Brisbane’s Winter Carnival Contenders On Show
Proven Group One bitch Queen Lauryn, promising and consistent 30-second breaker High Earner, and emerging top-bred sprinter Bogie Bomber, will take to the track among a barrage of improving greyhounds.
The 2009 Sky Channel Winter Chasing Carnival will run from June 4 starting with the Group One Cartwright Property Group Gold Cup and finishing with the Group One Garrard’s Winter Carnival Cup on July 23. In total, there are five group races and one feature, boasting a total major prize money pool of over $250,000.
While Queen Lauryn will start over 600m, both Bogie Bomber and High Earner will be vying for a spot in next week’s $22,000 Flying Amy Classic Final.
Trained by Tony Brett, Bogie Bomber will jump from box two in the first heat and will need to start quicker than last week if he is to stay ahead of the blistering Rattle And Hum in box five.
Rattle And Hum is another hopeful for Winter Carnival Group Racing, regularly breaking the 30-second barrier at Albion Park. However, he will have his work cut out for him tonight jumping from box five to look for a lead into the first turn.
Another Request, trained by leading lady trainer Christine Robartson, will also be a contender in this race after drawing box one and coming off the back of a 30.10 win earlier in the month.
Ms Robartson will also have her fingers crossed in the following heat with another of her star performers, Whata Surf drawing box two.
Whata Surf won in impressive fashion last week in a good time of 30.22, and is expected to improve again.
Sure to contest this race, despite an awkward box five draw, is Cosmic Rumble, who bolted in a 29.97 from box seven two weeks ago, ahead of Zingara.
That’s My Missus is also one never to leave out of the exotics having finished in the top three, three times in seven starts.
Heat Three (Race Six) will see one of Brisbane’s favourites for Group glory during the Winter Carnival, High Earner, who is another from the in-form Robartson kennels.
High Earner has shown champion qualities winning five from five at Albion Park from the 520m start, with the last three in times of 29.86, 29.87 and 29.76, respectively.
High Earner is sure to be in the red with the bookies, and it will take a stellar effort from the other runners to come close.
Following these heats will be the return to Albion Park for the Queen of greyhound racing, Queen Lauryn.
A Group One winner over 520m, Queen Lauryn has run blistering times over 600m including her first start over the distance at Albion Park on April 7, which saw her win by over 15 lengths, and missing out on the track record by 0.03 in a time of 34.60.
The Tony Brett-trained star is sure to come out in top fashion again tonight and if she can find the lead early it will take an enormous effort to stop her.
Best Eight racing of the night will be Race Eight, with the Hawkins Media Solutions 520m.
In a fairly evenly matched field, Bogie Blue, Eskimo Dancer, Elma Fud and Whirly Storm will go head to head for the $3,700 winner’s cheque.
Eskimo Dancer won the Anzac Day Trophy last week in impressive form, and will want to come out firing like he did in that race posting a first sectional of 5.78.
Elma Fud was unlucky with the box draw last week and this week hasn’t really improved, jumping from box five, he will need a clean break to take the lead.
Consistent Reg Hazelgrove performer, Whirly Storm, is also sure to challenge having beaten southern performer Digital Magic in a time of 30.20 two starts ago.
Bogie Blue is almost certain to come out firing also, and is sure to benefit from the freshen up at Capalaba last Saturday.
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Andy Albion’s Best Bets :
- Race 3 Number 2 Bogie Bomber
- Race 5 Number 3 Be Warned
- Race 6 Number 7 High Earner
- Race 7 Number 2 Queen Lauryn