Palawa King Adds Firepower To Classic

THE Ladbrokes Country Classic has received a huge boost with news that four-time group 1 winner Palawa King will contest the middle distance Dubbo showpiece.

Trainer Jack Smith has announced that the superstar son of Feral Franky will take his place in the Dubbo qualifiers this Saturday night in a bid to qualify for the semi-finals on March 9.

The $125,000-to-the-winner finale, which makes it the world's richest middle distance race, is slated for March 16. 

"We'll have a throw at the stumps but we're not going into it with any great expectations," Smith said.

"If he progresses that's great but at worst it'll keep him ticking over for the Association Cup during the Golden Easter Egg carnival.

"He does a lot of his trialling at Dubbo and has raced there a few times so he knows the place well.

All hail the King

PALAWA KING has produced another incredible performance to snare the Group 1 #FantaBaleStayers at @MelbourneGreys on @sportsbetcomau #AustralianCup night.

It was the fourth group one of his decorated career.#GreyhoundRacing #AustralianCupCarnival pic.twitter.com/AehHKZ0yPt

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) February 24, 2024

"A lot of it will come down to box draws I'd say."

Palawa King will head to Dubbo on Saturday night fresh off his slashing victory in the Group 1 Fanta Bale Super Stayers at The Meadows last weekend.

That success – his fourth at group 1 level – came just 48 hours after being crowned 2023 NSW Greyhound of the Year at a gala function in Sydney last Thursday night.

"I could only listen to it – I stopped at a service station to watch it but couldn't get my phone to work," Smith said.

"When I watched the replay back I knew he'd won but you still wonder how he did. What he did was amazing.

"But he's making a habit of it now."

The victory took the superstar stayer's career record to 24 wins from 58 starts with prize money of $770, 525.

* Picture: Clint Anderson