Line-ups confirmed for Straight Of Origin

Queensland is looking to wrestle back inter-state bragging rights after naming its team to take on NSW in this year’s Straight Of Origin. 

The Sunshine State’s line-up will be headlined by the Chris Brydon-trained Coonamble Kid in an all-new, revamped format at the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club on Sunday, June 18. 

A 13-time winner at Capalaba, Coonamble Kid boasts a personal best of 19.38 (just two lengths off the track record), and also performed admirably in the Group 2 Maitland Cup series, where he ran third in the final.

He will be joined by Panama Canal, who was transferred to leading Queensland trainer Tony Brett this year. 

A seven-time winner at Healesville and finalist in last year’s Group 2 Healesville Cup, Panama Canal posted his first victory at Capalaba in 19.67 on May 28, before a last start second to New South Wales top seed Shall Not. 

The Jedda-Cutlack trained Valhalla has been a revelation since commencing a straight-track career, and will also look to put in a solid showing for the Maroons, winning four of his last five starts including victory in the Capalaba Young Guns Final last month. 

Trained by Jeff Crawford, emerging talent Lose Your Cool rounds out the Queensland team, having won his last six starts up the straight at Capalaba, which included a 19.58 victory over QLD teammate Valhalla in his last race. 

The format for Straight Of Origin will change from a heat and final event, to an invitational, one-off final run between the top four dogs from each state selected by RQ and Greyhound Racing NSW. 

The event has also received a prize money boost from $24,000 to $63,500, with the winner of this year’s edition collecting $40,000, up from $15,600 in 2022. 
 

Racing Queensland’s Senior Greyhound Racing Manager Brenton Scott said the new format in 2023 would ensure the quality of competition would be higher than ever. 

“Along with the one-off final and boost in prize money, Straight Of Origin will this year also be a preferential draw event, which will allow competing trainers to nominate for inside or outside draw,” Scott said. 

“The chance to nominate for a rail or wide box will allow for consistency with the greyhound’s racing traits in straight conditions.

“Additionally, to be eligible for the race, a greyhound must have raced or trialled at Capalaba prior to the draw, and have complied with the respective qualifications around being domiciled in Queensland or NSW. 

“We are looking forward to seeing a high-quality day of racing at Capalaba on June 18 where state bragging rights will again go on the line.” 

CGRC Manager Erin Cameron said she was expecting both Queensland and New South Wales to put on a show for greyhound racing fans.

“The Capalaba Club is delighted with the quality of both squads, and we look forward to the national straight track racing spotlight beaming brightly on our venue come June 18,” Cameron said. 

“Straight track racing has come a long way in the past four years, and this year’s Straight Of Origin is another feather in that cap. 

“Time to get excited!” 

NSW will be looking to defend their title after Darren Sultana’s Mr. America accounted for local heroes Impact and Milligan in the 2022 Straight Of Origin. 

Sultana will fancy his chances again in 2023, returning to Capalaba with Shall Not headlining the Blues team, fresh off the back of a first-ever win at the Queensland venue. 

Owned by Origin Greyhound Series NSW Coach Terry Hill, Shall Not has won his past 10 starts at Richmond, including a personal best of 17.18 - just one length off the track record. 

The box draw will take place on Wednesday, June 14 at the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club.