Palawa King, Ritza Piper, She’s A Pearl and Zipping Orlando have been announced as finalists for the highly coveted 2023 New South Wales Greyhound of the Year (GOTY) award.
The GOTY selection panel met last week to determine the four finalists in contention for the prestigious award which will be formally announced at a gala function in Sydney in February.
Included among the finalists is champion bitch She’s A Pearl which will be eyeing back-to-back GOTY honours.
Now revelling in retirement having recently produced her first litter of pups, She’s A Pearl followed up her remarkable 2022 racing season with another fantastic year in 2023 for trainers Jodie and Andy Lord.
The daughter of Aston Dee Bee was a seven-time group race finalist during the year, including victories in the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder, Group 3 Temora Cup, Group 3 Brother Fox and Listed Ladies Bracelet Appreciation.
Also in the mix for GOTY honours is staying sensation Palawa King which contested no less than 10 group race finals during a year where he wowed racing fans right around the country.
Leading his slate of feature race wins was three Group 1 triumphs in the Queensland Cup, Bold Trease and National Distance Championship while he also tasted victory in the Group 3 TAB Origin Distance.
If the powerhouse son of Feral Franky takes the GOTY gong it will be a second win in the past three years for Jack and Maree Smith following Jungle Deuce’s award in 2021.
Also in the GOTY mix is Joe Scerri’s fabulous stayer Ritza Piper which during a stellar 2023, where she qualified for seven group race finals, won the Group 1 Topgun Stayers, Group 2 Summer Distance Plate and Group 3 Newcastle Cup.
Rounding out the field of four finalists is powerhouse all-distance dynamo Zipping Orlando.
Raced by the Hallinan family and trained by the late John Finn until his passing in October, Zipping Orlando’s grand achievement during 2023 was a nail-biting win in the $500,000-to-the-winner ‘The 715’ at The Gardens in May.
But his big race wins didn’t stop there, annexing the Group 1 Association Cup and Group 3 Summer Chase in Brisbane during a year where he won 10 of his 23 NSW appearances.
Greyhound Racing NSW CEO Rob Macaulay said the quality of the four finalists for NSW GOTY honours is testament to how strong a year of racing we witnessed throughout 2023.
“We have seen some magnificent performances in 2023, and it was tough for our expert panel to come up with just four finalists for the Greyhound of the Year, but I believe they have got it spot on with the quartet which have been selected,” Macaulay said.
“Any of the four greyhounds - Palawa King, Ritza Piper, last year’s winner She’s A Pearl and Zipping Orlando, winner of that memorable Ladbrokes 715 – would be deserved winners of the title, and I congratulate the connections of each greyhound.
“Like everyone in our sport, I eagerly await the gala ceremony in February when we get to celebrate and recognise our outstanding performers and the achievements of those in our sport, and crown the 2023 Greyhound of the Year.”
