It was only two years when Jack Smith had a dog considered one of the best in the land, and while he has been hesitant to make comparisons, they are certain to come now after his latest star Jungle Deuce took out the inaugural Ladbrokes Brother Fox Cup at Dubbo on Friday night.
He was known as the industry’s cult hero who had a stellar racing career, and perhaps appropriately Feral Franky was on track at Dubbo on Friday to see his heir apparent claim the $40,000 prize, take his career tally to 10 wins from 16 starts and edge his earning past $100,000.
Not only did Smith - who also won the night’s other feature the Bill & Peg Miller Memorial - win the event with Jungle Deuce in 29.45s, but he also picked up the runner-up cheque with Irinka Riley finishing second 2½ length away, with John Finn’s Zipping Kyrgios running home strongly to grab third.
“He’s a great dog, he’s just had no luck lately, but he made his own luck tonight,” Smith said of his dog who has also run an incredibly quick 29.31s around Wentworth Park.
“He’s just got to learn race, he’s got all this ability, he just has to learn to put it together on the night.
“It’s great to be the first winner of this race. This is a great club, it’s basically my home track, my dung hill, so it’s good to get the first one. The connections have come and they are up there crying their eyes out up there.”
In his heat last week Jungle Deuce was slowly away as he tends to be in his races, and ran in trouble before working his way into the placings and into the final.
It wasn’t the case on Friday. He stepped Well and was challenging for the lead as they passed the winning post the first time with his kennelmate Irinka Riley.
The pair rounded the first turn side by side, before Jungle Deuce cut to the rails heading into the back and then railed through to the take the lead on the top turn.
While the runner-up was gallant, he was never going to come back and beat his kennelmate.
“It’s hard to see them from behind the boxes, but I did see he (Jungle Deuce) jumped Well and Riley jumped Well too. I just thought for Christ sake don’t run into one another,” Smith said.
Smith now plans to take Jungle Deuce to Queensland for their upcoming Winter Carnival and the Group 2 Flying Amy Classic and then hopefully get a start in the recently announced State Of Origin series later next month.
“We went up there before this (race) and trialled at Albion Park hoping they both did something tonight. I think they have both done enough here tonight to go and have a crack,” Smith said.
As for the Origin, a series NSW won courtesy of Feral Franky winning the match-race two years ago, Smith said: “Well we hold the title at the moment for the match race. I’m hoping they give me another crack. He would go Well in a match race.”
