Distance is not a problem for Jack and ‘The King’

By Pat McLeod

Jack Smith’s 11-hour drive from his home in Forbes in central western NSW, to Brisbane’s Albion Park, is almost a joy considering his passenger, rising distance star Palawa King, has already more than covered the fare.

In his three treks north to Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival so far this month, ‘The King’, has pocketed $112,590. And, there is a lot more on offer.

Jack and Palawa King were due back in Brisbane late Wednesday afternoon for Thursday night’s Super Stayers Final over 710 metres with a juicy $75,000 to the winner in the four-dog invitational shoot-out.

“The prize money in Queensland is unbelievable and hats off to them,” the long-time successful trainer said.

“Also, the stayers have been really looked after up there as well. Often, they (distance greyhounds) don't get anywhere near the amount of money that the sprinters get.

“But, they have certainly been catered for. I am very grateful for that.”

Last week it was Jack’s wife Maree who did the drive when their kennel star ‘cashed in’ during the Origin Greyhound Series at Albion Park.

NSW may have lost 2-1 on the night, but Maree would have struggled to lose her smile on that long trip home after Palawa King took the distance race honours, a Group 3 crown and the $100,000 for first place.

That win and the ‘black type’ to the dog’s curriculum vitae meant a lot to the couple.

‘The King’ is no stranger to Group and high-profile races, but until ‘The Origin’ he had not stepped up to the top rung of the victory podium in any of the ‘majors’.

“Yes, that win last week was special to both of us,” Jack said.

“It was good that he did finally get a Group race. We realise that a lot of people don't get dogs in Group races. We have been so lucky.

“When you are in a few you just like to win one and then who knows, a couple might follow. But, at least now he has one on his resume.

“The dog’s owners are having a ball and for us that is what it is all about.”

What makes Palawa King’s burgeoning profile even more poignant is his breeding.

His dad is Jack and Maree’s amazing success story, iconic superstar Feral Franky.

The two dogs’ track patterns may not be alike.

Feral Franky never raced over 535 metres in his 44 starts, for 24 wins and 16 placings ($482,426 in prize money), whereas ‘The King’s’ last nine starts have all been 600 metres or beyond and that is where his future is.

But, off the track the similarities run deep.

“They are very similar in some aspects in that they are very laid back and very easy to deal with,” Jack said.

“That helps a lot, especially when you spend so much time with them. You want to like them.

“Especially If you are going to jump in a car and go to Brisbane - you really want to like them.”

Jack explains that Palawa King’s road to his current status as one of the most exciting distance chasers in Australia has not always been well sign-posted.

“I got this dog soon after its pre-education,” he said.

“The chap that owns the dog, Errol Hughes from Forbes, knew he had some ability and asked me if I would take the dog.

“We started to assess him and soon realised he had no early pace, but it was quite evident he had a motor.

“When he started racing he was awkward in with other dogs and he was slow to get away, so we gave him a couple of 700 metre races early.

“I did that just to see, going forward, whether he had the ability to stay or not. I was very impressed with those runs considering his preparation and age."

The trainer decided to take his time. 

“He is getting better all the time. His race pattern now is not something that has come naturally to him, because he used to charge and run into the other dogs," he continued. 

“That was a bit of a headache and we just had to be patient and hope that he learned a little bit.

“He is not that old and has never had a serious injury and he definitely has a staying career and hopefully we will have him for another couple of years.

“Certainly, I believe that with this dog the best is yet to come. Over time he will learn to relax more.

“You just want to see him be like some of those old-fashioned type stayers. They just leave their run for the last bit and then just to go ‘bang’.”

Jack is hoping that will be the pattern on Thursday night when Palawa King jumps from box five against the local, Days Of Thunder (trained by Warren Nicholls and jumping from box one), Zipping Orlando (John Finn, box three) and First Picked (Robert Britton, box seven).

“Zipping Orlando will lob straight onto the fence,” Jack predicts.

“I think that somewhere in the running Zipping Orlando will get the better of First Picked and then it will just be down to whether we can get him, whether we can run him down.”

If ‘The King’ does just that, Friday’s drive home will truly be a joy ride.