AUSSIE CAPTAIN led home a Patrick Janssens-trained one-two on his way to setting the standard with a fastest-of-the-night return in the heats of the Coral Olympic over 515m at Hove on Saturday.

Lining up in a red-hot third heat against kennelmate Bockos Belly and favourite Trumps Benefit (Carol Weatherall), it was Aussie Captain who struck first as the Yarmouth Derby finalist and English Derby quarter-finalist raced to a quickest 4.30sec sectional on his way to setting up an early lead.

However the powerful Bockos Belly picked up well and closed on his kennelmate all the way to the wire, just failing by a short-head to catch the winner in 30.15sec (normal). Trumps Benefit qualified here in third.

Training honours on the night went to local handler Belinda Green as first Ballymac Gaybo made all in heat two in 30.56sec from the staying on Dannid (Matt Dartnall) and Sharp Darcy (Seamus Cahill), before Freeky Pumbaa also landed a trap-to-line success in heat four albeit only narrowly from fast-finishing Candy Man (Carol Weatherall) and Seomra Razl (Jason Heath).

Green said: “It’s just great to have two runners through to the semi-finals, let alone see them win their heats. That was definitely a well-received bonus!

“Pumbaa has only had two runs back from lameness and won them both so we couldn’t be happier with him and would expect him to get stronger as he gets race fit, while Gaybo hasn’t been with us too long and we’re nowhere near getting to the bottom of him, so fingers crossed there’s more to come from him, too.”

Smurfs Machine, an English Derby finalist last year, continued some fine recent form with an all-the-way victory in heat one as he initiated what would be a five-timer for locally-trained runners in the Olympic heats as Seamus Cahill’s dog made all from Drumcrow Brent (Mark Wallis) and Prince of Troy (David Mullins) in 30.26sec.

Doorus Jet struck for another Have handler in Derek Knight as he trapped fast from the inside and made all before holding the finish of RPGTV/GWA Greyhound of the Month Borna Wine (Tony Collett) and Permanent Smile (Matt Dartnall) in 30.34sec, while Richard Yeates landed a popular one-two in the sixth and final qualifier.

In-form Lanzo completed a six-timer here, overcoming a moderate exit by his standards before pacing up well to lead at the first bend on his way to a two-and-a-quarter length success Faughan Rebel, who continued his fine return to the track with another solid run, and Abigails Buddy (Jason Bloomfield). The winning time was 30.36sec.

The supporting card was spiced by a winning reappearance from reigning GBGB Greyhound of the Year Aayamza Royale in a trial stakes for the upcoming George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial over 740m as Mark Wallis’s dual TV Trophy winner finished fast to collar Slippy Eva (Seamus Cahill) and longtime leader Burgess Elite (John Mullins) in 44.95sec.

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=379971&raceId=796418

Form and draw for Saturday’s Coral Olympic semi-finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Brighton-Hove/form-guides/Sat-11th-Dec-Adv-Form.pdf