Vics ‘cross’ Qld border

Thursday, 25 Jun, 2020,
by Peter Quilty

Vics ‘cross’ Qld border

The ‘sweet smell’ of Group 1 success is still lingering for sprint queen Black Opium.

Last month, Black Opium broke her G1 jinx winning the Sapphire Crown (515m) at Sandown. It was her first win at G1 level in seven attempts.

And now the darling of Australian greyhound racing will be chasing her second G1 win after a dazzling 12-length win in a Brisbane Cup heat (520m) at Albion Park tonight.

Trained by Jason Thompson, Black Opium will also be having her second tilt at Brisbane Cup glory, having finished second to retired superstar Sennachie in last year’s final.

Ironically, her biggest stumbling block will be kennelmate Hooked On Scotch who returned to his absolute best with a 29.55sec heat win.

Dubbed the “fastest chaser on the planet”, Hooked On Scotch is one of the most exciting greyhounds of the modern era and he was back in a big way!

WATCH: Black Opium win her heat of the Brisbane Cup from box six.

WATCH: Simon Told Helen (B7) finish second to Special Cyndie (B1) is a fascinating dash to the finish line.

WATCH: Hooked On Scotch win his heat from box eight.

It was a big night for the Victorian contingent as David Burnett’s dynamic duo, litter brothers Simon Told Helen and Who Told Stevie, also qualified for next week’s final by finishing second in their respective heats.

Australia’s No. 1 sprinter, Simon Told Helen ($1.45F) lost no admirers after blowing the start and having to work overtime to get to the front. He was only overhauled in the closing stages by local star Special Cyndie ($4.60), but still clocked 29.82sec.

Who Told Stevie ($3.00) never gave up the chase against Queensland’s Oh Mickey ($1.55F), who set the heats time standard with a sizzling 29.45sec win – only one length outside the 520m track record of 29.38sec set by Sennachie in last year’s Brisbane Cup final.

Meanwhile, Victorian staying star Blazing Cartier qualified for next week’s Queensland Cup (710m) – and her fourth G1 final – when second in her heat.

WATCH: Who Told Stevie (B8) finish second to QLD star Oh Mickey (B2).

2020 Sky Racing Brisbane Cup box draw
1) Special Cyndie
2) Who Told Stevie (VIC)
3) Shakey Diesel
4) Hooked On Scotch (VIC)
5) Black Opium (VIC)
6) Federal Morgan
7) Oh Mickey
8) Simon Told Helen (VIC)
Reserves
9) Stinger
10) Blue Diva

? taken by Box 1 Photography. Provided by Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club.

Peter Quilty

Peter Quilty has more than three decades of experience as assistant editor of Victorian Greyhound Weekly. He was editor of GRV monthly magazine The Adviser (2001-09) and owner/publisher of Australian Greyhound Monthly. He also served on the selection panel for the inaugural GRV ‘Hall of Fame’ inductees and for several years was an adjudicator on the Victorian GOTY. He’s also published greyhound racing yearbooks and wrote the ‘Bold Trease’ video script.