It was one of those “have to see it to believe it” runs that dogs sometimes produce, and NSW cult hero Feral Franky delivered one on Thursday night at Albion Park in qualifying for next week’s $100,000 Flying Amy Classic final.
‘The Feral’ as he’s become known, also delivered for punters and his fans, saluting in 29.98s as a short-priced favourite. But it was the way he scored not the price nor the time.
Slowly away as usual from his unsuitable box eight draw, the Ray Smith-trained dog was checked at the first turn, then squeezed soon after, and although he managed to work his way into third heading up the back straight, he was spotting the tearaway leader, the in-form Glorious Izmir, a huge start.
Swinging for home and Glorious Izmir was set for victory before The Feral unleashed a withering burst to grab victory on the post.
The time was well adrift of the 29.78s Feral Franky posted in winning the Origin Match Race last week at Albion Park, and the 29.57s he clocked ina solo trial the week before, but again, it wasn’t about times it was about qualifying for the final, which he managed to do in spectacular fashion. Glorious Izmir held on for second in 30.02s securing spot in the final, with Good Odds Meghan completing a NSW trifecta by finishing third.
Melbourne Cup and Australian Cup runner-up Black Opium was brilliant in her heat of the Flying Amy Classic and was installed an odds-on favourite for the final, particularly after drawing the rails for the final.
Now in the kennel of leading trainer Tony Brett, Black Opium jumped well, powered to the lead and was off and gone, clocking a stunning 29.54s, one of the fastest times ever run at the Albion Park track.
Anthony Azzopardi’s Fernando’s Riot, a half brother to Million Dollar Chase winner Mystic Riot, was a strong second in 30.02s, which secured a spot in the final with that performance.
Fellow Victorian Sennachie confirmed his status as a real contender for the Classic with a tenacious 29.83s win, his 10th victory in 17 starts. Runner-up was local dog Shakey Diesel clocking 30.03s a time fast enough to gain a spot in the final.
Fresh from their State Of Origin success last Thursday night, NSW greyhounds hit the ground running, with the Dennis Barnes-trained Nangar Diva winning the opening heat of the Classic.
Starting favourite on the back of her 29.89s win at the track last Thursday, Nangar Diva was not the best away and looked in a bit of bother heading to the first turn, but when the leaders jammed, she railed through and raced away to what would be a winning break, clocking 30.07s in beating Dynamite Lucy.
The final heat of the night was a blowout for the punters with local dog Wildash Jakey - which paid $56 on the NSW tote - winning in 30.08s, from NSW dog Good Odds Harada.
The box draw for next Thursday’s final was also conducted last night: 1 Black Opium 2 Shakey Diesel 3 Wildash Jakey 4 Sennachie 5 Feral Franky 6 Nangar Diva 7 Fernando’s Riot 8 Glorious Izmir 9 Dynamite Lucy 10 Good Odds Harada.
In the night’s other feature event, the heats of the Gold Cup over the 710m and NSW star Poco Dorado safely made her way through to next week’s final in finishing second to local stayer Bago Bye Bye, the Darren Russell-trained dog clocking 41.47s.
Russell then doubled up when he trained Bago Bluff to win the second heat of the Gold Cup in 41.84s, beating Dyna Chancer, with odds-on favourite Tornado Tears striking trouble early but running home well to grab third and place in the final.
The box draw is: 1 Bago Bluff 2 Tornado Tears 3 Dyna Chancer 4 Peppertide 5 Stevick 6 Bago Bye Bye 7 Poco Dorado 8 Infrared Lad 9 Veloce Nero 10 Ella Enchanted.
*Photo Michael McInally/Racing Queensland.
