Richmond Riches
Because on his name, Feral Franky (pictured) already has somewhat of a cult following, but his racetrack performances are making all stand up and take notice, and on Friday night he added another feature to his resume when he took out the $40,000 to the winner Ladbrokes Richmond Riches.
A noted scratchy 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 he didn’t let his supporters down, surging to the lead and racing 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.
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 now expected to head to Brisbane for the Origin Greyhound Series, and favoured to be the NSW representative in the match-race.
Watch Feral Franky win the final of the Richmond Riches
Graeme Hull Memorial Cup
The Wagga Club celebrated their major night of racing with a track record performance, when the Frank Hurst-trained Good Odds Buddy produced a stunning run to take out the Ladbrokes Graeme Hull Memorial Cup.
Good Odds Buddy 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.
Watch Good Odds Buddy’s amazing Wagga Cup win
Dubbo Gold Cup
It was a huge night for local trainer Charmaine Roberts on Sunday when she produced the winners of both the features on Dubbo’s feature night of the year.
Roberts first claimed the $10,000 to the winner, Peg and Bill Miller Memorial Final over 516m in dazzling style with Don’t Mind Me, then two races later she took out the Ladbrokes Dubbo Gold Cup - and another $10,000 to the winner prize - with the dashing Caitlyn Keeping.
Caitlyn Keeping was dominant leading throughout in 29.56s and winning by 8¼ lengths from Double Up Dee with a neck back to Irinka Lizzy.
It was a simply stunning performance by Don’t Mind Me in the Peg and Bill Miller Memorial Final.
He came within 0.01s of the track record set by David Pringle’s Million Dollar Chase finalist, Midnight Starlet in the Dubbo Regional Final last year, when he scorched around the track in 29.28s.
Watch Caitlyn Keeping take out the Dubbo Gold Cup
Casino RSM Beef Week Cup
On a massive Friday, with Richmond and Wagga both staging feature events, so too did Casino, and it was Warren and Sonia Kempshall’s Modified Trunk who 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 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.
Watch Modified Trunk win the big Casino Final
Bathurst Adoption Day
Bathurst will host their Adoption Day this Saturday with interest in the event very high.
A total of 21 dogs will be available for rehoming, with the day commencing at 10am and running through until 2pm.
There will be a good mix of genders and ages available, some have raced, some haven’t. Again there will be a special price of $75 for the day.
For more information on greyhound adoption head to the www.gapnsw.com.au
Origin Greyhound Series
The teams for the Origin Greyhound Series will be announced this Friday.
Each state will finalise four runners for the sprint, four for the staying event, and one each for the match-race, plus reserves.
There was some good news yesterday for the NSW squad preparing for the Origin Greyhound Series, with confirmation from trainer Jason MACKAY that Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg winner Zipping Bailey will be ready to take her place in the series which will be run on June 6. Zipping Bailey sustained an injury in last Friday’s Group 1 Sapphire Crown final at Sandown, and it was originally thought the injury would rule her out of Origin, but MACKAY said there was no muscle damage and she will be ready to represent the Blues.
More good news with in form Feral Franky devastating in the Richmond Riches final on Friday, and judging by his recent Speed Star performance in Melbourne, he would be well suited to the match-race format.
Once teams are finalised the box draws will be conducted on June 3.
