Ryan Papenhuyzen hoping Good Odds Cash to take on She’s A Pearl
Make no mistake, Storm superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen is passionate about collective greyhound wellbeing – but some chaos in the middle of the Million Dollar Chase field is something he won't mind.
Of course, Greyhound Racing Victoria's welfare ambassador will be hoping the best eight chasers in Australia get through unscathed at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
But if there is a logjam, the elusive fullback will be holding his breath regarding Good Odds Cash's fortunes from box five. Frank Hurst's impressive two-year-old has lived up to her name, with Ladbrokes offering her a good-value $6 to salute with ladbrokes.
Here's the drawback – the bitch has been beaten by superstar Golden Easter Egg winner She's A Pearl the past three times they've clashed, including the $338,000 Egg final on April 9. That means Jodie Lord's fellow two-year-old bitch (box four) has been given almost unbackable odds of $1.40 from Ladbrokes.
This is why Clive Churchill Medal and NRL premiership winner Papenhuyzen – as knowledgeable and respectful about the sport of greyhounds as he is rugby league – will be putting his hard-earned on Good Odds Cash.
All the while crossing his fingers it might be a little rough-going but safe before the first turn – this might be the only way She's A Pearl could get beaten at the moment.
“I don't want to be boring, but there's a real short price on She's A Pearl,” Papenhuyzen told Fox's The Late Show With Matty Johns.
“She's an absolute star. I'm going to go the bitch next to her – Good Odds Cash.
“Frank Hurst trains her. I don't hope for something to go wrong, but I think that's the only way the favourite is going to get beaten – if she doesn't get out of the box cleanly.
“Hopefully, Good Odds Cash can get up. But She's A Pearl will be very hard to beat.”
Papenhuyzen – full of smiles in a winning Storm outfit – is also happy among his greyhounds off the field.
His first racing dog was Gary's Gift, and he is currently involved with the National Greyhound Draft as part of Team Britton with an interest in two dogs, Kiss Me Kate and Absolute Ruby.
One of the best players in the NRL, Papi Go Fast has also been named after him in the ultimate compliment to the flying No.1.
“I do own a couple. They're only young pups, but I'm mainly promoting the racing side of things,” he said.
The 23-year-old custodian cannot speak any more highly of adopting a retired greyhound as a pet.
This is why he has also been working with Victoria's Greyhound Adoption Program.
“I'm a pretty big advocate on rehoming them after their careers,” Papenhuyzen said.
“I've been successful in doing that with my first greyhound. The greyhound adoption program is something I'm pretty passionate about.
“I love a punt on the dogs and I love them as animals, but the rehoming aspect of it has been well-received especially in Victoria.
“But it's good to also see it in New South Wales where a lot of people are starting to realise how good they are as pets.
“I like both sides of it, and seeing them rehomed after their careers and looked after.”