A Golden Easter Egg winner, the winner of the inaugural Million Dollar Chase, the dog who took out the premier staying race in NSW, the Group 1 Association Cup, not to mention a Queensland Greyhound of The Year finalist, and dogs with a plethora of group race wins, and NSW selectors have put together a squad oozing quality and class for this year’s Origin Greyhound Series.
Zipping Bailey, who added to her bulging resume with another Group win in last Saturday’s Ladies Bracelet final, headlines the NSW squad, and she is joined in the sprinting ranks by the likes of MDC winner Mystic Riot and runner-up Jamella Jet, Easter Egg placegetters Federal Lilly and Black Forge, and Egg finalists Banjo Tifia and Irinka Lizzy, Bob Payne winner Goods Odds Harada and Bracelet placegetter Goods Odds Meaghan, multiple track record holder Pindari Express, New Sensation winner and Speed Star runner-up Feral Franky, Queensland Derby favourite King Cratos, Group 1 Paws Of Thunder winner Buck’s Future, Masters Meteor winner and Queensland Greyhound of the Year finalist Cosmic Bonus, Richmond Derby winner Catch Me Curly, National Derby favourite and Egg heat winner, the promising Fernando Blaster, another Easter Egg heat winner in Nangar Kash, and 2018 Egg fourth placegetter, in-form sprinter Dual Keroma.
The stayers are led by four littermates, Association Cup winner Veloce Nero, and fellow Group winners Poco Dorado, Blue Moon Rising and Two Times Twice, plus promising stayer Embye, Little Digger, runner-up to Veloce Nero in the Cup, and Association Cup finalist Kanzan.
The series will take place on June 6 at Albion Park, the night after State Of Origin rugby league clash, with the Queenslanders looking to defend the shield their won last year.
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).
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.
The teams will now be finalised and announced on May 31, and the box draws will be conducted on June 3.
To see the squads head here.
