Locally-trained greyhound Myall Ray, who finished third in Tuesday’s SA Straight Track Championship (350 metres), was originally listed as a reserve in the National Straight Track Championship to be run at Murray Bridge on Saturday morning, August 24.

But Stadiums, the NSW qualifier (run at Richmond) has been withdrawn from the series. Trained by Stephen Davies, he advised that he had chosen not to travel to SA and would not compete in the series.

Davies, of Salt Ash, said there had been no physical issues with the son of Zipping Garth and Bonding Session. However, pursuant to Nationals Conditions, withdrawing for this reason was not acceptable.

Stewards, after considering the circumstances, advised Davies that Stadiums would be removed from the series with a 28-day penalty imposed, from the date of the National final, under the rules of racing.

As a result of the scratching, the next qualified greyhound from the host state – in this case Myall Ray, trained at Compton by Tracie Price – will take his place in the $28,000 to the winner final. And litter brother Myall Jack is now a reserve.

By Beast Unleashed out of Spot On Cinta, the pair joined Price’s kennels after octogenarian couple Ray Gilmore and Judith Risk of Kilmany had won eight races with Myall Ray and seven with Myall Jack on Victorian provincial tracks.

It was back in May that Price and his son Ben had met with Gilmore and Risk at Traralgon in order to pick up the black dog and his black and white brother.

“And at the time Ray was adamant that Myall Ray was the pick of the pair and that he wanted Ben to handle him at the race track,” said Price.

“It was always my plan to set Myall Ray for the National Straight Track Championship. In fact, since he’s been in our kennels, the only place he has raced has been up the straight at Murray Bridge.

“He’ll jump from box seven in Saturday’s final and he should handle that alright. Myall Jack is now a reserve and it certainly wouldn’t worry me if he gained a start.”

Price said Gilmore and Risk would also be sending over another of the litter for breeding – Myall Sandy, a last start winner at Warragul and all told a winner of nine races on Victorian provincial tracks.

National Straight Track Championship (350 metres): 1 Express Ethics (NSW), 2 Hara’s Buddy (Qld.), 3 Sheezel (Qld.), 4 Zipping Gryllis (Vic.), 5 Mile A Minute (Vic.), 6 So Be It (SA), 7 Myall Ray (SA), 8 Cash On Delivery (SA). Reserves: Agent Nineteen, Myall Jack.

Meanwhile, New Zealand National Sprint Championship qualifier Caterpie Bale and New Zealand National Distance Championship qualifier Know Defence have been ruled out of Angle Park’s Saturday night final on August 24.

This follows flight arrangements to South Australia unable to be accommodated by the courier. All avenues were exhausted in a bid to have the NZ qualifiers take their places in the Sprint and Distance finals over 530 metres and 730 metres.

As a result, the NZ pair has been replaced by the next qualified greyhounds from the host state (SA) – in the case of the Sprint, Where’s Poppy (Kirin Corby) and the Distance, Zipping Neutron (Tim Aloisi).