Tony Brett has his ‘wow’ moment on the eve of The Q’s debut

By Pat McLeod

Late on Tuesday night, champion trainer Tony Brett had his ‘wow’ moment at The Q.

“I had trialled there the previous Monday, but this was my first chance to just stand, look and take it all in,” he explains.

“It was late at night, I was waiting for my trial. All the lights were on, but there weren’t too may people around. Just silence.

“I had my first chance to just stand and take it all in under the glow of the track lights.

“It was amazing. Quite surreal and awe-inspiring.

“And the dog that I trialled, went really well, so when I arrived home, I felt really excited.”

On Friday, Brett, the multiple-Group 1-winning trainer who is regarded as one of the best conditioners in the sport, takes his fascination with The Q to another level.

He will have a starter, Miss Spritz, in the first official race at The Q, a maiden over 390m on Q1 Lakeside, the one-turn track.

The 12-race program, with Race 1 at 1.49pm, will be all 390m races.

Brett says Friday’s race meeting at The Q will arguably be the most important occasion for the code in Queensland.

“For a Friday maiden, it will probably the one of the most watched races for the year from a Queensland point of view,” he said.

“I always thought it would be great to have a starter at the first meeting at The Q, and as it has panned out, this girl was close to being ready and I said to (wife) Fleur, ‘Why not!’

“This will be very special all round.

“When the Albion Park track first opened (in February 1993), as far as greyhound racing goes, I wasn't yet on the scene.

“In fact I was in Perth, but I remember having a bet on that first meeting.

“My father (highly respected trainer, the late Dave Brett) didn't have one in that first meeting, but it was still pretty special even to me back then.

“I was very familiar with the Gabba greyhound track and that is where I have so many early memories with Dad and greyhound racing down in southeast Queensland.

“I felt that the opening of Albion Park was a whole new page for greyhound racing in Queensland and it is the same feeling with The Q.

“This will be the biggest thing to happen in greyhound racing in Queensland in my lifetime.

“To be part of it is pretty special.”

Brett will open his account at The Q with Miss Spritz, a first starter from a home-bred litter (Bernardo x Wolf Steele).

Just one of the seven-pup litter has started, John Catton’s Oxidisation.

Brett trains the other six and says the litter has race quality.

“This whole litter from Wolf Steele is going really nice,” he said.

“They will win races, and there are a couple there that I think could be pretty special.

“I own just the one (Miss Spritz) and train five more for other owners.

“They have started trialling at The Q and will start their racing there, so it is all pretty exciting.”

Miss Spritz will exit from the seven box and is a $4.40 chance in early markets with the $2 favourite, Mick Johnston’s Crystal Vision, jumping from the four.

Brett also has Canya Escape, jumping from the red, in Race 4.

The start of racing at The Q also signals Brett’s increasing on-track involvement in the sport after he took a break back in 2023.

After overseas travel and a long-deserved hiatus, his always-planned return has been happening in earnest this year.

He says he is now set to execute his plan of a regular racing kennel of about eight dogs, which will rise to 15 at carnival time.

He says he is already fielding calls from interstate trainers for the 2025 Winter Carnival at The Q, but is waiting on confirmation of race dates before committing.

Brett says he can’t wait for the reaction to The Q from those outside of the greyhound circle and hopes the facility is ready ‘with all the bells and whistles’ before the general public arrive.

“Especially in this case, first impressions are all-important,” he said.

“I have no doubt that when this facility is completed, for anyone driving in for the first time, it will be amazing.

“I also believe the completed club facilities will quickly make The Q the go-to place for locals who want to head out for dinner.”

Racing Queensland has advised that for the initial race meetings at The Q, only licensed and essential persons will be permitted on course.

Only trainers, handlers, catchers and club, QRIC and RQ officials will be permitted to attend race meetings.

This measure will remain in place for April, with a view to permitting all participants and public to attend in May.

This is to ensure the smooth transition of operations, race meetings and to support industry participants.