(Photo: Box 1 Photography)

By Chase Editor PAT McLEOD

As the storm clouds continued to hover over south-east Queensland in late May, an on-track storm involving some of the nation’s top chasers was also brewing.

The $1.9M TAB Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival may have dawned under grey skies, but at the Albion Park track, ironically known as ‘The Creek’, the action is pointing towards a blockbuster carnival.

An early menu favourite is the June 16 Flying Amy Classic, now a Group 2 event and now worth a very enticing $150,000.

Lining up for a slice of that action is recent Grafton Cup winner Respectability (Mick Patterson) who marked his turf with a commanding 29.58s win at Albion Park on May 25. Making an even bigger impression was John Dart’s Gypsy Del (pictured), who not only claimed the Brisbane Young Guns (520m), but also is now firmly in the frame for the Flying Amy.

Gypsy Del shared the honours on the first Winter Carnival finals night with the Brent Kline-trained Keen, who took out the Carnival Chase (600m).

The main carnival course will be served on July 7, headlined by Group Ones, the $525,000 SKY Racing Brisbane Cup (520m) and the $225,000 TAB Qld Cup.