Britton's Power In Numbers For Brisbane Staying Test

MARY Burman should be feeling the pressure when she heads to the boxes with Blue Hornet for the 710m FFA at Albion Park on Thursday night.

Mary and husband Ray face the might of the Tim Britton/Martina Kirillidis kennel who have the other seven runners in the race.

Britton and his partner Martina have four and three of the starters respectively.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

"It is actually good to get races for them," said Tim. "We have been struggling to get starts for the stayers."

Tim has Group 1 winning First Picked, her litter brother Fast Milkman, in-form Red Dirt Road and Instant Cash.

Martina will run Maid In Space and Shine A Light, littermates to Red Dirt Road, and Mepunga Loaf.

Tim has been welcoming the wet weather raining on Queensland for the past few days, hoping it continues for Thursday night.

"Red Dirt Road is drawn well and he likes to get off the track a bit," he said.

"But, he is a big, powerful dog who loves the heavy rain-affected tracks.

"It's been good to get him up to 700 metres."

Grand stayer, First Picked, is perfectly placed off the rails according to Tim.

"What a wonderful bitch she has been for the kennel," he said. "Winning the Group 1 Galaxy in Perth.

"She is boxed great but she does not show the early pace now that she used to have.

"She will keep racing until the time her form slips and we head to breed with her."

First Picked (Benali-Erelda Bale) has won 20 races and $384,000.

Her litter sister, Cash It In is in pup, due in about three weeks time, to a mating to the Britton's former great stayer Space Star, the sire of Red Dirt Road etc.

Space Star has had just two litters to the racetrack, both out of Shiny Bright, a Barcia Bale bitch, the first including Venus Light winner of 14 races and $101,000.

"The repeat mating is very good too," said Tim.

"The best of them is Unreal Speed who won a heat of the Sandown Cup but broke down and could not start in the final.

"He did a fibula and then a back muscle. He's back in work but just working in the sprint lanes."

Tim also rates Shine A Light a strong chance on Thursday night.

"He likes to use the track as well and the eight will suit him," he said.

SLACKS Creek owner-trainer Gerry Corrigan has bided his time with the smart galloper Zephyr (Tommy Shelby-Flying Yuna) before heading to Albion Park this Thursday night.

The winner of five races, all at Ipswich including a scorching 30.22 at his latest outing, Zephyr runs in a heat of the Silver Dollars (520m).

"I'm 71 and getting in to Albion Park late at night is a bit of an ask," said Gerry.

"But, it was time to give this dog his chance."

Zephyr was recently third in the G3 Ipswich Young Guns behind Adam McIntosh's star Golden Bear.

"He has a heap of ability," said Gerry of his dog who he bought from breeder Greg Deering for $3500 as a pup. "It was good buy."

Zephyr has had one look at Albion Park, a 30.40 trial there two weeks ago.

"He'd never been there before, but I was happy with the trial and he is especially drawn well for the heat.

"But, he can miss the start. If he jumps, he will be hard to beat.

"He's got the speed to match it with them."