His brother and great racetrack rival may have been retired yesterday, but there are no immediate plans for a similar fate for Good Odds Harada, and his next destination is Bathurst, not the breeding barn.
The greyhound world was stunned with news on Monday morning that the Jack Smith-trained Feral Franky, a cult figure in the sport across the country, had run his last race in Friday’s Paws Of Thunder Final, and would be immediately retired and sent to stud.
While his TAB Million Dollar Chase winning brother Good Odds Harada, will get there one day, trainer Frank Hurst, whose wife Tracey owns the dog, said they were in no hurry.
“People do drive you mad,” Hurst said of the enquiries about Good Odds Harada’s stud future. “I could have sold eight (straws) at Bathurst yesterday.
“He’s registered and the vet has said his sperm count is the best they had ever seen, but we’re in no hurry mate.
“There is that much money around to be won at the moment, but what it comes down to is while ever he wants to go to the races, he’ll be going to the races, and I certainly wouldn’t send him to stud right now.”
Hurst has mapped out a plan for the upcoming racing future of Good Odds Harada.
He will contest next Monday’s heats of the Bathurst Cup, and then hopefully the $25,000 to winner final on February 7.
Hurst then hopes his dog will get an invitation to the $100,000 to the winner Temlee at The Meadows on February 15, before heading to the heats of the Richmond Derby on February 28.
Hurst decided against contesting the $300,000 to the winner Australian Cup at The Meadows on February 22 and 29, as he felt that the three consecutive weeks of travelling to Melbourne would be too taxing.
After that, if all goes to plan, the target will be the Golden Easter Egg which commences with heats at Wentworth Park on March 28, culminating with the $250,000 to the winner final on April 11.
