By Alex Nolan
After a near life-long association with greyhound racing, trainer Warren Nicholls is about to get the chance to put his name among the sport’s elite.
Problem is, he’ll be watching through squinted eyes for the first half of the race.
It comes after his powerful stayer Days Of Thunder recorded another breathtaking finish to win her heat of the Group 1 TAB Queensland Cup over 710 metres at Albion Park on Thursday.
She’ll get the chance to do the same in next week’s $225,000 Final, where she’ll jump from box three.
She’ll join the likes of the airborne Bedrock Fred, who recorded his third consecutive Albion Park win to win his heat for Tony Brett, Oh Oh Range for local trainer Ned Snow, Collinda Patty and a host of top-performed interstate raiders.
For Nicholls, sending Days Of Thunder out onto the track can be a stressful experience.
Jumping with the field, the 31-month-old daughter of Fernando Bale dropped out to the rear as the leaders made their way into the home straight the first time.
However, as has become customary, the now winner of nine from 32 picked off her rivals one by one to put herself within striking distance at the home turn.
From there, she stormed clear to down Gypsy Wyong by more than six lengths.
“I try not to watch the first lap but she’s pretty exciting coming home,” Nicholls said.
“At her first 700 metre race she led all the way, then went to Ipswich and got chopped out on the rail when she had the inside boxes over 630 metres.
“Ever since then she’s looked to drop out.
“How she still follows them and runs home like that, I don’t know.
“It’s insane.”
Nicholls said he had been involved in the sport since he was 14 and ramped-up his involvement when purchasing a property at Churchable about eight years ago.
While he’s enjoyed big race experience with the likes of Common Ground (2019 Young Guns) and Queensland Derby finalists Broken Loose and Copy Workshop, making a rich Group 1 final hits differently.
“It’s pretty exciting for us at home, being our first runner in a Group 1 and we’re in with a fair chance too, I’d say,” Nicholls said.
“I probably thought they’d get a bit too far in front of her tonight.
“You hope to still be in the finish, but she was too good tonight.”
Days Of Thunder completed the 710 metre track in 41.67 seconds to record the third-fastest heat of the four.
Collinda Patty, in the care of Tony Brett, confirmed her status as one of the country’s premier stayers when she led throughout and clocked the fastest heat (41.51 seconds) for Jason Thompson.
Missing a start in the Super Stayers didn’t harm Oh Oh Range’s chances, as he stormed over the top of Super Estrella to win his heat in 41.90 seconds.
Bedrock Fred burst out of the boxes to establish a healthy early lead and, just like he has in recent weeks, never relinquished it to score in 41.57 seconds.
Bedrock Fred has opened $3 and favourite to win the Final and will get his chance from box one.
Super Estrella and Zipping Kansas finished second in their respective heats but hold down the second and third lines of betting at $4.40 and $4.60 respectively.
Oh Oh Range has come up at $8, while Days Of Thunder is listed as a $12 chance.
Group 1 TAB Queensland Cup
Albion Park 710 metres, Thursday, July 7
1. BEDROCK FRED (TONY BRETT)
2. SUPER ESTRELLA (DAVID SMITH)
3. DAYS OF THUNDER (WARREN NICHOLLS)
4. OH OH RANGE (NED SNOW)
5. GYPSY WYONG (THOMAS DAILLY)
6. COLLINDA PATTY (JASON THOMPSON)
7. ZIPPING KANSAS (JASON MAGRI)
8. DRAKO BALE (ANDREA DAILLY)
9R. FANTASTIC RADLEY (SANDRA HUNT)
10. COLLINDA LADY (JASON THOMPSON)