She’s A Pearl out of 2023 State Of Origin greyhound race series due to injury
The New South Wales (NSW) State Of Origin greyhound race series team has been forced to recalibrate their strategy mere days before the highly anticipated event.
Champion sprinter She's A Pearl, under the stewardship of trainer Andy Lord, has been withdrawn from the series.
The 2023 State Of Origin greyhound race series teams were only announced late last week, and within 24 hours, we've already seen changes.
This move comes on the heels of She's A Pearl's performance at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, which, although impressive, left Lord with reservations about her readiness for the upcoming series set to take place at Albion Park this Thursday.
She's A Pearl, arguably at times the best female greyhound in Australian greyhound racing, secured her standing in the sport's exclusive million dollar club with a spectacular victory in the 2023 Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park in May this year.
Her withdrawal from the Origin Series is a significant loss for the NSW team.
Lord's State Of Origin greyhound race stayer Cawbourne Magic has also been withdrawn from the Origin Series.
Stepping into the limelight is reserve runner Reflections, who now secures a place in the starting team for the 2023 State Of Origin Sprint.
Aston Barak, in turn, assumes the position of the new reserve greyhound.
On a similar note, the 2023 State Of Origin Distance race sees Wendy Rocks moving up into the starters, with Boom Lateral filling in as the new reserve.
The Distance Origin race, spanning 710 metres, has been the only race where the honours have been shared between Queensland and NSW in the past.
In the series' inaugural year in 2018, Queensland's Double Gee claimed victory for his state.
However, NSW fought back in 2019, with Poco Dorado leading the way to triumph for the Blues.
With the series locked at one apiece, the significance of the distance race in this year's contest cannot be understated.
The Origin Greyhound Series, which debuted in 2018, has been a veritable tug-of-war between Queensland and NSW.
After Queensland clinched the inaugural series, NSW responded with a win in 2019.
The COVID-enforced cancellation of the series in 2020 has only intensified the competition, as the two states vie for bragging rights in what's billed as “The Decider”.
The Origin Sprint, Distance, and Match Race will serve as the battlegrounds to determine this year's victor.
As the teams gear up for the series, fans and participants alike are left to wonder how these last-minute changes will impact the dynamic of the competition and the ultimate outcome.
With the stakes higher than ever, the NSW team will be put to the test as they grapple with these unexpected challenges.
2023 State Of Origin Match Race
- Jay Is Jay – Selena Zammit – Qld
- Simply Limelight – Peter Rodgers – NSW
Queensland State Of Origin Sprint Team
- Hello Mike – Travis Elson
- Magistrate – Greg Stella
- Shipwreck – Ned Snow
- Tomahawk Hayze – Sandra Hunt
- Reserve: Springtime Jet – Sean Galloway
NSW State Of Origin Sprint Team
- Cash Master – Robert Cooke
- Ibrox Wildfire – William Dance
- Wyndra All Class – Daniel Gatt
- Reflections – Justin King
- Reserve: Aston Barak – Jason Fletcher
She's A Pearl – Andy Lord
Queensland State Of Origin Distance Team
- Blue Hornet – Raymond Burman
- Days Of Thunder – Warren Nicholls
- Sorority – Jedda Cutlack
- Sunburst – Jedda Cutlack
- Reserve: Bogie Hurricane – Ryan Ayre
NSW State Of Origin Distance Team
- Nangar Rocker – Dennis Barnes
- Palawa King – Jack Smith
- Zipping Orlando – John Finn
- Wendy Rocks – John Dart
- Reserve: Boom Lateral – Grant Miller
Cawbourne Magic – Andy Lord
The box draw for the 2023 State Of Origin greyhound racing series will be performed at Racing Queensland on Monday June 12 2023.