Box Draw Evens Out Queensland Derby Final
Next week's Brandons Electrical Queensland Derby will have punters scratching their heads after the box draw evened up the field following last night's Heats.
Experience at Albion Park shined through in the six Heats, with several Brisbane regulars making the cut, including fastest qualifier and reigning WA Derby winner, High Earner who won in 30.09.
The Group Two race is worth $38,000 including a $25,000 winners cheque.
Southern favourite Aston Trivett, from the Jason Thompson kennel, didn't start well in his heat at his first look at the Brisbane track. The Group One Maturity winner was unable to find the rail from box six, until it was too late, running seventh behind local Mal Dawson-trained dog Surfin Silence.
Mr Thompson's other hopeful was Silver Chief and National Derby winner Fedex, which also started fresh on the track, running a close second to Bogie Bomber. However, Fedex was the third fastest second placing of the six heats, qualifying as first reserve in the final.
Group One Queensland trainer Tony Brett has once again shown top training form with his solid performer Bogie Bomber beating Fedex in a time of 30.27. Bogie Bomber will jump from box eight in the final.
Third fastest qualifier of the night was Jamaican Bolt, which is owned by Paul Felgate, the major sponsor of the race, and a Greyhounds Queensland board member.
The classy Peter Giles-trained dog fired out from the start with a blistering 5.64 first sectional ahead of local sprinter Setanta, who also qualified. The two will jump from box three and five respectively, in the final.
Box one in the final will be Surfin Silence, who was second favourite to Aston Trivett in his Heat and jumped on the opportunity to lead the race.
New kid on the block Take The Kitty was the second quickest of the night, backing up in a time of 30.18 after setting a blistering standard at Wentworth Park last start of 29.87.
Dashing Corsair, who was the slight favourite in the race, qualified with one of the fastest second placings to Take The Kitty, and will jump from box two.
The night's shortest-priced favourite to win a Heat was Andrea Dailly's Dyna Lachlan who ran a mammoth race last week to win from behind, and then won again last night. Jumping from box six in the final, the promising greyhound is looking to make it eight straight wins from 10 starts.
The second reserve for the night is Tina Womann's Trew Chase that ran second to High Earner.
The Group Two Brandons Electrical Queensland Derby will be celebrated at Albion Park with children's entertainment, and punter's will be able to enter into the losing ticket competition for their chance to win a $500-win bet on the race.
2009 Group Two Brandons Electrical Queensland Derby Final
- Box 1. – Surfin Silence
- Box 2. – Dashing Corsair
- Box 3. – Jamaican Bolt
- Box 4. – High Earner
- Box 5. – Setanta
- Box 6. – Dyna Lachlan
- Box 7. – Take The Kitty
- Box 8. – Bogie Bomber
- 1st Res. – Fedex
- 2nd Res. – Trew Chase
Reserves