Ladies Bracelet Final
If Wentworth Park fans were amazed by Zipping Bailey's last-to-first performance to win last month's Group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg they would have been absolutely gob-smacked by the Jason MACKAY-trained greyhound's effort to win Saturday night's Group 3 Evans & Son Ladies Bracelet at headquarters.
While Zipping Bailey clocked 29.92s running down Federal Lilly in the Easter Egg, she not only trimmed those figures to 29.71s on Saturday but had a less trouble-free passage to victory.
Zipping Bailey was last early in the Easter Egg, but secured a clear rails’ run all the way, but on Saturday night she was held up on a couple of occasions and gave tearaway leader Zombie a dozen lengths' start approaching the end of the back straight.
After rocketing along the rails to be third behind Zombie and Good Odds Meghan turning for home, Zipping Bailey powered home to win running away by just over a length.
Her run home time of 11.37s was the second fastest ever produced at Wentworth Park, with only Shakey Jakey going faster, posting 11.33s when he set the track record of 29.07s back in 2014.
After the race trainer Jason MACKAY said: "That performance by Zipping Bailey was better than her Easter Egg win.
"I have won a lot of races and had some greyhounds do remarkable things to win, but I have not had a greyhound to do what Zipping Bailey just did.''
Zipping Bailey is a daughter of Zipping Willow, another MACKAY-trained bitch, who set the Bracelet race record of 29.44s when she won the 2014 final.
MACKAY will now head to Sandown for Thursday’s heats of the Sapphire Crown with Zipping Bailey.
Watch Zipping Bailey win the final Bracelet here
Bob Payne Sprint
Good Odds Meghan's trainer Frank Hurst took out Saturday night's other feature race at Wentworth Park, the Group 3 Bob Payne Sprint final, with the Bracelet placegetter's litter brother Good Odds Harada.
After trailing Jason MACKAY’s Aston Duke around the first bend, Good Odds Harada hit the front leaving the back straight and held off a late challenge from Jamella Jet to win by just under two lengths.
Coming to the home turn, Jamella Jet, noted for his strength at the finish, looked the winner, but Good Odds Harada's run home time of 11.61s and sizzling best of the night 29.58s for the 520m gave the GRNSW + Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase runner-up no chance of overtaking him.
Good Odds Harada's overall figures were the fastest ever recorded in the Bob Payne, taking .01s off the previous race record, set by Victorian sprinter Gold Town in 20.13.
Tracey Hurst, owner of Good Odds Harada, said: "When I saw Jamella Jet taking off after our dog I just shut my eyes.
"If we have a dog in a big race I try and come with low expectations because then whatever happens is a bonus.''
Watch Good Odds Harada’s Bob Payne heat Final win here
Richmond Riches
Five heats of the Richmond Riches series were held on Friday, and it was no surprise the star of the heats was Ray Smith’s Feral Franky, clocking 30.58s. The other big run was from the second placegetter in that heat, Peter Lagogiane’s Knighthood , beaten just half a length and clocking 30.61s, at his first start.
Other heat winners were Demolition Duke (31.20s), Bland Purr (30.95s), Miss Ibrox (31.09s) and Let It Happen (30.73s).
Semi-finals will be held this Friday with the $40,000 to the winner final on May 24.
Watch Feral Franky win his heat here
Country Cups
Heats of the Muswellbrook Cup were held on Sunday, and the star of the three qualifiers was the Kevin Brennan-trained Fran Sannette who broke 25s, clocking 24.95s in the 12 length win. Other heat winners were Ned’s Chance (25.16s) and Mr Grey in 25.08s. The final will be run next Sunday.
Also this week the heats of Wagga Wagga’s Graeme Hull Memorial Cup will be held with fields out on Monday, and some handy performers will be making the trip to Wagga. Among the standouts are Ladies Bracelet placegetter Good Odds Meghan, her kennelmate Good Odds Buddy, and the Jodie Lord trio, Winlock Huddy, Cawborne Marty and Cawbourne Madox.
Heats of the Casino Beef Week Cup will be held on Friday and Dubbo Gold Cup heats will be held on Sunday.
Head here to see the list of upcoming feature events
Maitland Adoption Day
It was another successful day at Maitland on Saturday for the club’s adoption day, with 15 of the 23 greyhounds available, finding new homes.
The next regional adoption day will be held at Bathurst on June 1, between 10am and 2pm, and once again it will cost just $75 to give a dog a new home.
For more information on greyhound adoption head to the www.gapnsw.com.au
State Of Origin
NSW may have won the Rugby League State of Origin in 2018, but the Queenslanders did get the victory in the inaugural Origin Greyhound Series held at Albion Park.
NSW are looming as favourites in the league Origin with that first game scheduled for June 5, and having produced the winners of the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg, the GRNSW + Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase, and the Group 1 Association Cup, NSW is looking good to also capture the Origin Greyhound Series in 2019.
Racing Queensland announced on Friday that the series would be on again in 2019, and take place at Albion Park on June 6.
The format will remain unchanged in 2019 with the following events: $60,000 Origin Sprint 520m ($40,000 to the winner), a $60,000 Origin Distance 710m ($40,000 to the winner), and a $30,000 Origin Match Race 520m ($25,000 to the winner).
The teams will be selected by a panel of experts from each state, chaired by a representative from Racing Queensland and Greyhound Racing New South Wales respectively.
Terry Hill (NSW) and Chris Walker (QLD) have been confirmed as ambassadors for the series, just as they were in 2018, while the Mark Hughes Foundation will also continue as a charity partner.
Squads for the series will be announced next Thursday, May 16. The teams will then be finalised and announced on May 31, and the box draws will be conducted on June 3.
Watch the 2018 Origin Sprint won by Queenslander Jury
