The Feral Chasing A Group 1 Feast
Top stud dog Feral Franky is chasing a Group 1 treble on Friday and Saturday night at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
The start to the stud career of former racetrack cult hero Feral Franky has been one to marvel.
And this weekend those sensational early exploits have the potential to scale even greater heights when the greyhound more affectionately known as ‘The Feral' zeros in on a two-state Group 1 treble.
That kicks off tonight at Albion Park when Palawa King tackles the Queensland Cup while at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, Bella Una, Zipping Rousey and Zipping Foxy chase victory in the Peter Mosman Opal before Zipping Remus starts a hot favourite in the Vic Peters Classic.
G1 @tabcomau Queensland Cup Heat 1 710m
1st: Palawa King (5)
2nd: Fast Milkman (2)
3rd: Emerald Eyes (1)#QLDisRacing@RaceQLD @tabcomau @SkyRacingAU @GerardDaffy @Bunny_Brasch @Thedogs_com_au @GRV_News pic.twitter.com/d4HIE1dmqU— Brisbane Greyhounds (@BrisGreys) June 29, 2023
The huge 24 hours of racing coincides with Feral Franky working his way back to full health following a recent episode which his trainer and studmaster Jack Smith said "could have been dire".
"I got home from Brisbane a few weeks ago now and (wife) Maree said to me he wasn't right," Smith recalled.
"His stomach had swelled up so I got him straight up to the vet and at one stage they said it was 60/40 whether he'd even make it.
"His stomach had twisted and cut off the blood supply but thankfully he pulled through – they did an amazing job with him. But had he not had the surgery when he did we would have lost him.
"He wouldn't have made it through the night."
Now on his road to recovery, Smith is hoping ‘The Feral' can cap it off with Group 1 success this weekend.
The Forbes trainer heads to Albion Park tonight with Palawa King for the Queensland Cup before he lines up Bella Una and Miss McGraw in Saturday night's Peter Mosman Opal (520m) at Wentworth Park.
Jack Smith wasn't surprised that his chaser Miss Mcgraw took out @Ladbrokescomau Peter Mosman Opal H1 in 29.63 – we caught up with him not long ago!
Results and replay: https://t.co/dcQwnWawa6#thedogs #petermosman #G1 #group1 #wentypark #greyhoundracing @wentyparkgreys @orch3 pic.twitter.com/1v9EWH9c5x
— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) July 1, 2023
Jack Smith has 2 into the @Ladbrokescomau Peter Mosman Opal final after Bella Una won heat 2 – and he tells us about a first-time owner who will be hoping she can take out the G1 final next week!
Results: https://t.co/r3wSd2Gt0B#thedogs #petermosman @wentyparkgreys @orch3 pic.twitter.com/lujzwIPt8G
— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) July 1, 2023
Bella Una, drawn box one in the final, landed her heat in 29.73 for first time owner Michael Sheather while Miss McGraw, set to exit box three, scored in a flying 29.63.
"What you saw in the heats with the two is what you get – Miss McGraw is a tenth or so quicker," Smith said.
"But with Bella Una drawing the one she might make the most of the draw. It all depends on how Miss McGraw begins.
"Nangar Lucy and Zipping Rousey are in with great chances also.
"If Zipping Rousey follows Miss McGraw across she'll be very hard to beat."