In a fitting piece of timing, the 2022 Million Dollar Chase winner went into labour on the same night as the 2023 final, with the Lord camp welcoming five dogs and a bitch into the world late Friday and early Saturday morning.
“She started when we were at the track so Hayley [Andy Lord’s daughter] got the first four out and when we got home at about 12:30, I sent her to bed and stayed up for another five hours getting the last two out,” Andy Lord said.
“And they were massive. I thought she was having 10 or 11 but she had six and they were big healthy pups. I’m just glad it was a nice natural whelping, and she was deadest running around in the paddock the day after like nothing had happened. She didn’t lose an inch of weight and she looks perfect.”
“Most people would probably be happy with more dogs than bitches I think. Bitches come on season and they don’t get to race as often I suppose, but it doesn’t matter to me. I’m just glad she’s done it.”
She’s A Pearl won 40 races in her brilliant 64-start career, with the daughter of Aston Dee Bee accumulating more than $1.77 million in prizemoney along the way.
Alongside the MDC title, ‘Pearl’ also claimed the 2022 Group 1 Golden Easter and 2023 Group 1 Paws Of Thunder.
All eyes now turning to her progeny by super sire Fernando Bale…and potentially their price tag too.
“Everything is for sale but we haven’t attempted to sell them yet. It’d hard to sell something you don’t have. Before they’re born, everyone want to buy them but you have to wait and see what you’ve got. We might sell a couple but I’ve already been offered some astronomical money for them and turned it down.”
“We’ll treat them like any other litter, wait until they're three-months-old and get them ear branded, and when they’re running around healthy and happy, then we’ll make some decisions.”
She's A Pearl has earned more prizemoney than all but Wow She's Fast in the sport's history
The kennel experiencing an influx of youngsters of late with 2022 MDC runner-up Coast Model, as well as her sister Cruise Model, both delivering litters of their own recently.
“Coast Model just had eight pups and her sister Cruiser Model had 10 as well. Cruiser was just as good as Coast and she’s already got a really nice litter to Barcia Bale who can all run. Both girls went to Bernardo so we’re looking forward to seeing what they can do.”
