Zulu leads Classic Queensland quest

[Wandering Eyes]

Boom youngster Alpha Zulu will lead an imposing – in both quality and quantity – Victorian contingent into Thursday night’s heats of the Group 2 Flying Amy Classic (520m) at Albion Park.

A total of 15 Vics will contest the seven Flying Amy heats, the final of which is worth $150,000 to-the-winner, while 12 Victorian middle distance performers have also ventured north for the G3 Carnival Chase heats (600m).

Alpha Zulu is trained by Jason Thompson, who’s certainly no stranger to feature race success in Queensland, having won the G1 Brisbane Cup on five occasions.

Alpha Zulu is $2.25 favourite with Sportsbet for heat four of the Flying Amy (race 5, 8.04pm), while he’s one of four Vics sharing the second line of ‘All In’ betting at $8, behind South Australian star Victa Damian at $4.

Click HERE for Sportsbet’s markets on Albion Park feature heats

Joint $8 second elects with Alpha Zulu are Elite Alex (heat 1), trained by Mark Delbridge, Robert Britton’s G3 Launching Pad winner Trooper Tears (heat 3) and Professor Snitch (heat 5), trained by Steve White.

A son of Orson Allen that doesn’t turn two until September, Alpha Zulu has won five of his seven starts, clocking scintillating time in winning his past two starts at The Meadows in Best Of Night time (29.66sec and 29.71sec).

Thompson also has two other well-fancied Flying Amy contenders in Umberto (heat 6 – $2.70), which is part-owned by Jason’s star jockey son Ben, and Stealth (heat 7 – $4).

However, Thompson concedes wide draws for his trio is cause for concern.

“They haven’t drawn well, but they’re all in good form and if they’re good enough they can still win.”

“They haven’t drawn well,” Thompson said.

“You would’ve thought one of them might have drawn alright, but unfortunately none of them have.

“But they’re all in good form and if they’re good enough they can still win.

“All three have trialled at Albion Park.

“Umberto trialled over 520m last week and went 29.85sec, and Alpha Zulu and Stealth both went over 395m on Sunday. Alpha Zulu ran 22.54sec, which is okay, and Stealth went 22.77sec, but he’s not a trial dog. The main thing is that they’ve had a look at the track.

“Whatever happens on Thursday, they’ll be staying up there for the (G1) Brisbane Cup (heats June 29).”

WATCH: “He is a real talent!” Queensland Carnival contender ALPHA ZULU (B5) was a scorching 29.66sec BON winner at The Meadows on May 20 prior to heading north.

Victoria will also be strongly represented in the four heats of the G3 Carnival Chase over 600m.

Lisa Cockerell’s Hector Fawley, winner of the G3 Racecallers Showdown (595m) on Sandown Cup night, dominates betting on the final runoff at $1.70.

Mark Delbridge has a runner in each of the Carnival Chase heats; Valor Bale (heat 1 – $7.50), centurion Jarick Bale (heat 2 – $6), Ailee Bale (heat 3 – $2.80F), and Zoha Bale (heat 4 – $5).

Pawnote: There was a Victorian quinella in the 2022 Flying Amy Final, with Photo Man, trained by Gavin Clifton, holding out Brooke Ennis’ Amron Boy, with both going on to claim Group 1 glory.

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