He already has a cult following because of his name, but Feral Franky is beginning to make most in the industry stand up and look at him, and that was the case on Friday night at Richmond when he produced an emphatic and devastating performance to win the Ladbrokes Richmond Riches.
Many expected the in-form sprinter to be hard to beat in the $40,000 to the winner feature, hence the odds-on quote, but not many would have expected the ease and power in which Feral Franky took out the event.
A noted tardy beginner, “The Feral” as he has become known, stepped well, and was third into the first turn chasing Knighthood and My Bro’s Ethics. In that spot, at that time, he would have been unbackable odds, and heading up the back, that quote was justified and Feral Franky surged to the lead and raced away.
At the post the margin was 7½ lengths and the time 30.31s, another improvement on his 30.58s heat win and his 30.50s semi-final success.
Second went to the gallant Knighthood, with Fernando Porche running on for third.
It was fitting that Feral Franky’s biggest success came at the track where he had his first start and first win, just seven months ago in November. Since then his record is impressive.
In February he won a heat and was then second to Axel Footluce in the National Derby at Wentworth Park, then later that month won a heat and was fourth in the final of the Bull Gold Cup behind Pindari Express.
In April, Feral Franky won his heat and then the final of the Group 3 New Sensation at Wentworth Park then headed to Sandown for the Speed Star series where he defeated Midnight Dare in his match-race clocking 29.20s, and ultimately finished second to Flynn in overall times
And now the Richmond Riches.
In all Feral Franky has raced 21 times, for nine wins, eight seconds, two thirds and just two unplaced runs - the fourth in the Bulli Gold Cup Final, and a sixth at his second start, at Richmond, where he spent most of his time trying to stay on his feet as he received check after check.
Feral Franky is expected to next head to Brisbane for the State Of Origin Series, and the rich Queensland carnival.
At Wagga, and it was a stunning performance by the Frank Hurst-trained Good Odds Buddy in winning the club’s annual feature, the Ladbrokes Graeme Hull Memorial Cup.
Good Odds Buddy (pictured) became the first greyhound to ever break the 30 second barrier, with a brilliant performance, leading throughout to win in 29.93s.
The time slashed 0.14s off the previous track record set by Chilly Babe back in October 2013, and was also 0.21s quicker than he went in his heat seven nights earlier.
Good Odds Buddy speared out of the seven box and matched strides with his litter sister Good Odds Meghan to the winning post, before crossing the fence and then putting a space on his sister and the remainder of the field. Up the back the only interest was in the time and the margin, and both were staggering, in the end the margin was 6¼ lengths
Jodie Lord’s pair Cawbourne Madox and Cawborne Marty both ran home well to collect second and third prizemoney, with just a head between them. Good Odds Meghan weakened into fifth place.
The win was the eighth for Good Odds Buddy at his 19th career start.
Earlier in the day at Casino, Warren and Sonia Kempshall’s Modified Trunk led throughout to win the Casino RSM Beef Week Cup Final.
It was the fourth win in succession for Modified Truck, and he found the perfect time to produce his best, clocking a personal best for the Casino 484m of 27.46s.
The victory was Modified Trunk’s 17th success in just 32 starts, and once he found the rails from his box four draw, and was able to clear the favourite Cosmic Bonus (box one), it was race over.
Cosmic Bonus struck trouble early, colliding with another chance, Axle Whelan, and costing both runners any realistic winning chance. Tray Bit ran home strongly to grab third.
The win was the highlight of a tremendous day for the Kempshalls. Warren also trained Pirate’s Cut to win the second event on the card, Sonia trained Floki Jappa to victory in race three, and the pair also owned the last winner of the day, Bewitched Star trained by Billy Gilbert.
In Melbourne, brilliant sprinter Zipping Bailey was wiped out on the first turn of the Group 1 Sapphire Crown at Sandown Park.
The Jason Mackay-trained Golden Easter Egg winner was unable to get across to the rail early, and as a result got caught up in trouble on the first turn. The event went to the favourite, the Rob Britton-trained Neo Cleo.
In the night’s other Group 1 events, Correy Grenfell’s Orson Allen led throughout to win the Harrison Dawson, and in the main event, the $250,000 Sandown Cup Rajasthan caused a major boilover.
