Thursday night racing at Q1 Lakeside never disappoints, and this week’s card looks like another beauty.
Expect fast times, tight finishes, and a few surprise packets as the dogs hit the track under lights.
I’ve run the rule over the form and picked out a few that look ready to fire. Let’s get into it.
GUS THE GREAT (1) is having his first look at this course and distance but arrives at Q1 Lakeside in great form.
The Travis Elson-trained dog started his career with back-to-back placings at Albion Park and Grafton before breaking through last start.
He showed excellent speed out of box 6 to open a big lead and go all the way for a nine-length win over 450m at Grafton.
He’s ideally drawn in box 1 and should get on the arm.
AKELA IAIDO (5) has taken a real liking to this course and distance after dropping back from 710m.
The son of Ballymac Kingdom showed good early speed to lead all the way from box 1 three starts ago for a narrow victory in a best of the night 36.62 seconds.
Following an unlucky run two starts ago when third, she fought gamely last start but being impeded by the two frontrunners cost her victory when nailed on the line by Goldstar Ginny in a personal best of 36.21 seconds.
She has the speed to lead and offset the troubles of the squeeze box.
CUMBRIA JACK (1) has been freshened since missing a run in the final of the Group 1 Brisbane Cup.
The Tony Brett-trained dog was low flying with three wins and a second place finish in the Group 3 Ladbrokes Origin Greyhound Sprint from his past four starts.
He takes on this course and distance for the first time but did win in a best of the night time over 440m at Goulburn earlier in his career.
He takes a step to get going but musters speed quickly so should be able to hold the rail.
RIORSON BALE (5) found them a touch too nippy up the Q Straight last start but that run will have tuned her up nicely for the rise for the first time to 550m.
The Feral Franky bitch had been low flying over 457m here recently with three wins from four starts.
She was excellent last Thursday when charging out of box 3 to lead all the way for a 2.5 length win in 25.21 seconds which was just off the best time of the night.
Moet Magic in box 4 should lead which works well as she’ll be able to cart Riorson Bale into the race.
GOLDSTAR SANDLER (4) stepped up to this course and distance for the first time last start and absolutely loved it.
The Riley Evans-trained dog fearlessly charged through the pack to lead heading into the bend before proving too strong in the run to win in 30.54 seconds.
Prior to that he had been finding the line well over shorter trips and now looks to have found his mark since arriving from New Zealand.
A repeat of last start should see him fighting out the finish.
AUTUMN STORM (4) will appreciate the drop in grade after competing in much stronger races.
The Tom Tzouvelis-trained bitch was last seen finishing fifth in the Grafton Cup which followed a luckless run in a heat of the Queensland Cup.
She’s no stranger to Q1 Lakeside, having won a heat and then the final of the Group 3 Dashing Corsair over 642m just five and six starts ago.
Her excellent box speed should see her find the front and hopefully return to the winner’s kennel.
MIDNIGHT QUEEN (1) was heavily backed last start over 457m here and got the cash, but not before giving her backers a scare.
The Bailey Dargusch-trained bitch was last away and things looked grim but she savaged the line to win narrowly in 25.57 seconds.
She’s a classy chaser who was luckless in a heat of the Brisbane Cup and boasts a personal best over 520m at Q2 Parklands of 29.54 seconds.
If she begins as well as she can, she can track up strongly along the rail from box 1.
RED DIRT ROAD (6) dropped back to this course and distance last start and despite copping a bump early, he ran well to finish second to Stowaway in 36.17 seconds.
The Tim Britton-trained dog was able to lead Stowaway the start prior when winning a heat of the Queensland Cup over 710m at Q2 Parklands in 41.24 seconds.
He has a good record over this course and distance having won a heat of the Group 3 Dashing Corsair six starts ago.
Box 6 should allow him to build momentum early without being impeded.
BLUE BLEND (4) was a step slow last start over this course and distance and it proved costly as he ran into trouble and was spat out the back to finish near the tail.
The Jeff Crawford-trained dog can bounce back here given his star credentials that include him holding the Q2 Parklands track record for 520m.
He’s yet to win in three starts over this course and distance but did set a personal best of 25.38 seconds in a heat of the Lakeside Cup.
The vacant box to his inside suits as does the small field.
LET’S GO FROSTY (8) looks close to a win after finishing runner-up in his past four starts.
The son of Fernando Bale tuned up on Monday for this with hit out up the Q Straight where he finished strongly for a half-length second.
Last Thursday night, he was last out of the lids before charging home to finish second in 25.45 seconds.
He loves box 8, having won three of four starts when wearing the pink rug.
ERIZA SPARKLES (4) ventures north from New South Wales where she was last seen finishing a luckless seventh in the Group 1 Peter Mosman Opal Final.
The daughter of Tommy Shelby was flying before than with back-to-back wins over 520m at Wentworth Park in 29.71 and 29.48 seconds.
She’s only lightly raced so has an abundance of upside and looks to have a class edge.
While she’s been racing over further, she’s a quick beginner and will be strong late.
OBLIGING TRAVIS (1) takes on this course and distance for the first time but arrives here in good form looking for his third win in a row.
The Cyndie Elson-trained dog crossed from box 8 two starts ago to win by 3.75 lengths over 390m here.
Last start she used box 1 to advantage to rail through and win a Fourth Grade contest by the same margin.
He’ll appreciate a return to Masters Class and loves box 1 having won three of five when wearing the red rug.