New Approach For Suzie's Queensland Cup Quest

THEY say the past is experience and the present is an experiment.

And it's that very thinking that has trainer Brendan Pursell adopting a different approach to Thursday night's Group 1 Queensland Cup (710m) heats at Albion Park with Moraine Suzie.

"I'm flying into Brisbane with her midmorning Thursday and regardless of the result will head home Friday morning," Pursell said.

"In the past when I've sent her away she's gone to pieces on us and failed to perform at her best. So going into this series I decided we'd go about it a different way.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY

"Whether it works or not, we'll find out."

Winner at 14 of her 43 starts and $266,465 in prizemoney, Moraine Suzie's crowning glory came with victory in last year's Group 1 Topgun Stayers (730m) at The Meadows.

‘Suzie' shines

MORAINE SUZIE secured a six-length victory in slick time in her first start at @MelbourneGreys since winning the Group 1 #TopgunStayers.

Make sure MORAINE SUZIE is in your Watchdog Blackbook so you don't miss her next run ?#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/Noi1AUkuF2

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) December 22, 2022

The daughter of My Redeemer has produced a number of other topline performances in group events and goes into Thursday's Queensland Cup heats fresh off victory in the $75,000-to-the-winner Pink Diamond Stayers (680m) at Warragul.

"I was probably 50/50 on whether to go to Brisbane but when you've got a bitch of her ability you need to be chasing these big races," Pursell added.

"She hasn't trialled at Albion Park but generally she goes well first up at tracks. My main concern is making sure she gets there in the right headspace and I think flying up with her on the day gives her the best chance.

"There's a few little quirks to her so the more familiar you can keep things with her the better."

? PINK DIAMOND FINAL ?

MORAINE SUZIE (Rug 2) takes out the @sportsbetcomau #PinkDiamond Champion Distance Final (680m) at Warragul in 38.782 seconds for trainer Brendan Pursell.

Result ?? https://t.co/SkcuXYifHX#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/YYzmXIVIJz

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) June 16, 2023

Moraine Suzie has drawn box seven in heat three of the $175,000-to-the-winner Queensland Cup where Tab.com.au have installed her a $2.50 favourite.

On the second line of betting at $2.70 is WA star Rippin' Grace which has strung two eye-catching Albion Park wins together in preparation for the group 1 series.

"The main thing is she gets the right run in transit and the breaks open up for her at the right time – the box (7) isn't ideal," Pursell added.

"If she handles the trip up there I'm confident she'll run well. She deserves another big race. She's won $260,000 but it could quite have easily been $760,000.

"Hopefully things pan out for her in Brisbane, she's going there in good form."