Idolize emerges as main threat to She’s A Pearl’s Golden Easter Egg hopes
The Jodie Lord-trained She's A Pearl continued her outstanding run of form notching up her eighth straight win in the last of the four 2022 Group 1 Golden Easter Egg semi finals last night at Wentworth Park. The win has firmly entrenched her as the favourite for next weeks $250,000-to-the-winner final with greyhound bookmakers, but Idolize emerged as the biggest threat to She's A Pearl's chances of maintaining her unbeaten record at Wentworth Park.
Idolize stamped herself a genuine Golden Easter Egg contender in the opening semi final keeping her unbeaten record at Wentworth Park intact. The 2022 Group 1 Futurity winner ran the fastest first section of all the semis going 5.30 to the post the first time on the way to leading the entire 520m journey on 29.63.
Idolize has now started four times at Wentworth Park for four wins and Victorian greyhound trainer Peter Presutto was in raptures with the effort.
“What a love affair”. She's got a big heart and fought all the way to the end.
“You hope for the improvement but she's done it tonight. She's gone super.”
Given the blistering early pace the daughter of My Redeemer and Hightan possesses, Presutto was not concerned where he drew in next week's final.
“She seems to jump all the time, as long as she jumps she'll put herself in the race next week.”
It was a Victorian trifecta in the race with Andrea Dailly's Zara's Ivan and Lala Kiwi finishing second and third. The runs qualified Zara's Ivan in to the final and made Lala Kiwi first reserve.
The Dailly kennel will have much to consider this week as they may scratch Zara's Ivan from The Egg final to elevate 2022 Group 1 Australian Cup winner Lala Kiwi in to the field.
With the box draw for the final being done track side last night, Zara's Ivan has drawn box eight for next week's final, but the 2022 Horsham Cup finalist has never won from box eight and importantly has recorded a race fall starting from the pink box three times.
With both greyhounds in the same Team Dailly ownership, Lala Kiwi might be considered a safer proposition for the Dailly's having had seven starts from box eight for three wins.
2022 Golden Easter Egg Semi Final 1 – Idolize (Wentworth Park, 520m)
Group 2 Maitland Cup winner Good Odds Cash had to be content with second behind Steve Kavanagh's Louis Rumble, after the Frank Hurst trained greyhound couldn't overcome the wide journey starting from box eight.
Hurst was matter of fact after the race saying, “You can't win big races from box eight, especially when there's just a few lengths across the whole field”.
On the point of the home corner it seemed like the local greyhound might reel in Louis Rumble but it wasn't to be as Hurst lamented, “if she stayed on the fence she probably wins”.
Louis Rumble took every advantage afforded from the inside box two draw running 5.47, 29.95 to beat Good Odds Cash by just 0.25 lengths. The 2022 Group 1 Gold Bullion placegetter and 2021 Group 2 Ipswich Gold Cup winner was aided to the lead early in a competitive drive from the outside greyhounds when Handsome Rhino tailed off immediately from box one.
Steve Kavanagh was a little disappointed in the winning time saying “I thought he might have gone a shade quicker but it turned out good”.
“I thought they might get him, but he kicked on well.”
But Kavanagh, who is no stranger to winning big races; was realistic about Louis Rumble being able to repeat the winning effort in the Easter Egg final.
“He'll need to find 10 lengths to win so we're not going to kid ourselves.
“He's not a champion but he's a nice little dog and very consistent.”
2022 Golden Easter Egg Semi Final 2 – Louis Rumble (Wentworth Park, 520m)
Golden Easter Egg semi final three went the way of popular New South Wales trainer Jason Mackay and Fantastic Raven who had to knuckle down valiantly in a come from behind win to beat the speedy Mitchell Street.
The Jedda Cutlack-trained Mitchell Street's consistently brilliant early pace once again served him well being able to take up the lead from box seven with a 5.40 early section, but Fantastic Raven was able to overcome the Queenslander late to win by a length in 29.91.
Jason Mackay paid tribute the gutsy effort from the black daughter of Fernando Bale and Fantastic Dotty saying, “She's had a fair few wins from in front so to come from behind off the back off a dog (and win from behind) like she done – that was good.”
