The Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club has today announced the four invitees for the $57,500 Group 3 Garrard’s Superstayers Invitational over 710 metres to be held on Thursday, June 23 at Albion Park.
The selection panel considered performances of greyhounds across the Group race staying calendar around Australia, with greyhounds from four different states included in this year’s edition.
The invitees for the 2022 Garrard’s Superstayers are: Bedrock Fred (trained by Tony Brett), Gypsy Wyong (Andrea Dailly), Untapped (Dustin Drew), and Zipping Kansas (Jason Magri).
Queensland stayers Oh Oh Range (Ned Snow) and Days Of Thunder (Warren Nicholls) will be first and second reserves respectively.
Together, the four greyhounds have notched 63 wins and accumulated just shy of $1 million dollars in prize money.
The first invitee, Bedrock Fred, is a vastly experienced stayer from South Australia who first burst onto the Group racing scene 12 months ago when qualifying for the Group 1 TAB Queensland Cup final at Albion Park under the care of Tony Brett.
The son of Spring Gun and Dashing Dee Dee accumulated local victories in South Australia before embarking on a campaign in Western Australia, where he qualified for the Group 1 Galaxy Final before finishing seventh behind Mambo Monelli.
Back in the care of Brett, Bedrock Fred made it win number 14 with a dominant performance in the Group 3 TAB Dashing Corsair Final, winning by eight lengths in a best of night performance to secure his spot in next week’s invitational.
Gypsy Wyong is certainly the experienced runner in the field with a resume that no other contestant can boast.
The daughter of Westmead Hawk and Dyna Gypsy is a three-time Group 1 winner, showcasing victories in the Topgun Stayers at The Meadows, Bold Trease at Sandown Park, and the Association Cup at Wentworth Park.
A winner of 19 races and almost $500,000 in stakes earnings, the Andrea Dailly-prepared chaser recently competed in the Ladbrokes 715 metre series at The Gardens, finishing in fifth position behind the recently retired Miss Ezmae and will represent Victoria in next week’s Superstayers Invitational.
The Dustin Drew-prepared Untapped is the third invitee into the Garrard’s Superstayers after a stellar six month period at the top of the staying ranks, which includes four Group 1 final appearances.
After two minor placings in Group 1 events, the daughter of Aston Dee Bee and Mepunga Fame shot to stardom with a sensational victory in the Group 1 $250,000 Sandown Cup over 715 metres and stamped her status as one of the best stayers in the country.
Raced by Team Borda and George Farrugia, Untapped will look to make it win number 15 in next week’s Superstayers Invitational.
Rounding out the invitees is the New South Wales “X Factor” in Zipping Kansas for Team Hallinan and trainer Jason Magri.
The son of Superior Panama and Zipping Katelyn is lightly raced but has shown devastating ability on the racetrack right from his debut, as shown by a 25.92 maiden final victory over the 472 metres at Bulli.
A winner of 16 races from 29 starts, Zipping Kansas was runner up in the Group 1 Vic Peters Classic at Wentworth Park over 520 metres before embarking on a staying career, which boasts near track record performances at Richmond 618 metres (35.06 seconds), Sandown Park 715 metres (41.27), and Wentworth Park 720 metres (41.57).
Zipping Kansas will aim up in next Thursday’s Superstayers off a dominant Open victory at The Gardens on June 11.
Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club CEO Luke Gatehouse says the carnival riches and a well-structured race program has attracted one of the best Superstayers fields since its inception.
"The Superstayers is a unique format that certainly attracts the best staying talent in the country and the recent prize money increase to $57,500 has secured us a wonderful field 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 30."
The box draw for the event will take place at the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club at noon on Monday, June 20 and will be streamed live on the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club Facebook page.
Albion Park will be the place to be on Thursday night with no less than five feature races alongside the Group 3 Garrard’s Superstayers Invitational.
The supporting card includes the Group 3 $60,000 TAB Supersprinters, $18,700 Garrard’s Tempest, $18,700 BGRC Chairman’s Trophy along with the $18,700 TAB Thunder and Lightning 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 Scotty Whatman, kids rides, and a visit from our four favourite Superheroes including prizes for best-dressed Superhero.