By SHANE GILLARD, Qld Racing Integrity Commissioner
The TAB Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival May was a huge success with some great racing being showcased at the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club.
The Winter Carnival was headlined by the $525,000 Sky Racing Brisbane Cup and included 13 Group and Listed races over six nights with $1.9 million in prizemoney on offer.
The Carnival kicked off with a fantastic performance by chaser Keen in the Group 3 Garrard’s Carnival Chase, followed by a sensational finishing burst by Gypsy Del in the Group 3 Brisbane Youngs Guns, closing out a superb feature race event.
The Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club’s 50th Anniversary event comprised a Finns Tribute Show live trackside, a car giveaway, carnival rides, pyro and light show, and food and beverage stalls, with the Group 3 BGRC 50th Anniversary Trophy taken out by Just A Sort for trainer Tony Brett.
Another highlight was the Group 3 TAB Dashing Corsair, which featured a dominant victory for Bedrock Fred followed by Photo Man taking out the Group 2 TAB Flying Amy Photo Man in a gutsy finish, holding off a defiant challenge from fellow Victorian Amron Boy.
The Group 3 TAB Super Sprinters saw an incredible run by Equalizer, followed by the Group 3 Garrard’s Super Stayers Invitational being won emphatically by the South Australian chaser Bedrock Fred with a 4 1/2 length victory over Gypsy Wyong and Zipping Kansas.
Cup Night kicked off with a masterful front running performance by Collinda Patty, who snatched the Group 1 TAB Queensland Cup glory, followed by a breathtaking performance from Orchestrate in the Group 1 Sky Racing Brisbane Cup. Orchestrate never gave his rivals a chance with a 3 ½ length win over his kennel mate Just A Sort.
The Winter Carnival wrapped up with the sensational TAB Origin Greyhound Series Event, in which the Group 3 TAB Origin Greyhound Series Distance was won by Days of Thunder, producing her customary finishing burst, followed by the Group 3 TAB Origin Greyhound Series Sprint which was taken out convincingly by superstar New South Wales chaser Good Odds Cash who put the race beyond doubt after utilising Box 1 to perfection.
The series was concluded with a thrilling race in which Queensland star Shipwreck broke the deadlock with a decisive 2 ½ length victory over Zipping Kyrgios in the Group 3 TAB Origin Greyhound Series Match Race.
It was fantastic to see so many people attend the Winter Carnival in what was one of the most successful Carnivals to date.
The Commission wishes to thank the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club, its partners Racing Queensland and TAB, and the numerous staff for their support in delivering another fantastic Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival.
