DEFENDING champion Queen Lauryn showed why she is regarded as one of Australia's fastest greyhounds, with a stunning win in her heat of the $72,500 group 1 Macro Meats Crown Classic at Sandown Park last Thursday night.

A winner in her last start, at the group 2 WA All Stars Sprint, and controversial omission from the group 1 Sky Racing Topgun, Queen Lauryn was sent out as favourite and her army of supporters never had any reason for concern.

'The Queen' began well from box 3, leading through the first turn, before showing stunning mid-race pace to break from the rest of the field.

All eyes turned to the clock as she raced away from her rivals to win in 29.42 seconds.

Her win was the fourth-fastest time run at the Lightwood Road circuit and was a stunning six-length improvement on her 2008 Crown Classic winning time.

"The empty box helped her (box 2 was vacant after Brislane's scratching) but she's sprinting as well as ever," said trainer Tony Brett.

Queen Lauryn is likely to start favourite for next week's final as she aims to emulate Australian Greyhound Racing Association Hall of Famer Paua To Burn's feat of back-to-back Crown Classic wins (2004-2005).

However, the star Queenslander will have her work cut out for her after Cindeen Shelby drew box one for next Thursday night's final.

Cindeen Shelby, winner of two group 1 finals from her past two starts, won her heat in 30.02 seconds.

After working hard to find the lead from box 6, Cindeen Shelby went on to win by 3.5 lengths and will now line up in her eighth group race final.

The Kel Greenough-trained speedster has finished no worse than second in each of her past 10 starts and, after drawing box 1 for the final, is well placed to add to her impressive CV.

Boozeroo will also be aiming for another group 1 victory after winning the night's opening heat in 30.18 seconds.

The lightly raced daughter of Big Daddy Cool was having her first start at Sandown Park since July but quickly showed the class that took her to victory in the group 1 Hawkins Media Laurels Classic victory, winning her heat in 30.18 seconds.

A win in next Thursday night's final will also see Boozeroo's owner, Horsham publican Jeff Guy, claim a $10,000 bonus for completing Sandown's Classic double.

The final of the $72,500 group 1 Macro Meats Crown Classic will be run at Sandown Park on Thursday, when the field for the $20,000 winner-takes-all group 3 Macro Meats Shootout will also be announced.