By Jordan Gerrans
The Queensland team for the upcoming TAB Origin Greyhound Series will represent the entirety of the state in 2022, with a Townsville stayer set to showcase the north.
The Maroons squad is headlined by the quinella in this week’s Brisbane Cup - Just A Sort and Orchestrate – in the sprint section over 520 metres, while Group 1 Queensland Cup place getter - Days Of Thunder – will lead the way in the Origin Distance over 710 metres.
The squad contains a bolter from North Queensland in No Regrets, who is now in the kennel of George Clegg at Mudgeeraba after previously being in the care of experienced Townsville dog man Robert Lound.
Clegg was a proud man – for himself and Lound, who still owned the dog – after the bitch was selected in the elite team after four consistent runs since being relocated to South East Queensland.
“The way this is with the Queensland team, you hopefully want to represent all of Queensland, and to have a Townsville dog in there, it's probably a good little touch as well too,” Clegg said.
“To have a Townsville dog, everyone in the state is connected and part of it. I reckon it's fantastic.
“It is great for regional Queensland, in particular, all our friends up in Townsville.
“I've been up there to Townsville to race my dogs over the years and they're wonderful people.
“She's carrying the flag for Townsville.”
No Regrets quickly become a revelation in the north this year over 643 metres, winning seven from nine, including two track records.
And, she has transitioned that form perfectly to Brisbane’s 710 metre trip, running in the money in three of her four races and finishing fourth in the only event she did not figure in the placings.
The local Origin Sprint team is stacked full of talent, including last year’s Greyhound of the Year nominee, Extra Malt, Capalaba Cup champion Impact, as well as the first two past the post in this week’s Brisbane Cup in Just A Sort and Orchestrate from the leading Tony Brett kennel.
Power Moves – who is prepared by Serena Lawrance – will be the reserve andwill come into the team if any other dog needs to be scratched.
In the distance race, No Regrets will be joined by Warren Nicholls’ Days Of Thunder, Dundee Ember - who is trained by Rusty Dillon – and Queensland Cup finalist Oh Oh Range.
Oh Oh Range comes from the Ned Show kennel and Shipwreck - also from his team – will represent Queensland in the Origin Match Race.
Dulceria – the Group 3 Townsville Cup winner from last year - will be the reserve in the Origin Match Race for trainer Matthew Heilbronn.
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Clegg believes the TAB Origin Greyhound Series is an excellent concept for the sport.
“I think I was involved with the first time they did this and it was in its infancy. And look, I think it's unbelievable,” he said.
‘The hype and the publicity around it.
“And, the night’s themselves have just become spectacular.”
Experienced trainer Clegg has direct links to Townsville, having won the Group 3 Cup back in 2018 with former kennel star Big Bad Bob.
Queensland will be out for revenge in 2022 after dropping last year’s series to New South Wales 2-1 in a dramatic night of racing.
Just a week after the $525,000 Sky Racing Brisbane Cup, the Origin Greyhound Series returns to Albion Park on July 14 with two $75,000 Group 3 races – the Origin Sprint and Origin Distance – along with the Listed Origin Match Race.
In 2022, the popular Origin Greyhound Series acts as the finale for the Carnival’s closing night, coinciding with the NRL’s State of Origin decider in Brisbane on July 13.
The card also features the Regional Origin Challenge and Queensland Emerging Origin Stars, both run over the 520-metre journey.
The squad’s will again be led by coaches Ben Hannant (Queensland) and Terry Hill (New South Wales).
For the visiting NSW team, the promising Black Magic Rose will wear blue in the Origin Sprint after her strong run of form north of the border during the carnival, including qualifying for the Group 1 Brisbane Cup.
The John Finn kennel will be represented in two races, with Group 1 Gold Bullion heat winner from earlier this year Zipping Kygrios selected in the Match Race to face Shipwreck, while Tania Keeping will run in the distance event.
Good Odds Cash and Good Odds Emma – who are both prepared by Frank Hurst – will lead the Blues’ team over the shorter distance.
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