2014 Listed Flying Amy Classic Heats Preview
Flying Amy is one of the greatest bitches to come out of Queensland in the modern era. This Thursday night, the heats of the race named in her honour, the listed Flying Amy Classic, will be held at Albion Park, a track where she was at her imposing best.
It's a race which regularly showcases the best sprinters in the Sunshine State, with some of the winners in the last decade being He Knows Uno, Velocity Regina and Bogie Ace.
The 2014 installment has attracted three heats which should be highly entertaining affairs. Competitors will be vying for a place in next Thursday's $15,000 to-the-winner final.
Here is a look at the main chances in each heat;
Race 5 – Flying Amy Classic Heat 1 – 8:05pm
The Reg Kay trained Tear Away Size exits box eight in the first heat and boasts a good record at Albion Park. The 24-month-old has won three of her eight starts over the 520 metre journey at the track with a best of 29.98. The regally bred daughter of Knocka Norris and Surf Queen (Surf Lorian – Queen Size) has won seven of her 14 career starts and only has to negotiate the outside draw to be right in this.
Grand Roman (4) is another with an imposing record at Albion Park. The John Conlon trained black dog has won six of his 12 appearances at the track and stopped the clock at 29.92 in November last year. He is a last start winner in 30.13 here on the 30th of May and should be competitive on that run.
Darren Russell will rug up Farmers's Gold from box seven who is coming of a second to Flash Reality here last week. He has won five and finished second six times from 15 appearances at Albion Park including a slick 29.98 run last December.
Nala's Heart (3) is a youngster who has taken to Albion Park like a duck to water. In five starts at the track the Robert Handyside trained bitch has won two and been placed in a further two. She has a best of 29.99 and has to be considered a solid chance.
You Say So (2) has an experience edge at the track on a lot of these. The Peter Reutschi trained dog has finished in the top three at 15 of his 21 starts here including five wins, with a best of 30.09.
Race 6 – Flying Amy Classic Heat 2 – 8:25pm
The second heat features recent Queensland Derby winner Flash Reality for the astute Grandchester mentor Tony Brett. Already a winner of $60,000 in prize-money, this son of Premier Fantasy and Orara Flash (Bond – Sweet Elite) has won six of his 11 career starts and five from seven at Albion Park. His best is a near record 29.58 and he is chasing his fifth straight win here. He would have to be considered one of the series favourites.
Zali Rose (7) looks the obvious danger to Flash Reality here. The Peter Reutschi trained daughter of Elite And Classy and Ida's Angel (Black Enforcer – Beilpajah Rose) has a best of 29.88 from her four wins at the track. She has won nine career races from 21 starts, including two of her past four.
Angvella (5) has won four of his ten starts at Albion Park including a last start 30.56 effort. The Christina Harman trained dog does have a best of 29.99 but was some 11 lengths behind Flash Reality when the pair met two starts back.
Senor's Mistress (6) is rarely outside the placings when she graces the Albion Park circuit. She has won six from 23 at the track and set a personal best of 30.12 back in February. She may need luck to win this but is a definite place chance.
Race 7 – Flying Amy Classic Heat 3 – 8:44pm
The final heat looks an absolute gem on paper with a number of winning chances. It will be a pity to see a couple of these miss out on next Thursday's final.
Iva Vision (7) is an up-and-comer from the Peter Young kennel from the Ivan Brown – Visualization (Surf Lorian – Leataro) litter, with which he has had so much success. The 26-month-old is undefeated at Albion Park in three appearances and has a 29.94 run to his credit. He chases his fourth straight win here and is more than up to the task.
Reg Kay produces the extremely precocious Happy Haswell from the rails alley in this heat. At just 18-months-old, Happy Haswell has won four of his five career starts including two 29.95 efforts at Albion Park. The son of Surf Lorian and Teenage Dream (Knocka Norris – Size ‘Em Up) looks to have a massive future and could start to make his name in this very series.
You Can Talk (5) has an imposing record at Albion Park, with eight victories from 16 starts. He may not have the time on the clock of some of the others in this race but he keeps finding a way to win. He has only missed a place on three of the 16 occasions he has raced here and has a best of 30.12.
Give You Credit (3) is a brother to You Can Talk and has a record that is equally as imposing. The Peter Reutschi trained red brindle dog has won five of 18 at Albion Park with a swift best time of 29.93, which he registered back in March.
Fancy Stiches jumps from box eight for Park Ridge trainer Reg Hazelgrove. He is a winner of three of his last four outings and has also won four from 12 at Albion Park. His best effort was a rapid 30.00 run a month ago from this very box.
Exhibitionist (4) has her share of ability and is in the highly successful Tony Brett kennel. She can be a bit hit-and-miss but has won three from seven at the track.