If someone told you a Jack Smith runner would break a track record and assert itself as one of the dogs to beat in this years Ladbrokes Country Classic, you’d be forgiven if you thought it was the prolific Palawa King.
Instead, it’s another progeny of Feral Franky whose name is up in lights today after Bella Una set a new low mark over the Temora 570m on Wednesday evening to surge her way into the semi-finals on March 9.
“She’s got the series in the bloody bag,” Smith joked on Thursday morning.
“No we’re not saying that. She’s going well but that Temora race wasn’t as strong as some of the heats. We just need to draw inside because she wants to get on the arm. We don’t know how far she can go just yet but that Temora straight is a hard run so it will hold her in good stead.”
The 2023 Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase finalist claiming her first win of 2024 in a time of 32.33, smashing the previous mark of 32.48 held by Immunity.
Bella Una beating home Rock It Reta (Matthew Duncan), Two Good Charlie (Errol Hughes) and Charcoal Cheetah (Corina Sciberras) who also qualified for the semis.
“These pups are flying. Irinka Daniel has won his last two and went 29.8 at Wenty. Irinka Lottie ran 29.68 last night in town and Bella broke the Temora track record,” Smith said proudly.
“And Khatanga Eve was served by Feral [Franky] again and is back in pup. It was a repeat mating, so the Barnes crew (who own the mother) obviously think Feral is the best stud dog in Australia.”
The victory capping off another successful seven days in the sport for Smith after Palawa King’s heroics in the Group 1 Fanta Bale Stayers at The Meadows on Saturday night and his Greyhound Of The Year gong last Thursday.
Happy connections of Palawa King following his GOTY win last Thursday night.
“It’s been a busy patch but Maree got the job done in Melbourne. She drove him down and brought back the win and she got the record with Bella [Una] yesterday so she’s in form. I’m laying on the lounge under a blanket watching the cricket at the moment so she can keep winning and I’ll stay right here,” he laughed.
“Palawa King will go around in the heats of the Country Classic on Saturday at Dubbo but it’s just a throw at the stumps. It might be a little short for him but he’s had a quiet week and it’s his home track. And we’ve got Red Hot Frankie who goes well at Dubbo too so she deserves her chance.”
Smith also firing a warning shot at Minnie Finn ahead of the highly anticipated ‘bucking bull’ competition slated for Ladbrokes Country Classic final night on March 16.
“I saw what Minnie said about the mechanical bull and she is no chance. She’s probably riddled with arthritis and I doubt she’s ever ridden a bull in her life. I think it will be easy pickings,” he chuckled.
On Tuesday night at Gosford, Zipping Caleb gave Minnie Finn her second heat victory of the series after the son of Flying Ricciardo made a mess of his rivals on the Central Coast.
The Group 3 Christmas Gift winner clocking a time of 34.53 to beat home Has Ability by just over five lengths, with Danseuse (James Mcguiness) finishing third.
Might Have Been (also a Finn runner) ran into fourth place and joins full sister Binalong Time in the semi-finals.
The duo, out of staying superstar Poco Dorado, are littermates with Group 1 National Futurity winner Gets Late Early and finalist Ain’t Waiting, Richmond Derby finalist Both Bowers Ace and eight-time winner Poco Rico.
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