The spotlight shines brightly on Q2 Parklands this Saturday as the 2025 Ladbrokes Brisbane Cup Night promises a spectacular evening of elite greyhound racing.
With Group 1 glory and over a million dollars in prizemoney on the line, the nation’s fastest chasers and most durable stayers are set to ignite the Purga circuit in what’s shaping up to be one of the most anticipated nights on the greyhound calendar.
The headline act is the Group 1 Brisbane Cup Final over 520m, where rising stars Blue Blend and Cumbria Jack will take on Group 1 winner and current race favourite Tim Zoo.
Meanwhile, the Group 1 Queensland Cup Final over 710m will test the mettle of the country’s top stayers, with Late Night News, Red Dirt Road and Ethanol Water all bringing serious Group 1 credentials into the mix.
With the track in pristine condition, a roaring crowd expected, and a stacked 11-race card, Ladbrokes Brisbane Cup Night is set to deliver a thrilling blend of speed, stamina, and sheer spectacle.
Zig Zag Man (1) didn’t have the best of luck when taking on this course and distance for the first time in the Ladbrokes Origin Greyhound Series Distance race.
The son of Fernando Bale copped a check early that saw him settle out the back before then running into trouble when making his move through the pack in the back straight.
He didn’t have the best of luck last start in a heat of the Queensland Cup when tried to go up the inside of eventual winner Fireshon and lost momentum when the gap closed but to his credit he fought on for third in 41.53 seconds.
His form prior to coming to Queensland was excellent with back-to-back wins over 622m at Richmond in slick times.
He’ll be stronger for his past two runs and should be fighting out the finish.
1 Unit – Zig Zag Man (1)
Seriously (4) will appreciate the drop back to 600m after encountering problems in her recent starts in stronger races over 710m.
The Tom Tzouvelis-trained bitch settled second in a heat of the Queensland Cup last start but a check saw her drop back through the field.
She gave a good sight in the Ladbrokes Origin Distance race but didn’t have the stamina to keep going against that quality of opposition.
The small field suits her as does the vacant box to her inside which should see her find the front early.
1 Unit – Seriously (4)
Dixie Lad (3) has taken a real shine to Q2 Parklands since arriving from New South Wales two starts ago.
The son of Aston Rupee qualified for the Mick Byrne Memorial Final with an all the way four-length win in 29.78 seconds.
That run was nearly an exact replication of his effort the start prior when winning in 29.74 seconds.
This is a cracking race, but I think he has the early speed to hold out Pop’s Maestro and Canya Succeed heading into the first bend.
1 Unit – Dixie Lad (3)
Yogen Bale (1) took a step to get going but mustered speed quickly to find the front rounding the first bend before extending his lead to win a heat of the Carnival Masters in 30.01 seconds.
The son of Feral Franky was rising steeply in distance after winning over 350m at Goulburn the start prior.
He’ll be better for the experience given that was his first look at the 520m at Q2 Parklands.
Obliging Warren should lead but he’ll be able to camp on his back from the cherry before proving too strong late.
1 Unit – Yogen Bale (1)
Smooth Plane (2) was unlucky last start in a heat of the Brisbane Cup when starting well but not being able to cross from box 6 and copping a check.
The Thomas Dailly-trained dog was excellent two starts back when railing like a demon to find the front on the first turn in a Brisbane Cup Prelude heat and going on to win in a slick 29.54 seconds.
He’s placed in multiple Group 1 finals and looks to have a class edge over his rivals.
If he jumps cleanly then he should find the front early from box 2.
1 Unit – Smooth Plane (2)
Good Odds Cobber (3) is one of Australia’s best sprinters and can bounce back from an ‘un-Cobber like’ performance in his heat of the Brisbane Cup last start where he was slow away and just didn’t seem himself in finishing third.
The son of Fernando Bale was in super form before that with three wins in a row.
Two starts ago, he jumped straight to the front in the Ladbrokes Origin Greyhound Series Sprint and went on to win by 5.25 lengths in 29.46 seconds.
He also won a Brisbane Cup Prelude heat in a slick 29.48 seconds as well as a 30.12 win in the pouring rain.
He should be able to find the front early from box 3 and if that’s the case then they more than likely won’t get past him.
2 Units – Good Odds Cobber (3)
Red Dirt Road (2) is one of Queensland’s best stayers and he proved that three starts ago when producing a powerful finish to win in the Ladbrokes Origin Greyhound Series Distance race in 41.59 seconds.
The Tim Britton-trained dog unfortunately had his unbeaten record over this course and distance broken two starts when he was posted deep in the Chairman’s Cup Final but still fought bravely to finish second.
The current Q2 Parklands 710m track record holder bounced back to winning form last start when proving too strong in his heat of the Ladbrokes Queensland Cup with a 41.24 second win.
He has the early speed to hold the front from box 2 or at the very least park handy.
1 Unit – Red Dirt Road (2)
What a cracking edition of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Brisbane Cup this is with start power drawn boxes 1 through 8!
Tim Zoo (3) has been pure dynamite since arriving in Queensland and looks primed for a massive performance in his grand final and I have to stick with him.
The Jason Thompson-trained dog proved too classy in his heat of the Group 2 Cyndie’s Magic over 550m on the Q1 Lakeside track four starts back when overcoming a slow jump from box 8 to power through the field and win in 30.22 seconds.
After a luckless run in the Cyndie’s Magic Final, the son of Aussie Infrared bounced back in a big way two starts ago over this course and distance when breaking the hands of the clock in 29.21 seconds and beating his rivals by seven lengths.
He was just as electric last start in his heat of the Brisbane Cup where he drove hard from box 6 to lead into the first bend before going on to brain his rivals by 7.75 lengths in 29.22 seconds.
He’s been beginning like a jet so if he does that here and avoids trouble then he should be hard to beat.
1 Unit – Tim Zoo (3)
Shamrock Hayze (4) was squeezed early last start over this course and distance last start and played no role after being shot out the back.
The son of Fernando Bale was no match for Brisbane Cup finalist Cumbria Jack two starts ago when finishing third here in 30.51 seconds.
He’s capable of running quick time as shown three starts back when he won in 29.74 seconds.
The small field suits and should see him get a clear run.
1 Unit – Shamrock Hayze (4)
Tank Keeping (1) looks well placed in this Fifth Grade and should be getting the cash.
The Tony Brett-trained dog found the line strongly when just missing the win over 457m at Q1 Lakeside last start.
He’ll enjoy returning to Q2 Parklands where just two starts ago he led all the way for an impressive win over 520m in 29.67 seconds.
He’s drawn to get straight on the arm and go all the way.
2 Units – Tank Keeping (1)
This is a typically tough Masters race to end the card, but I’m with Sapphire King (4).
The son of Aussie Infrared overcame difficulty in his first Masters race last start when winning over this course and distance in a moderate 30.75 seconds.
He had won three of his five starts prior to that over shorter trips so he’s in good form.
He’s undefeated in two previous starts from box 4.
1 Unit – Sapphire King (4)