2023 Easter Egg winner Simply Limelight rolls 2022 GEE winner She’s A Pearl at HQ
It was only a ordinary free-for-all race at Wentworth Park last night, but ended up the battle of the two most recent Golden Easter Egg winners, when 2023 GEE winner Simply Limelight took on 2022 Easter Egg winner She's A Pearl.
In a depleted field of just five greyhounds the 2023 Group 1 Golden Easter Egg winner, Simply Limelight, was priced as a +320 third favourite with greyhound bookmakers, while 2023 Group 2 Maitland Cup winner, Len Me Dad was rated as a +290 second favourite, splitting the two Easter Egg winners in greyhound betting.
Having won seven of her previous eight starts, the 2022 Golden Easter Egg winner, She's A Pearl, was sent out the -111.11 favourite on greyhound betting apps.
The Andy Lord-trained greyhound was coming in to the race off the back of winning the 2023 Group 3 The Brother Fox at Dubbo.
Starting from her preferred box seven draw, it was supposed to be one way traffic for ‘Pearl' but after finding the lead, she was tackled in earnest in the run home by the Peter Rodgers-trained Simply Limelight.
In a sign that retirement might be only a few runs away for She's A Pearl, she could find no answer to Simply Limelight's challenge, ultimately finishing second 2.25 lengths from Simply Limelight in 29.60.
Wentworth Park FFA 520m May 27 2023 – Simply Limelight (29.60) T: Peter Rodgers
Simply Limelight's effort to surge past She's A Pearl should not be underestimated, as no greyhound has ever run down She's A Pearl once she has led at Wentworth Park, until last night.
Simply Limelight was racing first up for five weeks after falling in a free-for-all race at Wentworth Park 11 days after winning the Golden Easter Egg.
“Simply Limelight cracked a shoulder in that April 19 race and when I took him home that night I thought his career was over,” Rodgers said.
“But this dog has so much courage, he is real alpha male greyhound.
“Early in his career he got bashed around from bad box draws but never once shirked his task, he is just a phenomenal chaser.
“Since he staged that amazing recovery from his setback in April, he has clocked 23.73 in a post-to-post slip at Wenty so I knew he was going as well as ever.”
The son of Kinloch Brae and Guiding Light has now had 46 starts for 19 wins and 15 placings, earning $447,745 for husband and wife team Peter Rodgers and Pat Breen.
No doubt Simply Limelight's name will be amongst the nominations for the upcoming 2023 Group 1 Brisbane Cup.
On the other hand, the question of a trip to Brisbane for She's A Pearl, will be the centre of conversation in the Lord household today.
Andy Lord is already on record saying that She's A Pearl's racing days are numbered, but he'd been hopeful to keep her in work until she came in season.
‘Pearl' was due to travel to Brisbane this week for a trial around the Albion Park circuit.
Whether or not the daughter of Aston Dee Bee and Shez Impetuous does make the trip North will be a decision between Lord and Punters HQ syndicate manager Joe Lannutti, but there is no doubt we are watching the final days of the racing career of one of Australia's great modern day female greyhounds.
She's A Pearl is the winner of the 2023 Group 1 Paws Of Thunder, the 2022 Million Dollar Chase, the 2022 Group 1 Golden Easter Egg, and the 2023 Group 3 The Brother Fox.
She was runner up in the 2022 Group 3 Sandown Shootout, and was a finalist in the 2023 Group 1 Temlee, and the 2023 Group 2 Gosford Gold Cup.
She's A Pearl has now earned $1,752,700 in prizmoney for her connections, from 57 starts that have netted 36 wins and 11 placings.