Outside Pass dominates QLD Sprint Championship heats
OUTSIDE Pass stamped herself as the greyhound to beat in this year's Queensland Sprint Championship with a stunning 29.61 display in her heat at Albion Park on Thursday night.
Stepping fairly from box four, Outside Pass was able to work her way into third spot in the early stages, sitting on the outside of Flying Circus (box two) as tearaway leader Zabdon Ferrari (box five) kicked away around the first turn.
Heading down the back and the daughter of Head Bound and Tina's Show knuckled down to the task, slipping into another gear to stride up beside the lamplighter around the home turn.
In the home straight Outside Pass put the paw to the floor, striding clear to register a six and one quarter length win on the line.
Trained by Tony Apap, the victory made it 12 wins for Outside Pass at start 28, with the win also setting a new personal time standard over the track and trip.
Thirty Talks was all the rage in the second Sprint heat of the night, sent to the boxes as the $1.50 top elect. However, punters had their hearts in their mouths in the early stages as the brindle dog missed the kick off the eight.
Despite bombing the start, Thirty Talks was able to muster quickly, driving up on the outside of the field around the first turn to slip into third spot.
Once he balanced up down the back the Tony Brett-prepared chaser began taking ground off the leaders, hitting the front as he entered the home straight and coming away to score by three and one quarter lengths in 29.98 over Macnivek (box two).
The third and final sprint qualifier saw another odds on favourite salute, with Sheza Keen Size leading all the way off box two. Pinging the lids, the regally bred daughter of Head Bound and Surf Queen gave nothing else a look in, charging to the line to defeat a gallant Fabulous Bill (box three) by five and a half lengths in 29.94.
Also run on Thursday night were two heats of the Queensland Distance Championship, with ultra-consistent chaser Cyndie's Magic taking time honours in the first run off.
Despite being last to leave the boxes, the daughter of Magic Sprite and Regal Silver was able to work her way into fourth spot entering the straight on the first occasion.
Once she had the leaders in her sights, Cyndie's Magic was able to weave her way through the field, finding the front coming off the back and shooting clear to register her 27th career victory in 42.20.
The second Distance heat only gave a winning hope to three of the five runners, with Mulloway getting the nod from punters off box six. However, the Joane Price-trained stayer failed to produce his best, with Big Easy Red producing a top run off box four to defeat Smashniak Marcy (box two) by three and a half lengths in 42.21.
The winner of both the Queensland Sprint and Distance finals, to be conducted next Thursday night at Albion Park, will progress through to the respective Group 1 National finals which will be run and won at Angle Park (South Australia) on Saturday August 27.