Everyone expected that Forbes’ trainer Jack Smith would have a big say in the heats of the inaugural running of the Brother Fox at Dubbo on Saturday night. And he did … it was just that everyone expected it would be a greyhound with a different name.
Smith would qualify three runners for next week’s rich final, but the one most thought would be his star on the night, Jungle Deuce, a dog who has abundant ability, enormous potential, and had trialled in a time faster than the track record in the lead-up, was sadly missing luck in the race, and it would be his kennelmate who surprised the big crowd at Dawson Park, and stunNed punters.
Midnight Flash, winless in eight attempts at the Dubbo 516m trip before the Brother Fox heats, jumped well from box eight, and was able to cross the field, lead out of the straight and then never looked like being run down, winning in 29.84s at the odds of $41, and making her way through to next Friday night’s final where the winner will walk away with a cheque for $40,000.
But while his supporters were disappointed, they should not despair, as Jungle Deuce will be there in the final too, but only after he endured an arduous run, badly checked on the first turn, making up good ground to look a hope of winning heading out of the back straight, only to be checked again on the home turn, eventually finishing third, with Nangar Gold splitting the kennelmates.
Also into the final was fourth placegetter Blazing Lisa.
“It was a bit of a surprise, but she got the job done,” Smith said of Midnight Flash’s victory. “She has had no luck in the box draws, so we nearly didn’t put her around, but we decided to, and there you go.
“(Jungle Deuce) he just found a bit of trouble. He’s got to learn to navigate through fields. He hasn’t got a lot of box speed, and the run wasn’t bad, but he’s still got to learn how to win.
“He is still young and he’s just got to put it all together and hopefully that will happen soon.”
Smith said Irinka Riley, his third finalist, who has run 29.35s at Dubbo, has “his box” in the final after coming up with the red rug, and “given the right opportunity, he will take it.”
While Jungle Deuce disappointed his followers, it wasn’t the case for the favourite in the other heat, the John Finn-traiNedZipping Kyrgios.
The winner of the Group 3 Bob Payne Sprint at Wentworth Park at his previous start, took his record to 12 wins from 25 outings with an impressive performance in his heat.
Jumping fairly, Zipping Kyrgios found himself fifth at the first turn, but railed through to be third heading up the back. By the top turn he had rolled through to be second, but was still three lengths off the leader Casual Glance who was highballing in the lead.
Swinging for home Zipping Kyrgios still had some work to do, but he knuckled down to the task and grabbed Casual Glance as they neared the line to score in 29.51s.
The performance of the runner-up was also outstanding, that dog clocking 29.54s in a gallant effort and will now take his place in his fourth group final.
Bonnie Keeping was third with Irinka Riley fourth and into the final with her kennelmates Midnight Flash and Jungle Deuce.
“Very happy with the run tonight,” John’s wife Minnie said of Zipping Kyrgios. “He came out not too badly tonight, he hasn’t got a lot of speed but he’s strong and he handles himself well in the field.
“Box eight (in the final) … he will need a lot of luck, but I know he will give 100 percent. He chases very hard he’s just got to find the fence on the first turn.”
The box draw for the Brother Fox Final was conducted on track and is: 1 Irinka Riley 2 Nangar Gold 3, Casual Glance 4 Blazing Lisa 5 Midnight Flash 6 Jungle Deuce 7 Bonnie Keeping 8 Zipping Kyrgios. Reserves 9 Brea Casey 10 Western Hero.
Jack Smith will also be well represented in another feature race next Friday, the Bill And Peg Miller Cup with fastest qualifier Irinka Molly (29.94s), and the talented Miss Ezmae who was narrowly beaten in her heat by Total Bogle (29.97s).
The other heat went to Dubbo president Shayne Smith, whose dog Ned Keeping clocked 29.95s in winning.
