Korda pulled from Superstayers Invitational, backmarker Days Of Thunder added
Just days after the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club (BGRC) announced the four stayers invited to this Thursday night's 2023 Group 3 Superstayers Invitational at Albion Park, trainer Jeff Britton has pulled Korda from the race prior to the box draw.
Korda, the 2023 Group 1 Sandown Cup winner was named as one of the four stayers to be granted a start in the Group 3 invite-only race worth $75,000 to-the-winner.
The other three greyhounds named in the four dog field are First Picked, Zipping Orlando and Palawa King.
Also named as a reserve greyhound for the race was Days Of Thunder, trained by Warren Nicholls.
Days Of Thunder will now get a start in the 2023 Superstayers Invitational with the withdrawal of Korda, and has drawn box one in the race.
Days Of Thunder is a noted backmarker in her races, with the white bitch famous for her explosive finishes.
She is a three-time Group 1 finalist finishing third in the 2022 Group 1 Queensland Cup at Albion Park, and running unplaced in the 2022 Group 1 Topgun Stayers at The Meadows, and the 2022 Group 1 National Distance Championship at Wentworth Park.
Days Of Thunder won the 2022 Group 3 Queensland National Distance Championship, and made the finals of the 2022 and 2023 Group 3 Albion Park Gold Cups.
She was third in the 2022 Listed Clem Jones Cup at Albion Park, and made the finals of the 2022 Listed Cup Night Stayers at Sandown, and the 2023 Listed Clem Jones Cup at Albion Park.
More recently she finished fourth behind Palawa King in the 2023 Group 3 Origin Distance at Albion Park.
2023 Group 3 State Of Origin Distance – Palawa King (Days Of Thunder fourth)
Days Of Thunder is from the Michelle Shambler bred November 2019 litter by Fernando Bale out of Melissa's Pride, and has 59 starts for 16 wins and 17 placings, earning owner Clint Gill $218,240 in prizemoney.
Her inclusion in the Albion Park's 2023 Group 3 Superstayers Invitational makes for an interesting race with First Picked the only front-running stayer, while all other three greyhounds prefer to drop out early and storm home.
With First Picked almost certain to lead from box seven, and Days Of Thunder certain to be last early; Zipping Orlando and Palawa King will be both be forced to race much closer than usual in the run.
Greyhound bookmakers have made the Ray Smith-trained NSW greyhound Palawa King the +110 favourite in greyhound betting odds.
Zipping Orlando, who won the 2023 Group 3 Carnival Chase (600m), before finishing seventh behind Palawa King in the 2023 Group 3 State Of Origin Distance (710m), at his most recent runs; has been priced as second favourite.
Oddly greyhound betting sites have priced First Picked, the natural race leader at +400, the same as Days Of Thunder who will be last early.
2023 Group 3 Superstayers Invitational
2023 Superstayers Invitational Box Draw & FieldAlbion Park710mGroup 3$75,000 to-the-winnerThursday June 22 2023
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1 Days Of Thunder
T: Warren NichollsF: 3624Career: 59: 16-9-8Prizemoney: $218,240
+400
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3 Zipping Orlando
T: John FinnF: 3317Career: 32: 16-3-6Prizemoney: $783,400
+210
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5 Palawa King
T: Ray SmithF: 3141Career: 36: 14-6-6Prizemoney: $226,730
+110
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7 First Picked
T: Rob BrittonF: 2511Career: 46: 15-6-9Prizemoney: $306,940
+400
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Odds correct at time of publication