We’re back at Ladbrokes Q1 Lakeside this Thursday night for what’s shaping up to be a cracking night of greyhound racing.
It’s finals time for the Group 2 Cyndie’s Magic and Group 3 Ladbrokes Dashing Corsair and the big guns are ready to fire.
The speedsters will also hit the track in the Lightning, Thunder and Slingshot.
There’s plenty to like across the 12-race card, and I’m keen to get stuck in.
Let’s find a few winners and enjoy a big night under the lights at Q1 Lakeside!
Pretty Posh (7) enjoyed the rise to this trip last start after running well for second and fourth over 390m here in her first two starts.
The Tony Apap-trained bitched showed good early speed over this course and distance last start to find the front early before dashing clear to win by 5.5 lengths in 25.61 seconds.
That winning time is quicker than what her rivals have been able to produce.
She’ll be at peak fitness now and has the speed to cross from box 7 and find the front.
1 Unit – Pretty Posh (7)
Plum Tuckered (6) flew out of box 7 last start over this course and distance but was impeded shortly after by eventual winner Red Dirt Road and dropped back through the field to finish 6.5 lengths fifth.
The daughter of Fernando Bale can bounce back given she won the QGOLD Stayers Final over 710m at Q2 Parklands two starts ago.
She has the early speed to cross and find the front from box 6.
1 Unit – Plum Tuckered (6)
Wolf Creek (3) has started his career in great style with three wins from his first five starts.
The Tony Brett-trained dog was excellent in his Ladbrokes Lightning heat last start where he bombed the jump to come out at the tail before expertly weaving through the field to win by three lengths in 19.69 seconds.
That was just his first start over this distance at Q1 Lakeside, so he’ll be better for the experience.
While he can be a bit risky at box rise, if he jumps on terms from box 3 then he’ll be hard to hold out.
2 Units – Wolf Creek (3)
This is a cracking edition of the Ladbrokes Thunder with so many jets engaged.
Darcy Dakota (5) has been brilliant in his two starts since joining the powerful Tony Brett kennel.
The son of Shima Shine registered a best of the night of 25.26 seconds when winning two starts back over 457m here.
He followed that up with another best of the night time when qualifying for this final in the rain in 21.70 seconds.
He’s armed with good early speed so should be able to counter the squeeze box.
1 Unit – Darcy Dakota (5)
Gold Scotch (7) ran well in her heat of the Cyndie’s Magic last start where she fought for the lead and was only nudged out late to finish a head third in 30.70 seconds.
The Anthony Azzopardi-trained bitch is no stranger to racing in Queensland having finished a close second in the Group 1 Golden Sands Final over 600m at Albion Park during the Summer Carnival.
He clocked a slick 34.69 seconds when winning his heat of that series, so the Melbournian measures up nicely.
From box 7, he can cross and settle in a prominent position.
1 Unit – Gold Scotch (7)
Red Dirt Road (5) finished second in his first two races this preparation before lighting up the Ladbrokes Q2 Parklands track over 710m.
The Tim Britton-trained dog went straight to the front and was never headed, winning by six lengths against many of the same dogs in 41.03 seconds and repeated the dose two starts ago but was forced to work for it when storming home to win in 41.46 seconds.
He qualified for this Group 3 Dashing Corsair final with an impressive all the way win in 36.28 seconds.
He’s a brute of a dog at 37kg and can monster his way to the front from the squeeze box.
1 Unit – Red Dirt Road (5)
The Ladbrokes Slingshot Final is a very even affair with luck likely to be the deciding factor.
Barefoot Elsa (6) will appreciate dropping back to this course and distance after running into trouble over 550m here last start.
The West On Augie bitch loves the Q1 Lakeside 457m having won three and placed second twice from five starts.
She won the Lakeside Cup Final two starts back in 25.30 seconds after winning her heat in 25.29 seconds.
On her best jump she should give the lead a shake.
1 Unit – Barefoot Elsa (6)
Tim Zoo (3) arrived at Q1 Lakeside last start in good form with a fourth place finish in the Group 1 Harrison-Dawson Final.
The Jason Thompson-trained dog proved too classy in his heat of the Group 2 Cyndie’s Magic last start when overcoming a slow jump from box 8 to power through the field and win in 30.22 seconds.
He looks to have a class edge over this field being a Group 1 winner.
From box 3 he should prove hard to hold out.
2 Units – Tim Zoo (3)
Inconspicuous (3) arrives from Victoria in cracking form and looks hard to beat.
The Anthony Azzopardi-trained dog was last seen finishing fourth in a heat of the Ballarat Cup but prior to that had won four of his past five starts.
The Group 1 finalist should have too much class for this field and just needs to jump on terms.
2 Units – Inconspicuous (3)
Rupee Rebel (4) will appreciate the drop in distance after weakening late over 550m here last start.
The Tom Tzouvelis-trained dog enjoys racing over this shorter trip having finished a head second in a Group 3 at Hobart in January.
He also won back-to-back races over 461m at Launceston earlier this preparation.
This is his easiest race for some time so gets his chance to return to the winner’s circle.
1 Unit – Rupee Rebel (4)
Federal Blue Boy (2) didn’t have a great deal of luck from the inside box over 390m here last start when finishing fourth to Ricochet Ripple.
The Jemma Daley-trained dog easily accounted for that dog two starts ago when leading all the way over 390m here to win in 21.74 seconds.
He takes on this course and distance for the first time but looks more than capable of running it out strong.
He has a good record from box 2 and should be well placed in the run.
1 Unit – Federal Blue Boy (2)
Federal Rocket (2) returned from a long break in fine style with a win over this course and distance last start.
The Jemma Daley-trained dog shared the lead early before dashing clear in the straight to win in 25.74 seconds.
He’s only lightly raced and will take great benefit from the hit out after a long time off.
From box 2 he should land in the firing line.
1 Unit – Federal Rocket (2)