The Queensland Greyhound Racing Club (QGRC) today announced the four invitees for the $107,825 Group 2 Garrard’s Superstayers Invitational (710m) to be held on Thursday night, 20 June at Albion Park.
The selection panel considered performances of greyhounds across the staying calendar around Australia, with greyhounds from Queensland, News South Wales, Victoria and South Australia to do battle in the four-greyhound shootout.
The invitees for the 2024 Garrard’s Superstayers are:
- Irish Mille (Stephen Whyte)
- Lena Jinx (Tony Brett)
- Palawa King (Raymond Smith)
- Valpolicella (Tony Zammit)
NSW stayer Fahey’s Magic (Tyson Barton) has been selected as the sole reserve for the event.
Together, the four invitees have notched a total of 77 wins and accumulated over $2.25 million dollars in prizemoney. Remarkably, both Palawa King and Valpolicella reached the million-dollar prizemoney milestone in the Greyhound Origin Distance race held at Albion Park on 13 June 2024.
The first invitee, Victorian stayer Irish Millie burst into contention by winning the Group 1 Sandown Cup in May.
Angle Park 730m track record holder, Lena Jinx from South Australia forced her way into the field with an all-the-way win over 710m at Albion Park on Thursday night in 41.77 sec and best on the night.
Dual Greyhound Origin distance champion and multiple Group winner, Palawa King from NSW has long been an obvious inclusion in the select field.
Rounding out the invitees in Queensland’s staying Queen and multiple Group winner, Valpolicella.
The four-greyhound format will see every contestant get their chance to display their true ability and it provides a perfect lead up race for the Group 1 TAB Queensland Cup series commencing on June 27.
Albion Park will be the place to be again on Thursday night with no less than four feature races alongside the Group 2 Garrard’s Superstayers Invitational. The supporting card includes the $18,500 Garrard’s Tempest (600m), $18,500 QGRC Chairman’s Trophy (710m) along with the $18,500 TAB Thunder (395m) and Lightning (331m) Finals over the short course journeys.
