Due to COVID-19, Queensland has closed its border to Victoria.

But that won’t stop an elite group of Victorian greyhounds border-hopping to contest heats of the Group 1 Sky Racing Brisbane Cup (520m) and Group 1 TAB Queensland Cup (710m) at Albion Park on Thursday night.

David Burnett (Simon Told Helen and Who Told Stevie) and Jason Thompson (Hooked On Scotch and Black Opium) should play a major hand in the Brisbane Cup series, while Robert Britton (Blazing Cartier) is flying solo in the Queensland Cup series.

Below is a ‘highlights reel’ of the Victorian contingent – including their race stats at Albion Park.

Brisbane Cup – Heat 2 (Race 6 Box 7) – 8.13pm
SIMON TOLD HELEN
26 starts: 17-6-0
Stakes: $519,545
Group race highlights: Won (G1 Silver Chief; G1 Perth Cup; G1 Harrison-Dawson; G2 Queensland Derby; G3 Great Chase; G3 Cup Night Sprint); Runner-up (G2 Warrnambool Cup; G3 Silver Bullet)

Albion Park – 2 starts: 2-0-0 (29.65sec PB)
TAB Fixed Odds: $1.45F

Brisbane Cup – Heat 4 (Race 8 Box 8) – 8.58pm
WHO TOLD STEVIE
18 starts: 10-3-3
Stakes: $62,600
Group race highlights: Finalist (G1 Silver Chief); Runner-up (G3 Great Chase)

Albion Park – First start
TAB Fixed Odds: $2.40

Brisbane Cup – Heat 3 (Race 7 Box 6) – 8.37pm
HOOKED ON SCOTCH
23 starts: 14-2-4
Stakes: $358,765

Sandown 515m: 28.94sec TR
Group race highlights: Won (G1 Adelaide Cup; G1 Hobart Thousand; G2 Geelong Cup; G3 Shootout; G3 Speed Star); Finalist (G1 Melbourne Cup – 3^rd)

Albion Park – 1 start: 0-0-0
TAB Fixed Odds: $1.80F

WATCH: Hooked On Scotch trial at Albion Park on June 14 stopping the clock in a time of 24.07sec (post to post; 11.80, 12.27).

Brisbane Cup – Heat 1 (Race 5 Box 6) – 7.52pm
BLACK OPIUM
52 starts: 26-12-0
Stakes: $512,453
Group race highlights: Won (G1 Sapphire Crown); Runner-up (G1 Brisbane Cup; G1 Australian Cup; G1 Melbourne Cup); Finalist (G1 Topgun; G1 National Sprint Championship; G1 Golden Easter Egg; G3 Easter Gift; G3 Flying Amy Classic)

Albion Park – 4 starts: 2-1-0 (29.54sec PB)
TAB Fixed Odds: $1.80F

WATCH: Black Opium’s trial at Albion Park over the 395m where she equalled the track record held by Canya Cruise.

Queensland Cup – Heat 1 (Race 3 Box 8) – 7.07pm
BLAZING CARTIER
51 starts: 15-14-6
Stakes: $127,955
Group race highlights: Finalist (G1 Sandown Cup; G1 Zoom Top – 3^rd; G1 Sale Cup; G1 Bold Trease; G2 Summer Distance Plate; G3 Sydney Cup)

Albion Park – 1 start: 0-0-0
TAB Fixed Odds: $1.45F