John ‘Bunny’ Brasch previews Thursday night’s Albion Park greyhound meeting   

The Queensland Golden Greys Summer Carnival surges on this Thursday night at Albion Park after a very successful Qgold meeting last week.

This week we have heats of the TAB Christmas Stocking (520m) and the TAB Middle Distance Challenge (600m). Both of these races will run their finals next week, each with a prize pool of $15,700.

The Christmas Stocking is a popular annual series that has been around for a long time and is perfectly placed in the early part of the Golden Greys carnival to bring some festive season reward to Queensland kennels.

OK, here is how I see this Thursday night’s meeting:

Race 1: My top pick is (3) Comical Cyndie, who has had just the four starts for the two wins and a best time here of 30.38. Ran second behind Sublime Power here last week. Normally shows plenty of speed in its races and hopefully will lead enough to hang on to win for our supporters. Other chances in this race are (2) Jupiter, (4) Absolute Desire, (6) She’s Some Fox and (7) Cashed Up Johnny.

Race 2: This is a tough race. I have settled on (4) Amendola and (1) Fancy A Scotch. Amendola was a  30.37 winner from box one three starts ago and has been consistent. Fancy A Scotch has also been consistent of late and may go well from the inside draw. The other chances are (6) Jewel Bee, (7) Mumma’s Brew and (8) Jerry.

Race 3: This is the first heat of the Christmas Stocking and I have gone for the eight, Hope’s Golden. It has a good record from the eight box – four wins from eight starts there. She is normally a reliable beginner and should be up on the speed for most of the journey. Other chances are (2) Jimmy The Singer, (3) Tiny Encounter and then (4), (5) and (6) behind them.

Race 4: This is the toughest race of the night with so many chances. In fact, I can’t put any on top but I have gone: (2) Hello Cyndie, (4) Coonamble Kid, (5) Smoking Sam, (6) Live Stream, (7) Queenslander and (8) Mr. Springtime as all winning chances. All are racing consistently and all are in with a chance. ‘Play wide’ in your selections here.

Race 5: (6) Cash Master is definitely the standout. He was absolutely scintillating in an 11-length win in 29.58 last week. Looks to have a bright future ahead and will be very hard to beat again. Other chances are (3) Villante, (4) Where’s The Bar and (7) Shrouded.

Race 6: I have the (5), Inevitable, on top. It had a strong maiden win in 29.99 three starts ago and since has been placed behind Hidden Agenda and then just behind the placegetters behind Cash Master last week. Looks a little easier this week. Other chances are (3) Adulate, (4) Building Success, (7) Bear’s Bullet and (8) Carroway.

Race 7: A very, very good field – a very classy line-up – for the first of two heats of the Middle Distance Challenge (600m). I will stick with (2) Scintillate and (7) Select Moment as my winners. The (1) She’s In Clover tends to want to get off the track, so it will be interesting to see how she goes around the first corner. Then you have (3) Come On Aussie. The interesting runner is (5) Sorority, who has a lot of ability, but as we have seen in the past can be a bit wayward in its racing.

Race 8: I have gone with the proven 600m performer (6) Sunburst. Other chances are (4) Pebble’s Girl and (5) Hidden Agenda. Pebble’s Girl recently beat group chaser Oh Oh Range and then was a close third behind Oh Oh Range last week. Hidden Agenda has had the one run at 600m for a second and looks as though it is suited at the journey. Other chances are (2), (8) and (7).

Race 9: I have (2) Hopeful Bill or (7) Springtime Jet as my winners. Other chances are (1) He’s All Purpose, which has drawn well, (3) Power Moves and (6) Luminosity.

Race 10: I have (2) Hello Mike here on top, although beaten last week. He should bounce back from near the inside and the other chances are (1), (4), (5) and (8).

Race 11: I have (8) Lily Monelli on top. She is first-up since September, to beat (1), (2) and (3).