By Alex Nolan
Queensland Origin hero Shipwreck has turned in a blistering trial at Wentworth Park as trainer Ned Snow prepares to launch a bid on the Nationals and Million Dollar Chase in Sydney.
Shipwreck scorched the Wentworth Park 520 metre circuit in 29.64 seconds in a solo trial on Wednesday.
In the care of Warragai Creek trained Dave Irwin, Shipwreck could possibly be entered at Wentworth Park next Saturday before returning to Queensland for a crack at Nationals Glory.
The 2022 Queensland Sprint and Distance heats will take place at Albion Park on August 4 with $25,000 Finals the following week.
The winner of the respective Finals will be invited to represent Queensland in the $100,000 Group 1 Nationals Finals, which will this year be staged at Wentworth Park.
“I wanted to give him a run at Wenty because I am trying to get him into the Nationals or the Million Dollar Chase,” Snow said.
“If we do make it, it’s a track where you’ve got to have a couple of runs.
“So instead of contesting the Young Guns at Ipswich, we sent him down there.
“He went well for his first look at the track and I believe there were only two that broke 30 seconds on the night.”
Shipwreck will stay with Irwin until at least Monday of next week, when he and Snow will decide on where the star youngster will line up next.
“The next couple of days will tell us more, but time is on our side,” Snow said.
The son of Out Of Range and Aussie Diamond was Queensland’s origin hero last Thursday when he convincingly beat star New South Wales chaser Zipping Kyrgios in the series-deciding Origin Match Race over 520 metres at Albion Park.
Snow said it was exciting to have so many lucrative options with Shipwreck, who has lived up to the trainer’s early expectations.