In just under 90 minutes, NSW’s ‘Team Lord’ could carve out a niche in Australian Cup Carnival history.
The ‘Lords of the (racing) Ring’ are chasing a Group 1 ‘Trilogy’ with their ‘Fellowship’ – She’s A Pearl (Temlee), Punter’s Bandit (Rookie Rebel) and Cawbourne Magic (Zoom Top) – at The Meadows on Saturday night.
All three ‘invitationals’ are sponsored by Sportsbet.
And it would be a $250,000 payday if all three were successful.
Furthermore, the triumvirate is trained by Jodie Lord. Since the inception of the events in 2003, no trainer has won all three – let alone in the same year!
The Lords may be ‘praying’ for a small miracle – albeit Andy Lord rates their terrific trio as winning chances.
“I’m quietly confident about all three,” he said. “The thing in our favour is they’re all absolute chasers.”
The star of the show from the Lord kennel at Gunning – between Goulburn and Yass – is dual G1 winner She’s A Pearl (29 from 46), which has amassed $1,619,970 in prizemoney.
She’s A Pearl (Box 4) is $4.40 on Sportsbet’s market – behind Wow She’s Fast (Box 2) and Amron Boy (Box 3), both at $3.60 – for the $160,500 Temlee (525m), Race 10, 9.43pm, which carries a $100,000 first prize.
Lord says She’s A Pearl is “definitely going better” than when she finished third behind Wow She’s Fast ($2,261,370) – the world’s highest stakes earning greyhound – and Amron Boy in The Phoenix at The Meadows in December last year.
“She’s had some injury setbacks but is now about 95 per cent to when she won last year’s Golden Easter Egg. If she leads, she’ll give them something to chase.
“I think she can turn the tables on Wow She’s Fast, but she would have to find the front early.”
She’s A Pearl, which has won her past three starts including the G1 Paws Of Thunder, is seven from 10 exiting the ‘blue’ alley.
“If I had the choice, I would have wanted ‘four’ or ‘five’ as she goes best from the middle,” Lord said, noting She’s A Pearl is unbeaten in six starts from the ‘pink’ (Box 8).
She’s A Pearl is attempting to join NSW counterparts Paua To Burn (2005) and Wow (2021) on the Temlee honour roll.
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Meanwhile, Lord is also buoyant about Cawbourne Magic (20 from 44) and Punter’s Bandit (11 from 29).
Considered one of the best stayers in the land, Cawbourne Magic (Box 1) is $2.70F – ahead of Moraine Suzie (Box 2 – $4.20) and Mepunga Ruby (Box 7 – $4.80) – for the $121,500 Zoom Top (730m) – Race 6, 8.21pm.
Cawbourne Magic, which has won six of his past seven starts, showed Victorian greyhound racing aficionados his capabilities when runner-up to NSW compatriot Stagger Out Lee in last year’s G1 Bold Trease.
He’s also five from nine out of Box 1, so it’s no surprise Lord says “he’s well boxed in the ‘red’”.
“He trialled ordinary over 600 metres at The Meadows, but he’s not a trial dog. We were desperate to give him a look at the track and that should benefit him.
“He cramped a little bit in the Bold Trease, but he’s a much better traveller these days.”
And Lord couldn’t contain his excitement on the prospects of Punter’s Bandit (Box 8) – an $8 chance behind NSW star French Martini (Box 1 – $3.80), Aston Velvet (Box 2 – $4.40) and defending champ Jarick Bale (Box 3 – $4.60) – in the $121,500 Rookie Rebel (600m) – Race 8, 9.03pm.
Punter’s Bandit, which has won five of her past seven starts, ‘looted’ last month’s G2 Gosford Gold Cup.
“I’ve had a bit on her at 10/1,” Lord said. “I thought they were silly odds.
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“She’s very smart, and I think she’s well drawn. And don’t be surprised if she’s vying for the lead around the first turn.
“She’s as strong as any dog in this race. I believe she’s going to be a terrific stayer.”
Both the Zoom Top and Rookie Rebel offer a $75,000 winner’s purse.
Pawnote: The Lords daughter, Grace, owned 2020 Zoom Top winner Just Terms – trained by Anthony Azzopardi.
