QStars Set To Shine

Four Group 1 races and four Group 2 races are scheduled on QStars night, where the QBRED Stars have their chance to shine brightly.

Grant Dixon has won more QBRED races than any other driver, with 29 Triad Finals made up of 10 two-year-old wins, 11 three-year-olds and 8 four-year-olds.

Grant can add to that total with Cool And Classy looking the one to beat in the two-year-old fillies Final, Fire Raiser a live chance in the two-year-old colts and geldings and both Cheer Leader and Free Thinker contenders in their respective four-year-old divisions.

Shane Graham has won 10 Triad Finals across his career, claiming three each in the two-year-old and three-year-old years and four in the four-year-old divisions.

Graham is poised to add to that tally and will partner with impressive heat winner Bronski Zulu in the first Group 1 of the night- the three-year-old colts and geldings Final.

Trained by Donny Smith at Redcliffe, Bronski Zulu has shown talent throughout his career and draws favourably to add a Group glory to his resume.

“I’d imagine from the draw we would have to go forward and use it,” Graham said.

Last start winner Bronski Zulu

The race looks an open contest with some speed on the front line and some talented types including My Ultimate Buddha, Ellis Street and Dele Row drawn on the second line.

Graham is quietly confident that the son of Sweet Lou can perform in the final and knows he has a horse fit and in-form.

“He has lost a bit of his high speed and gained some toughness and I think that showed last week,” he said.

“Ít will probably come down to whoever gets the best trip, so we have to be mindful of not doing too much.”

Pete McMullen has a strong list of drives for the night and will partner with Attachment in this race and agrees it looks an open contest.

“I think it is very even, but if the Ellis Street turns up that was at Redcliffe on Derby night he’d definitely be hard to beat,” McMullen said.

With three runners in the race, including, the Turpin/McMullen team opted for a trial rather than a race for Dele Row and Attachment.

“We are super happy with the pair of them, it was just the perfect work out, just what they wanted.

“They’re on target for this, everything is AOK,” McMullen said.

With four Triad Finals against his name, McMulen has never won a three-year-old division but will be hoping that the filly Rylee Rhayne Bow can add to the two-year-old title she won last season.

With the race favourite, Ever Art, drawn inside the second line, McMullen will have a bit to weigh up early, with the chance to press forward from gate six a definite possibility.

“If we want to, I’m sure we can, she has blistering gate speed,” he said.

“Not only is she really quick off the gate, she comes straight back to you and back on the bridle very easy.

“Id love to be in front but if it comes at a high price than maybe not.”

Rylee Rhayne Bow

The two-year-old colts and geldings also looks an open contest and Graham and McMullen both go into the race with strong chances, driving Thetorque Majority and Our Sweet Delight respectively.

Our Sweet Delight was strong to the line last start in claiming his third career victory at his fourth start, eased in the early stages before finishing over the top.

“We knew he would be great off a helmet and he proved it,” McMullen said.

“That’s the happiest we have been with him.

“It’s a very competitive race this one, probably the strongest Triad I’ve seen in recent years.”

Graham agreed, stating, “you could make a case for pretty much the whole field I think, it will all come down to speed and luck in running”.

Shane has had a long association with the Torque breed, having driven Torque In Motion to Group 1 and Triad success, with that mare being the dam of Thetorque Majority, who has a two-year-old class record and impressive Triad heat win at his past two starts.

“I don’t think it will knock him about, he has high speed like the whole family, but he probably has more stamina than the whole family and last week he showed that,” Graham said

“Each of his wins he has done in a different way, so he is not just a one-trick pony, you can drive him to how the race suits.

“There is improvement in him, he is doing this on raw ability.”

Race one is scheduled for 5.19pm, with race 10 at 9.43pm

BEST BETS

Chris Barsby- R1 N9 ROYAL CRUISER: “This is a three-year-old that is in good form, aiming for a hat-trick of victories. I see no reason why he can’t win again. He is going really well and he has good confidence, stick with him.”

Darren Clayton- R8 N1 LADY DIGBY: “This mare drew this same gate over this trip last start. Releasing the class mare Eye Keep Smiling on that occasion, she chased gamely to be just 2m away, running a slick last 800. This looks ideal for her to go one better.”