Blue Blend facing ‘welcome to first grade’ moment

By Pat McLeod

Blue Blend may be the reigning 520 metre track record holder at The Q, and the code’s toast of Queensland, but trainer Jeff Crawford knows his kennel star must make a giant leap on Thursday night.

Blue Blend became the Maroon’s hero from the Origin Greyhound Series night when he toppled raging favourite Jungle Johnny in the deciding match race.

The dog will now take on a field of champions in his heat of the Brisbane Cup on the Q2 Parklands track.

While still feeling ‘the tingle’ from Origin night, Crawford admits the enormity of the step from promising youngster to accomplished Group performer was now very real.

Just a week after Blue Blend lowered the Q2 Parkland’s 520 metre record to 29.16 seconds in the match race, Jason Thompson’s Excavation, Flying Zulu and Tim Zoo stormed to decisive wins in Brisbane Cup Preludes.

All three, plus a spectacular array of national talent, are across Thursday night’s six Brisbane Cup heats.

“The euphoria of Origin night is now just a pleasant memory, although I am still savouring the moment,” Crawford said.

“It was a great night and a great win. I'm still watching the replay every now and again because you have to enjoy the good times.

“They (Thompson’s trio) are many steps above where we are at and that is why they are able to perform on the big stage. They are used to grinding it out against dogs of their ilk on foreign tracks.

“They are very good, seasoned racing animals. My dog (Blue Blend) is still a young dog who obviously has ability, but he has to step it up to compete with those dogs that are already on the big stage. Only time and experience will help him achieve that.

“I think there is a lot of improvement in Blue Blend, just through experience and maturity."

Blue Blend has just turned two.

"The majority of dogs don't reach their peak until they are two-and-a-half or three years old," Crawford said.

“If he follows in the same mould as he has been, there should be a lot more improvement left in him. He has done very well for his age and experience so far.

“I have no doubt that in time he will become a better race dog, but he was able to post the time he did the other day in a two-out match race.

“There were no excuses there and this Thursday night will be a different kettle of fish for him.

“He has to learn to be a good race dog and be able to think about things during a race."

Crawford said he ‘was not unhappy’ with the box draw (eight) for Thursday night and said Jason Sharp’s Morton (box three) and Tom Dailly’s Smooth Plane (box six) were the obvious biggest threats in a ‘very smart field’.

“Blue Blend is a dog that prefers to go around than underneath dogs,” Crawford said.

“He will get every chance, but they are all quality heats with quality dogs.

“Smooth Plane and Morton are the two big dangers in the race, having already done it on the big stage.

“We are the young kids on the block, so it won't be easy, but he will go into the race with no excuses.

“He just has to be able to step up on the night.

“Hopefully he can run up to his ability and top it off with a bit of good luck and we might be somewhere in the picture.”

Crawford has two other runners in the Brisbane Cup heats – littermates Miles On It (race five and box five) and Star Turn (race six and box two).

Other than the six Brisbane Cup heats, there will also be four heats of the Queensland Cup over 710 metres on Thursday evening. 

The Finals of both the $1 million, Group 1 Brisbane Cup and the $262,500 Group 1 Queensland Cup will be held at The Q on the Q2 Parklands track on Saturday, July 5.