Showman Jack's amazing performance to win over 603m at Gosford on Tuesday night has trainer John Smart convinced his dog will "stay all day" but he won't be rushing him into long distance racing just yet.
On Tuesday night Showman Jack was slowly away from box six and after being badly checked at the first turn was at least a dozen lengths off the lead with a lap to go.
Following another bump Showman Jack took off after the leaders and despite being forced wide on the back straight, stormed down the outside to win running away.
His time of 35.02 was well outside former champion stayer Blue Moon Rising's track record of 34.21, but his win was among the most impressive efforts of 2022.
"The way he went at Gosford suggests he will stay all day,'' trainer John Smart said.
"He is easily the best greyhound I've trained or been associated with, and I grew up with greyhounds, my father trained them too.
"I trained Kanzan who won 15 races and over $81,000 along with Lovelace, who earned more than $77,000 through a dozen wins, but Showman Jack is definitely better.
"He has always been a rocket and when he was trialling the place down at Wentworth Park as a youngster I was offered $100,000 for him.
"I knocked it back and am glad I did.
"While I believe he will become a top class stayer, he only turned two on October 5 so has plenty of time for that.
"This week I plan to head off to Brisbane with him and am tossing up whether to put him in the 600m Golden Sands Classic heats at Albion Park on December 28 or the Queensland Derby heats over 520m there on December 29.
"At this stage I am leaning towards a start in the Derby.
"After his Queensland commitments are finished Showman Jack will be back in Sydney for the heats of the group 1 Ladbrokes National Derby at Wentworth Park on January 13.''
The National Derby looks an ideal race for Showman Jack as the race is for male greyhounds whelped on or after October 1, 2020.
And while Showman Jack went brilliantly at Gosford on Tuesday, he is a proven WP performer.
He has won eight of his 16 races there and posted a sizzling 29.51 in scoring from box five on September 17.
John Smart said: "Showman Jack's only flaw at Wenty is that since he had a fall there early in his career, he tends to be a bit wary at the first turn when he draws box eight.
"But when he gets an inside box at Wentworth ParkShowman Jack will push the other dogs out of the way.''
