Bathurst’s heats kick-off the series – the final of which is now the richest greyhound race on the planet – with the likes of Falcon’s Fury, Sky Wave, Miss Splendamiro and a handful of other genuine stars headline the heats.

“I’m very, very excited about the quality in the four heats,” Bathurst Greyhound Club racing manager Jason Lyne told thedogs.com.au.

“We have the past two Bathurst Cup winners and the past two Soldiers’ Saddle winners, with one drawn in each of the four heats.

“With the quality of dogs we have in the Central West … the fields have certainly met our expectations.

“Collectively the runners in the heats have won over $1 million between them, so you can see there is some quality there.”

The series comprises of 11 regional heats and finals and 14 qualifiers in the city as well, and culminates on October 20 at Wentworth Park, the final winner walks away a cheque for $1 million.

Heat one is headlined by George Borg’s Miss Splendamiro, the reigning Bathurst Cup winner, while the second boasts Sky Wave, NSW’s representative in the National Sprint Championships in Melbourne and the 2017 Soldier’s Saddle champion.

She’s got the rails draw too.

“She loves the inside draw and has been blessed with it a number of times in her career,” Lyne said.

While Falcon’s Fury, the track record holder, is he big name in the third heat, Peter Barnes’ My Mate Fox also looks the goods in the second with seven wins from 14 starts.

“There’s nothing to compare it with (this series),” Barnes said, his two-year-old dog having drawn box seven.

“It can only be a good thing for local trainers, after what we’ve gone through in the past few years.

“Hopefully I can get through to the final next week. If you run first or second in the final, you’re off to the semi-finals at Wentworth Park for the Million Dollar Chase and be the first two dogs qualified for it. 

“I’m looking forward to the occasion. He’s the best dog I’ve ever had and hopefully everything goes well.” 

Ray Smith’s Midnight Treat, the 2016 Soldier’s Saddle winner, has drawn the red in the fourth heat of the night, which looks the most open.