By Alex Nolan
Three Queenslanders have been selected to vie for Group 1 glory in next month’s Topgun Sprinters and Stayers at The Meadows.
Brisbane Cup heroine Orchestrate was the sole Queenslander selected in the Topgun Sprinters (525 metres) for champion trainer Tony Brett.
Queensland Origin Greyhound Series hero Days Of Thunder will join ‘The 715’ finalist Oh Oh Range in the field for the Topgun Stayers (725 metres) for Warren Nicholls and Ned Snow respectively.
Queenslander chasers Just A Sort and Shipwreck – for Brett and Snow – were invited to nominate for the Sprinters but missed out on a start.
Both races take place on Saturday, November 5, with the winner of the sprint walking away with $150,000.
The stayers’ event is worth $75,000 to the winner.
Orchestrate was set to contest this year’s Group 1 Australian Cup at The Meadows as one of the leading fancies with the TAB, after recording a 29.94 second trial at his first look at the unique circuit.
However, he was withdrawn on the morning of the heats due to mild lameness.
He quickly recovered and, after winning a mixed fourth and fifth grade event at Sandown, headed to The Meadows to contest a fifth grade event as a $1.40 favourite and was narrowly defeated by Loxton Bale.
Orchestrate returned to Brisbane two months later and recorded four wins at his next six starts, including the Group 1 TAB Brisbane Cup, which was worth $350,000 to the winner.
Both Oh Oh Range and Days Of Thunder are no strangers to interstate trips.
The former headed south earlier this year to contest the rich ‘The 715’ series at The Gardens and finished fourth, before winning a heat of the Group 1 Queensland Cup at Albion Park.
He returned to Sydney last month and placed third in the Group 2 Sydney Cup Final.
Oh Oh Range is expected to join litter mates Shipwreck and Pocket Money in trials at The Meadows on Wednesday.
Days Of Thunder went even further south to contest three races at Sandown in May, before returning to run a brave third in the Group 1 Queensland Cup Final.
A week later she helped deliver Queensland the Origin Greyhound Series shield with a breathtaking win in the Group 3 Origin Stayers.
Recently, Days Of Thunder and Oh Oh Range clashed in a free for all race over 710 metres at Albion Park on October 6.
Oh Oh Range was victorious on the night but Days Of Thunder – a noted back marker who started favourite in the race – had some excuses, after being held up approaching the home turn.
Days Of Thunder has drawn box one for a free for all over 710 metres at Albion Park on Thursday night, where she is likely to start a short-priced favourite.
Topgun Sprinters – 525 metres
Wow She’s Fast
McInerney
Vice Grip
Good Odds Cash
French Martini
Zipping Kyrgios
Orchestrate
Zippy Tesla
Topgun Stayers – 725 metres
Super Estrella
Mepunga Ruby
Tsar Bell
Oh Oh Range
First Picked
Untapped
Fantastic Radley
Days Of Thunder