Brett's Ominous Flying Amy Warning

TONY Brett has declared Flying Amy Classic fav Black Opium spot on for Thursday's final at Albion Park after last week’s mesmerising 29.54 heat display.

LEADING Queensland trainer Tony Brett has declared Flying Amy Classic favourite Black Opium spot on for Thursday night's $75,000 to-the-winner decider at Albion Park following last week's mesmerising 29.54 heat display.

"If anything she's feeling better in herself this week than she was going into last week's heats," said a confident Brett in the lead up to a blockbuster night of greyhound racing at ‘The Creek' this Thursday.

Installed a pronounced $1.55 favourite with bookmaker Bet365 for Thursday's Flying Amy decider, Black Opium was simply sensational landing her heat in an explosive 29.54 – the sixth fastest time ever recorded for the Albion Park 520 metres.

"She's the fastest I've had go around there – Thirty Talks went 29.61, he was the quickest for me before her last week," said Brett.

"I was actually shocked with the price she was in her heat to tell you the truth," explained Brett of Black Opium's $3.80 starting price, scoring almost effortlessly over Fernando's Riot by 6 ¾ lengths.

"When I saw the price they were betting I was thinking to myself … okay maybe I'm not Jason Thompson but I don't go that bad do I?" quipped the trainer tongue in cheek.

Now a winner at 14 of her 23 career starts, including runner-up performances in Victoria's two flagship Group 1 events, the Australian and Melbourne Cups for Jason and Seona Thompson, Brett told the Recorder that the daughter of Black Magic Opal has now settled in wonderfully at his Grandchester base, taking a week or two to get into the swing of things.

"It wasn't until she got here that I actually realised she was eligible for the Flying Amy … being an age race – with all she's done so far – I just had the idea in my head that she was a lot older," Brett explained of the 2 ½ year old galloper.

"She can be a little funny and standoffish with new people and it took a bit for her to settle in. I really noticed a change in her the weekend before the heats – she's been bouncing around home and feeling great since.

"You only need to take one look at her to see why she's so good. She's a magnificent bitch, weighs around 30 kilos, and there's not a thing out of place with her. Jason and Seona have done a great job with her … she came here in outstanding order."

With the Thompson kennels currently on the sidelines working through a positive swab notification from Warragul earlier this year, owner Sergio Buccilli, with Thompson's blessing, elected to send Black Opium to Brett to contest the outstanding winter riches on the offing in Queensland.

"I've known Serg for a while and when he wanted to send her up I spoke to Jason and Seona and with her going as well as she was after a break it made sense all round," added Brett.

"If you had of pushed me about where I'd want to draw in the final I'd have likely said the middle but you don't knock back box one. Off her run last week it does look her race to lose and I can't fault the week she's had, she's even better in herself than last week. In saying that, there's some very good dogs in the race so she can't put a foot wrong … she flew up the straight on Sunday and will have another gallop Tuesday morning … that will top her off perfect."

Second in betting for Thursday night's $75,000 to-the-winner finale is Steve White's Group 2 Queensland Derby hero Sennachie at $4.00, while sitting on the third line is NSW powerhouse Feral Franky at $7.00, the son of Collision eyeing a sixth straight win for trainer Jack Smith.

And with the boon Queensland greyhound racing is currently experiencing, Brett said participants north of the border have a real spring in their step.

"It's been unreal what Racing Queensland have managed to achieve so far this year," beamed Brett.

"It's made a huge difference to the morale of everyone and I think with the prizemoney increases especially they've looked after everyone from top to bottom. I only said last week that we're a one-turn track away from being in a sensational position … the day they tell us that the first bit of soil has been turned on that will really see us set up for the future.

"The prizemoney boost has put Queensland on the map and the quality of dogs racing Thursday night shows that. The Flying Amy is an age restricted race so god help us next week with the open grade dogs coming as well for the Winter Cup … now worth $250,000. I love watching good dogs go around  like everyone else so I'm looking forward to the next few weeks of racing.”



 

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