She’s A Pearl wins 2022 Group 1 Golden Easter Egg for large syndicate
Winning a big race for a big syndicate of passionate racing fans is as good as it gets for owner Joe Lannutti – especially when it's the $338,000 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg Final (520m) at Wentworth Park.
The roar was deafening when raging-hot +115 favourite with greyhound bookmakers, She's A Pearl, won in a time of 29.73 seconds – almost four lengths ahead of Good Odds Cash for Frank Hurst.
It wasn't the blistering time of 29.46 seconds she ran to win her semi-final but, from box five after some early congestion, it got the job done.
The race was never in doubt after the superstar two-year-old bitch rounded the first turn in first place for champion trainer Jodie Lord.
“It's the best feeling, honestly,” Lannutti told australianracinggreyhound.com.
“Once she found the front we thought she was home. I've never heard a roar like it at Wentworth Park. It was unbelievable.
“You can't beat that. We've got a syndication of 100 blokes who were just going ballistic.
“That's fantastic.”
You wouldn't think so, but Lannutti admitted to having a few pre-race nerves.
But those jitters evaporated early after She's A Pearl made her move.
“It (being nervous) is because it's New South Wales' No.1 race and we've been watching it for 30 years,” Lannutti said.
But there was also no shortage of confidence Lannutti's supremely-gifted runner could get the job done if given the opportunity from the middle of the pack.
“No, we were right (regarding any trepidation over the box draw). We were pretty happy. She just had to jump and then we thought we could win,” Lannutti said.
“She had the best week ever. No excuses – we were really confident.
“Winners win. And that was what she did.”
Saturday night's victory means She's A Pearl is now one win away from the TAB Million Dollar Chase Final on May 7.
“We'll go straight into the Million Dollar Chase semi-finals now. We've get a free entry in. So it's onwards and upwards for us,” Lannutti said.
Lannutti said Jodie and Andy Lord were highly deserving of their first
“Absolutely elated. It's a lot of hard work. But it's all about the Lords – Andy and Jodie – and everything they've done,” he said.
“We just go along for the ride. They're the greatest and we're very thankful.
“They're the best. They've got the best work ethic and they get the best results.
“They're the premiership winners all the time and they've got great communication with us.
“They're amazing people. It's their first Golden Easter Egg. Unbelievable.”