The stage is set for a cracking night of greyhound racing at Q2 Parklands this Thursday, with 10 races lined up under the lights and a mix of staying tests, middle-distance battles, and sprint showdowns to keep punters engaged from start to finish.
The card opens with a trio of 710m staying events, including the Ladbrokes Punter Assist Open race in Race 3, offering a tidy $13,000 purse and attracting some of the toughest campaigners in the region such as Red Dirt Road and Firethorn.
From there, the action shifts to the 520m and 600m trips, where we’ll see the likes of Backcreek Benny and Extreme Tension.
Let’s dive into the Q2 Parklands form, race-by-race tips, and runners to watch.
BEAST ROYALE (4) has remained in Queensland after finishing at the tail of Saturday night’s Group 1 National Distance Championship final.
The Tasmanian chaser had been racing in excellent form prior to last start, winning five of his previous seven races.
That included his State Distance Championship two starts ago when impressively winning over 720m at Launceston in 42.53 seconds.
He was outclassed on Saturday and will appreciate the drop back to this Fifth Grade.
| 4. Beast Royale (4) 51318T: Cameron Betts |
OXLEY CHOICE (1) can bounce back after not having the best of luck over 600m here last start.
The Fernando Bale bitch had won three of her past four starts prior to that including an impressive effort where she dashed away for a 9.25 length win over 600m.
Her only previous start over this course and distance was inconclusive due to a slow start but she looks much better equipped to handle it now.
She’s undefeated in two starts from box 1.
| 1. Oxley Choice (1) 12116T: Terry Priest |
This is a cracking 710m Open that has attracted several classy stayers.
I’m going with FIRETHORN (8) who is racing in a purple patch of form with her only defeat in her past five starts being in the NSW National Distance Championship final three starts back.
The Mark Moroney-trained bitch has been low flying since with back-to-back wins over this course and distance in slick times of 41.21 and 41.25 seconds.
I expect her to cross Red Dirt Road to lead and withstand his late charge to land a narrow victory.
| 8. Firethorn (8) 11711T: Mark Moroney |
BACKCREEK BENNY (1) should be back to full fitness following four runs since a long spell.
The Selena Zammit-trained dog won over 457m at Q1 Lakeside first-up before three unlucky runs including a heat of the Queensland Distance Championship where he worked home strongly in 29.64 seconds.
He was low flying last preparation that included a Group 2 Rockhampton Cup victory during a nine-race winning streak.
With a clear run from the inside box, he can fight out the finish and return to form.
| 1. Backcreek Benny (1) x1456T: Selena Zammit |
ANNIE’S GIFT (7) will be tuned up nicely for this after being given a hit out over the 350m on the Q Straight last start.
The My Bro Fabio bitch won over this course and distance two starts back when leading all the way in 34.95 seconds.
While she doesn’t win out of turn, I think she has the early speed to lead from box 7 and hopefully build a winning break.
| 7. Annie’s Gift (7) 84215T: Matt Bourke |
MISS HAZEL (2) has been racing in super consistent form recently over 457m at Q1 Lakeside.
The Darren ‘D-Russ’ Russell-trained bitch won four starts ago before placing in two of her next starts and amazingly clocked times of 25.59, 25.69, 25.59 and 25.58 seconds.
She doesn’t often start over this course and distance, but when she did last time, she clocked a smart 29.90 seconds to take the win.
She’s well drawn in box 2.
| 2. Miss Hazel (2) 41422T: Darren Russell |
STAR TURN (7) strikes the right race to return to the winner’s circle after chasing home subsequent National Sprint Championship winner Cumbria Jack.
The Jeff Crawford-trained dog gave a good account of himself two starts ago when finishing third in 29.70 seconds before a luckless run in the Queensland Sprint Championship final last start.
He raced in awesome form last preparation which included a win in the Group 3 Brisbane Young Guns.
He has the speed to lead but as long as he avoids trouble then he should prove too classy.
| 7. Star Turn (7) 42238T: Jeff Crawford |
BAD AND BERTHA (8) is building a solid record particularly over this course and distance where she has won two of three starts with a close second in the other.
The daughter of Fernando Bale recorded a personal best and a best of the night time of 29.83 seconds when proving too strong from box 4.
While box 8 isn’t ideal, she has shown excellent early speed to suggest that she’ll be able to cross and find the front or lob handy.
| 8. Bad And Bertha (8) Scratched: | |||
AWAY DAYS (1) will appreciate returning to Masters grade after chasing home Moet Magic over 600m here last start for third.
The Superior Panama bitch produced a powerful finishing burst two starts ago over this course and distance to come from the clouds and win on the line in 30.07 seconds.
Notably, she defeated several of the same dogs that she meets here.
She does her best work when wearing the red rug, so is ideally drawn in box 1.
| 1. Away Days (1) 74413T: Michael Patterson |
We’ve reached the final race where once again it’s a wide-open Masters contest where we must work out whose turn it is to win this week.
I’m going with COMICAL CYNDIE (6) who produced an excellent performance over this course and distance on Saturday night.
The Cyndie Elson-trained bitch showed good speed out of box 8 to settle second behind Obliging Warren and raced that way the rest of the way in 30.32 seconds.
If she produces that jump, then she should be able to lead into the first bend.
| 6. Comical Cyndie (6) 76662T: Cynthia Elson |