Norm The Storm and kennelmates Cyndie’s Magic and Abby’s Magic look the top picks in Thursday’s Group 3 Queensland Cup (600m) heats at Albion Park.
The classy trio head the line-up for the three heats of the $25,000-to-the-winner series, with each looking hard to stop.
Norm the Storm was slightly below-par last week when he finished third over this distance but looks ideally drawn to atone in heat one.
MATTHEW Reid’s brilliant greyhound has been a track star in recent months and scored a sizzling 34.69 triumph over this distance on January 14.
He starts from box one, from which he has placed in each of his previous two starts and looks the best in this field.
Apatite (box seven) has also been out of luck recently but has scored two wins and three placings from this draw, including a 34.91 effort at Albion Park in October, and looks the toughest opponent.
Cyndie’s Magic (box three) never starts like a rocket but always finishes brilliantly and looks the pick in the second heat.
The Bill Elson-trained greyhound, who finished runner-up in last month’s Group 1 Brisbane Cup runner-up behind Dyna Double One, has placed in four of her last five starts and as long as she stays with them early, she should power home for the win.
Littermate Abby’s Magic has also been a reliable performer for Elson and looks the standout chance in heat three.
Abby’s Magic (box six) won at Albion Park on her last start over the 600m in an eye-catching 34.95.
A notch below her more successful sister, she has only placed on two of her seven previous runs from box six but looks the best in this company and is running well at the moment.
The three heat winners, runners-up and the next two fastest placegetters go through to next Thursday’s final.
In other Albion Park Thursday action, Clover Cottage was a terrific 30.10 winner at Albion Park last Thursday from box eight and can repeat that feat in race seven (520m).
The Malcolm Ross-trained greyhound has won four of his last seven starts and wears the pink rug again for this race.
Amy Lyndan (box three) is having her look at the 520m at Albion Park but should be too good for the rest in race 10.
She has scored five wins from her eight starts so far, including an impressive 23.96 effort over the 420m at Lismore on her last start.
For Albion Park Thursday fields form and expert picks, click here.
