The stage is set for another electric evening at Q1 Lakeside this Thursday night, with a stacked card of greyhound racing promising high-speed action and fierce competition.
As the winter chill settles over Queensland, the heat will be on the track with 12 races offering a tasty entree to Saturday night’s Group 1 finals at The Q.
After a thorough analysis of the form, here are my Q1 Lakeside selections for the night.
Panther Potter (3) steps up to this distance for the first time but looks more than capable of handling it given the way she’s won her past two starts.
The Warren Nicholls-trained bitch ran down Out Of Whiskey two starts ago over 390m here when winning narrowly in 21.93 seconds.
She returned for the final last start and was able to burn off Out Of Whiskey early to go on and win by 3.75 lengths.
From box three she should land in a forward position and looks to have a class edge over her rivals.
1 Unit – Panther Potter (3)
Sorella (4) couldn’t cross from box 8 and then was checked heading into the first bend when finishing fifth over 520m at Q2 Parklands last start.
The Tom Tzouvelis-trained bitch will appreciate returning to Q1 Lakeside over this shorter trip.
She started her career in fine style with back-to-back wins over 352m here where she proved to love the rail.
If she begins as well as she has previously, then she can find the fence early.
1 Unit – Sorella (4)
Hara’s Luna (8) is getting fitter following a four-month break.
The daughter of Feral Franky found the line strongly to finish eight lengths fifth to Ethanol Water second-up after encountering trouble early in a heat of the Queensland Cup last start.
She boasts an impressive record of 16 wins from 29 starts and won the Group 3 Past Members Trophy Final over a similar distance at Ipswich late last year.
This looks the right field for her to get back in the winner’s kennel.
1 Unit – Hara’s Luna (8)
Moet Magic (4) can find one better as evidenced by her record of 12 seconds from 21 starts but she gets her chance for another win here.
The Ray Burman-trained bitch began fast in a heat of the Brisbane Cup last start but was squeezed heading into the first bend and dropped out to the tail.
Two starts back in her only previous start over this course and distance, she ran out and which allowed her rivals to pass her on the inside but she still managed to clock 30.92 seconds.
She has the early speed to lead this field.
1 Unit – Moet Magic (4)
Gold Scotch (7) wasn’t suited by the inside box in a heat of the Brisbane Cup last start and duly finished at the tail of the field.
The Anthony Azzopardi-trained Victorian chaser will enjoy rising in trip and returning to this course and distance where three starts ago she proved strong with a winning time of 30.58 seconds.
Two starts she won The Tempest over 600m with an all the way performance.
She has a good record from box 7 and looks well placed against this field.
2 Units – Gold Scotch (7)
Tough Enough (2) has been racing in good form over this course and distance and is drawn to get the favours.
The son of Bernardo couldn’t hold out Teresita entering the bend last start but ran well to finish 1.75 lengths second in a personal best of 25.46 seconds.
Three starts ago he led all the way in 25.54 seconds for a 3.25 length win.
He’s consistently reached the first marker in under 4.40 seconds which should see him lead and prove hard to catch from box 2.
1 Unit – Tough Enough (2)
Midnight Queen (7) can recapture her winning form with a drop in class.
The Bailey Dargusch-trained bitch was last seen finishing at the tail of the field behind Tim Zoo after copping an early check in a heat of the Brisbane Cup.
She’d been racing well before that and boasts a win over one of the fancied runners in Saturday’s Brisbane Cup final Cumbria Jack five starts ago when she won over 520m at Q2 Parklands in 29.51 seconds.
This is her first start over this course and distance but box 7 suits and she’ll be strong late.
2 Units – Midnight Queen (7)
Super Scrub (3) returned in good order last start and will have taken great benefit from his first hit out since a luckless run in the Group 2 Rockhampton Cup.
The Travis Elson-trained dog mustered good speed to lead over this course and distance but condition gave out late and he was pipped on the post to finish second in 25.51 seconds.
He’ll strip fitter second-up and should get on the arm and prove hard to catch.
1 Unit – Super Scrub (3)
Fire Me Up (4) is chasing in sublime form and is looking for his fourth win in a row.
The son of Bernardo has romped in his past two starts over 350m at Grafton in slick times of 19.74 and 19.73 seconds.
While he was unplaced in his only previous start over this course and distance, he did win over 450m at Grafton three starts back in a best of the night 25.28 seconds.
He can either lead or track the three dog, but either way should enjoy a great run.
1 Unit – Fire Me Up (4)
Some Diva (1) returned from a lengthy break in fine form last start over 390m here.
The Ray Burman-trained bitch led all the way from box 6 for a two-length win in 21.99 seconds.
Given her impeccable breeding, she’ll appreciate the rise in distance with increased fitness.
She should land on the arm from the inside box.
1 Unit – Some Diva (1)
Boom Town (2) is yet to finish outside the top three in four starts over this course and distance.
The son of Aussie Infrared proved too strong here four starts ago when mustering speed from box 8 to win in 25.75 seconds.
He registered a personal best of 25.70 seconds two starts ago when finishing a length second.
He has the early speed to lead from box 2.
1 Unit – Boom Town (2)
This is a tough way to end the night at Q1 Lakeside!
Anna Bella (7) will appreciate returning to Masters grade after finishing six lengths sixth in a Fourth & Fifth grade last start.
The Aussie Infrared bitch has been racing in consistent form but her last win came here eight starts ago when clocking a personal best of 25.77 seconds over this course and distance.
She has had the most success from box 7, having won five of 14 starts with four placings.
1 Unit – Anna Bella (7)