The Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival rolls on this Thursday night at Q2 Parklands where the Super Stayers Invitational headlines a 12-race card.
This prestigious Group 2 event, run over 710m, brings together the nation’s finest distance chasers in a battle of endurance, strategy, and sheer willpower where $112,500 in prize money goes on the line.
The Chairman’s Cup, The Tempest and two more Brisbane Cup Preludes add to an exciting night of chasing.
I’ve broken down each Q2 Parklands race and provided my top picks!
Stowaway (3) proved too strong when charging home to win over 642m at Q1 Lakeside two starts back in 36.52 seconds.
The Tom Tzouvelis-trained dog stepped up to this course and distance last start and found the line well despite racing wide to finish 1.5 lengths second in 41.69 seconds.
He should land in a handy position from box 3 and if that’s the case, he’ll take some holding out.
1 Unit – Stowaway (3)
Seriously (8) will find this easier than the Origin Greyhound Series Distance race last start where she put up a good effort to finish fourth after settling in second.
The Tom Tzouvelis-trained bitch was a winner over this course and distance two starts ago when leading all the way in 41.71 seconds.
Four starts ago she gave Origin Distance winner Red Dirt Road a massive scare when leading all the way until the shadows of the post, clocking a slick 41.47 seconds.
If she runs to her best, she should prove hard to beat and is one of my better bets at Q2 Parklands this Thursday.
2 Units – Seriously (8)
Boracay Summer (1) has made the trek from Western Australia and arrives for her first start at Q2 Parklands in good form.
The Steven Withers-trained daughter of Feral Franky was last seen leading all the way in the Mandurah Distance Challenge in a best of the night time.
Five starts back she proved too strong in winning the Group 1 Miata Final at Cannington where she speared across from box 6 to find the front early and win in 41.62 seconds.
She has a good record from box 1 and should get on the arm.
1 Unit – Boracay Summer (1)
Red Dirt Road (6) looks well placed in the Chairman’s Cup Final after storming home to win the Greyhound Origin Series Distance race last Thursday night in 41.59 seconds.
The Tim Britton-trained dog is undefeated in three starts over this course and distance.
He broke the Q2 Parklands track record five starts back when leading all the way for a six-length win in 41.03 seconds.
He just needs a clear run to be figuring in the finish.
1 Unit – Red Dirt Road (6)
This Brisbane Cup Prelude is an excellent reminder of what we have to look forward to when the heats of the Group 1 feature start next week with so many quality chasers engaged.
The Jason Thompson-trained Flying Zulu (7) returns to Queensland looking to defend the Brisbane Cup title he won last year.
He’s a multiple Group 1 winner and won his most recent just four starts ago when leading all the way in the Harrison-Dawson Final.
That was from this box so having a wider draw here can work to his advantage.
1 Unit – Flying Zulu (7)
Excavation (1) is another powerhouse from the Jason Thompson kennel that has come north for the Brisbane Cup.
The son of Fernando Bale has returned from a spell in great order with wins in his past three starts including a sizzling 29.09 second victory over 515m at Sandown.
He’s a multiple Group 1 winner and finished fourth in last year’s Brisbane Cup.
He’ll be awfully hard to beat from box 1 and has won four from six starts when wearing the red rug.
2 Units – Excavation (1)
Tim Zoo (4) arrived in Queensland in good form three starts ago 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 two starts back when overcoming a slow jump from box 8 to power through the field and win in 30.22 seconds.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go his way in the final and he was spat out the back after being stepped on when starting to charge through the field.
He’s a Group 1 winner so he has the class to bounce back and the vacant box to his outside is a help.
1 Unit – Tim Zoo (4)
Four of the country’s best stayers have been assembled for the Ladbrokes Super Stayers Invitational and amazingly Red Dirt Road is a reserve.
In an even race, I’ll go with the Tasmanian Raider’s Guide (5) who arrives at Q2 Parklands in great form.
The son of Zambora Brockie was last seen leading all the way in the Group 1 Sandown Cup where he clocked 41.59 seconds in a three-length victory.
He’s a regular in Group 1 finals and if he produces his best jump then he’ll give this a real shake.
1 Unit – Raider’s Guide (5)
History’s Coming (7) will find this an easier race than last start’s Brisbane Cup Prelude where he gave a good sight but was run down by superstar Deadly Avenger to finish second in 29.99 seconds.
The New South Wales chaser had been in good form prior to coming north with back-to-back wins over 520m at Wentworth Park where he won in slick time including a nine-length romp in 29.54 seconds.
He races well off wide draws having won three from six from box 7.
1 Unit – History’s Coming (7)
Cumbria Jack (2) ran a super race last start in the Origin Greyhound Series Sprint when after coming out last from box 8, he powered through the pack to finish second to Good Odds Cobber in 29.84 seconds.
The son of Fernando Bale has been racing well since coming to Queensland and boasts a personal best of 29.54 seconds over the course and distance which he set just two starts ago when winning by two lengths.
He’s only lightly raced with seven wins from 12 starts but oozes potential.
He won his only previous start from box 2.
1 Unit – Cumbria Jack (2)
Summer’s Edition (1) had been racing in consistent form with six placings in a row before breaking through for another win last start over this course and distance.
The Travis Elson-trained bitch flew out of box 2 to lead and produced plenty when challenged in the back straight to draw clear and win by 2.75 lengths in 29.94 seconds.
She is quicker at box rise than her rivals so should get on the arm from box 1 and prove hard to run down.
1 Unit – Summer’s Edition (1)
Jumping Jive (3) will appreciate a return to Masters Grade after competing fairly in much stronger races.
Three starts back, the daughter of Sennachie finished strongly to win in this grade over 395m at Albion Park.
She’s a previous winner over this course and distance which came six starts ago and saw her lead all the way in 29.75 seconds.
She can lead this field from box 3.
1 Unit – Jumping Jive (3)