professionals and we know what they’re going to do.”

All of these guns are getting set for next Thursday’s heats of the Victorian series of the National Sprint Championship. State finals will be run the following Thursday, with the winner to represent the Big V in the National final at Angle Park (SA) on Saturday August 24.

For Hector Fawley, or ‘Stanley’ as he’s known, his tilt at the Nationals is the first chapter to what could be considered an extended farewell tour. Lisa and Ian Cockerell currently plan to retire Stanley at the end of the year and transition him to stud duties.

“In racing that can always change, if we sense he’s had enough then that’ll be it. But at the moment he’s been a pain for us, he just wants to go race and gets jealous when other dogs head out.”

Two races following the Free-For-All we’ll see Flying Zulu have his first hitout since he won the $1m Brisbane Cup earlier this month.

In other news, last Saturday’s Fireball winner Ella’s Babe is likely to trial at Sandown Park this Friday in preparation for next Thursday’s heats of the National Distance. Maturity winner Follow The Band lines up in the incredible Free-For-All mentioned above.