Slippery Start To Queensland Futurity

Two heats of the Group 2 Queensland Futurity (520m) will be staged at Albion Park on Thursday night, with raging hot favourites to go around in both qualifiers.

For bitches whelped on or after October 2017, just 16 nominations were received for the $40,000 to-the-winner classic, with the series sponsored by Meticulous Lodge through their outstanding sire Fabregas.

The opening qualifier sees Group 2 Richmond Oaks winner Dam Slippery take her place for Brett Hazelgrove, the daughter of Dyna Double One a gallant second to Zipping Falcon in Saturday night's Listed Ultra Sense Final at Wentworth Park.

Winner at 12 of her 20 Albion Park appearances, Dam Slippery has been installed a $1.40 favourite with Bet365 for the opening Futurity qualifier, ahead of Ripple Rumble for Michael Lalicz, quoted a $4.40 chance.

Another interesting runner in the opening heat is in-form Tassie sprinter Breaker Upper, the regally bred daughter of Kc And All and Benta Bale making her way to the mainland for Patrick Ryan on the strength of four straight wins.

The second heat sees another $1.40 shot go around with Angela Langton's Circle Of Dreams all-the-rage from box seven.

Already with two bitches' classics under her belt, namely the Group 2 Laurels at Sandown Park and the Group 1 National Futurity at Wentworth Park, the daughter of Barcia Bale hasn't started since finishing last in the Group 1 Temlee at The Meadows in February.

Oozing class, bookmakers expect her to make light work of her Queensland debut, and on facts and figures it's hard to argue.

Second favourite for the event is Blue Diva for Ray Burman, the daughter of Paw Licking boasting a personal best time at Albion Park of 30 seconds neat.

And while she's trickily placed in box five, she's considered the most likely hope of knocking over the well-credentialed favourite in the second heat.

All things being equal, Thursday week's final promises to be an epic clash between two outstanding bitches – but there's plenty of water to go under the bridge until we get to that.