Helen's Brisbane Cup Quest Up In The Air

QUEENSLAND Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk holds the key as to whether sprinting megastar Simon Told Helen will contest July's Group 1 Sky Racing Brisbane Cup (520m) at Albion Park.

Winner of the Group 1 Harrison-Dawson in spectacular fashion at Sandown Park on Thursday night, trainer David Burnett has declared that Simon Told Helen won't venture north for the signature Queensland event unless the state's borders have reopened.

"Simon Told Helen won't be going to Queensland unless I'm there with him," said Burnett on Friday.

"We've still got five weeks until the race so hopefully in the next week or two we see some relaxing of the rules and the Queensland borders reopened.

"But if the only way he can go in the race is by transferring him to a trainer in Queensland then he'll be staying home. He's just too valuable to trust with someone else; it wouldn't be fair on them and I'd never forgive myself if something went pear shaped either."

Landing the sixth group race victory of his career at Sandown on Thursday night, his third at group 1 level, Burnett said racegoers will see the superstar son of Barcia Bale at Sandown Park next Thursday for the $15,000 GR8 Eight event.

"He's had his break from racing so if he's fit and healthy he'll continue racing through to either Queensland or the Bendigo Cup," Burnett added.

"He's just a superstar – and only getting better. It should be a hot race next week as well with Black Opium, Jax Bale and Tiggerlong Tonk. It will be even stronger than Thursday night I'd say."

Heats of the Brisbane Cup are slated to be run at Albion Park on June 25.

And it's a race Burnett is no stranger to either, landing the group 1 back in 2013 with Kiss Me Ketut. 

If circumstances allow, the return of Simon Told Helen to Albion Park – the scene of his Queensland Derby triumph in December – would see the potential match-up with local superstar Oh Mickey.

Yet to meet each other, Oh Mickey's captivating run of form began when winning the Group 1 National Derby at Wentworth Park in January.

It was a race Simon Told Helen was sensationally scratched from as race favourite due to a spider bite.

"The owners are keen to take him on so hopefully we can be there," Burnett enthused.

"But it's in the hands of the Queensland government now. We'll just need to see how it plays out."