The Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club today announced the four invitees for the $107,825 Group 3 Garrard’s Superstayers Invitational (710m) to be held on Thursday night, 22 June at Albion Park.
The selection panel considered performances of greyhounds across the Group race staying calendar around Australia, with greyhounds from News South Wales and Victoria to do battle in the four-greyhound shootout.
The invitees for the 2023 Garrard’s Superstayers are, in alphabetical order, First Picked (Robert Britton), Korda (Jeffrey Britton), Palawa King (Raymond Smith), and Zipping Orlando (John Finn). Queensland stayer Days Of Thunder (Warren Nicholls) has been selected as the sole reserve for the event.
Together, the four invitees have notched a total of 58 wins and accumulated over $1.6 million dollars in prizemoney.
The first invitee, the aptly named First Picked, is a vastly experienced Victorian stayer who first burst into the spotlight in September 2022 with a Group 3 staying victory at The Meadows before stringing together six top-class staying wins across Victoria and New South Wales.
The daughter of Benali and Erelda Bale reached the top of the mountain in winning the Group 1 Sky Racing 715m at Cannington in March before running a gallant second to Korda in the Group 1 Sandown Cup. A winner of 15 races from 46 starts, First Picked stamped his Superstayers invitation with back-to-back Free For All victories over the staying trip at Albion Park.
Korda is the most experienced runner in the field and carries an impressive staying resume that is highlighted by her victory in the Group 1 $270,000 Sandown Cup in May 2023.
The daughter of Mepunga Blazer and Mepunga Molly won her maiden over 390m at Ballarat just over a year ago and since then has accumulated all 12 of her victories over the middle distance and staying trip. The Jeff Britton prepared chaser has accumulated over $325,000 in prizemoney earnings, largely due to being a 5-time Group 1 finalist across New South Wales and Victoria.
The Ramond Smith prepared Palawa King is the third invitee into the Garrard’s Superstayers after showing great versatility across the sprint and staying ranks against the best chasers in the country.
The son of Feral Franky and Maximum Dos possesses a lethal finish, which has led the star New South Wales chaser to five Group finals in 2023.
A winner of 14 races from 36 starts, Palawa King’s recent performances include a close 3rd placing behind Zipping Orlando in the $600,000 SKY Racing 715m at The Gardens, before producing his best for NSW to win the TAB Origin Distance Final over 710m at Albion Park in a slick 41.71. Likely to give his three rivals an early head start, all eyes will be on Palawa King as the Superstayers field enter the final lap.
Rounding out the invitees is the New South Wales excitement machine Zipping Orlando for Team Hallinan and trainer John Finn.
The son of Zipping Garth and Zipping Dharma has transitioned from sprint to staying racing with huge success, accumulating six middle distance and staying victories highlighted by the Group 1 Association Cup over 720m at Wentworth Park.
Following his maiden Group 1 victory, Zipping Orlando was exceptional in winning The 715 at The Gardens carrying a $500,000 pay day before running third in the Group 1 Sandown Cup.
In preparation for the 2023 Superstayers Invitational, the New South Wales star was dynamic in winning the Group 3 Garrard’s Carnival Chaser over 600m at Albion Park.
Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club CEO, Luke Gatehouse, said the newly boosted $3.3 million Winter Greyhound Carnival gave the selection panel a host of the best stayers in the county to choose from.
"The 2023 Winter Greyhound Carnival has attracted unprecedented interest from the best trainers and greyhounds from across the country and this year’s edition of the Superstayers Invitational is of the highest quality and filled with intrigue," Gatehouse said.
"The four-greyhound format will see every contestant get their chance to display their true ability and it provides a perfect lead up into the Group 1 TAB Queensland Cup series commencing on June 29."
Albion Park will be the place to be on Thursday night with no less than 4 feature races alongside the Group 3 Garrard’s Superstayers Invitational.
The supporting card includes the $18,500 Garrard’s Tempest (600m), $18,500 BGRC Chairman’s Trophy (710m) along with the $18,500 TAB Thunder (395m) and Lightning (331m) Finals over the short course journeys.
The action on Thursday night isn’t just limited to the track with fantastic dining options in the Pacers and Chasers Bistro, live music with The Influence Duo, and a kids entertainment area.