Queensland kennel of Britton feeling unreal speed

By Jordan Gerrans

A flying trial from Group 1 comeback star Unreal Speed has the Britton kennel buoyed that their staying sensation might finally be back to full fitness. 

Last at the races in late February, Unreal Speed won the Fanta Bale Stayers Final at The Meadows in impressive fashion. 

Following the Group 1 event over 730 metres, the son of Space Star has been struck down by a number of injuries throughout 2025. 

Nursed back to health by leading dog man Robert Britton at Lara in country Victoria, Unreal Speed is set to be unleashed on the Queensland Golden Greys Summer Racing Carnival following a smart trial at The Q.

In a trial on Friday evening on the Q2 Parklands circuit, the 10-time career winner from just 14 attempts stopped the clock in 29.59 seconds in a 520 metre trial.

Britton’s son Tim is looking after the stylish stayer for his Queensland campaign and he was over the moon with the trial effort. 

“The trial was great and it was good to see he hasn’t lost anything,” Tim Britton said.

“He is a dog that is injury-prone, so we need to take it really slow with him.

“We are working to get him back up to 700 metres but on that time in that trial, we could put him in anything right now and he would be competitive.

“The dog is a freak and has a lot of ability. We nearly had him back for the winter carnival and we gave him a trial up here, but he suffered another injury.

“With the special dogs like him, you need to take your time.”

In his dashing trial, Unreal Speed ran home in 11.36 seconds which is just outside Mepunga Reward’s track record run home time at the venue, which stands at 11.30 seconds.

Unreal Speed trialled alongside Weblec Joel, who is prepared by Tim’s uncle Jeffrey Britton, at The Q.

Weblec Joel heads to a heat of the Queensland Derby on Thursday evening after winning on six occasions to begin his racing career. 

The Group 1 Gold Cup during the carnival is the obvious target for Unreal Speed. 

The heats for the event will be staged on the 29^th of January before the $150,000 decider seven days later.

Tim Britton, who trains alongside Martina Kirillidis, is hopeful of giving Unreal Speed a couple of lead-in runs before the Gold Cup heats over 710 metres.

“We are trying to build his fitness up and we probably want to start him at 700 metres,” he said.

“It is a day-by-day thing as we see how he pulls up from everything in his runs.

“For now, the goal is to have him ready for the end of the carnival, the Gold Cup.

“We may put him in before that somewhere. We want to see what he can do in a field because he hasn’t raced in so long.

“He is still really inexperienced in a field with only 14 starts.”

Unreal Speed is a littermate of Tim Britton’s kennel flag bearer of the last few years, Red Dirt Road.

Red Dirt Road has contested an array of Group events in recent times as well as being a Queensland Origin hero earlier this year when he scored in the distance leg of the series.

Tim Britton was quick to point out that Unreal Speed was about 10 lengths faster than Red Dirt Road when they were pups.

While Unreal Speed has been on the comeback trail, his littermate has racked up almost $320,00 in career stakes. 

The Britton team are also hopeful of Red Dirt Road contesting the Gold Cup series early in 2026.

The 23-time winner had a minor setback in the Group 1 Topgun Stayers Final at The Meadows in early November.

Red Dirt Road has had two 520 metre runs this month as he builds back up to the staying journey.

“Hopefully he can stay sound, as well,” Tim said.

It is a busy time of the year at the Queensland Britton satellite operation with an influx of southern dogs from Jeffrey and Robert’s kennels. 

Jeffrey will have four Queensland Derby heat runners on Thursday evening.