“There was a run there for her and she was good enough to use it.”
Mackay thinks being one of the stronger greyhounds in next week's final who doesn't necessarily need to lead to win might serve connections well.
“Her forte is to nail the start, but I'd rather her in the middle somewhere next week”, he said.
Interestingly for a greyhound that has won 22 races from 59 starts and just over $115,000 in prizemoney, next week's Group 1 final will be Fantastic Raven's first group race final start.
Mitchell Street ran his usual honest race from box seven and the 2022 Maitland Cup finalist surprised kennel representative Tom Tzouvelis with how well he ran out the full 520m at Wentworth Park against quality opposition.
“Look he stuck on better than I thought.”
But Tzouvelis was practical about his chances in The Egg final saying, “Good early speed makes him a chance in any race”.
“He's getting a bit old but he still tries his hardest.
“He'll need a bit of luck (to win next week), but we're there.”
2022 Golden Easter Egg Semi Final 3 – Fantastic Raven (Wentworth Park, 520m)
She's A Pearl was installed the early pre-post favourite with greyhound racing betting sites to win this year's Egg well before the first of the heats was run, and in the last of the semi finals the Jodie Lord-trained flying machine confirmed that confidence.
The black daughter of Aston Dee Bee and Shez Impetuous continued her outstanding run of form notching up her eighth straight win in the last of the four 2022 Group 1 Golden Easter Egg semi finals.
Starting from box two, the winner of 19 races from 29 starts shaved a further one hundredth off her winning heat time last week leading all the way running 29.46, off a 5.35 first section.
The Lord kennel paid tribute to the 28kg bitch's consistency post race with handler Paul Mills saying, “She's been doing it week in and week out”.
“She's just every week so consistent – that's why she's favourite.
“What more can you say? She's ready to ‘rock'n'roll'.”
Greyhound bookmakers have priced the GreyhoundsHQ owned syndicate greyhound a -133.33 chance to win the Group 1 final at her first group race start.
The ‘good news' story of the 2022 Golden Easter Egg series will undoubtedly be Kayla-Jane Coleman and Tachycadic.
Kayla-Jane Coleman who is undeniably passionate about her greyhounds was left lost for words after Tachycardic held off spirited challengers to secure second behind She's A Pearl and qualify for the final.
Tachycardic caused an absolute boilover in last week heats and again the son of Collision and Cardiology wasn't given much hope of qualifying for the big final despite drawing box one, but after beginning well from the inside Tachycardic ran the race off his life to finish just a head of Ties That Bind; 6.5 lengths behind the winner.
Kayla was elated post race and in admiration of her brave chaser's run.
“I've got no words .. that's just ‘friggin' awesome.
“I was screaming at him (when he was being challenged in the straight) and he just got there.
“My throat from screaming at him on the line is so sore right now.”
Tachycardic represents the first Group 1 trained starter for the young Coleman, and she won't hear of any reasons why next week won't be the best night of her short training career.
Asked if Tachycardic's time was quick enough for next week's race she put the race in to perspective.
“I don't care. I just honestly don't care. I'm just so proud of him.
“I can't even believe I made one (a Group 1 final).
“I've handled them and caught them but to train one is just … I have no words”.
Greyhound bookies have quoted Kayla-Jane and Tachycardic at +5000 to win their first Group 1.
The 2002 Group 1 Golden Easter Egg final will be run Saturday April 9, 2022.
2022 Golden Easter Egg Semi Final 4 – She's A Pearl (Wentworth Park, 520m)
2022 Golden Easter Egg (Wentworth Park 520m – $250,000-to-the-winner)
- 1. Louis Rumble – Steve Kavanagh
- 2. Tachycardic – Fantastic Raven
- 3. Fantastic Raven – Jason Mackay
- 4. Idolize – Peter Presutto
- 5. She's A Pearl – Jodie Lord
- 6. Mitchell Street – Jedda Cutlack
- 7. Good Odds Cash – Frank Hurst
- 8. Zara's Ivan – Andrea Dailly
- 9. Lala Kiwi – Andrea Dailly
- 10. Ties That Bind – Frank Hurst
Reserves