A computer system comprises one or more processors, a primary database system, and a secondary database system. The secondary database system is configured as a hot-standby system for the primary database system. The secondary database system is capable of providing at least a minimum amount of essential functionality of the primary database system during a disruption to the primary database system. The primary database system is configured by programming instructions, executable on the computer system, to cause the one or more processors to determine from a query request from a client application directed to the primary database system that workload from a query may be shifted to the secondary database system and selectively instruct the client application to direct the secondary database system to execute the query based on a per-table calculated result lag. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.