Bella Una In Box Seat For Brother Fox

BELLA Una, quickest of the four Group 3 Brother Fox heats (516m) at Dubbo on Saturday night, is certain to start a raging hot favourite for next weekend's rich finale after drawing the coveted rails box again.

Raced by Mick Sheather and trained by Jack Smith at Forbes, Bella Una (Feral Franky-Khatanga Eve) was dominant off the red in her heat winning by almost four lengths over prolific Group finalist Embrace in 29.26.

She is one of three finalists for the Smith kennel in the Brother Fox, the others being heat winner Flash Boom Bang and the mercurial Palawa King.

The Smith kennel had a mega night, winning two of the three Bill and Peg Miller heats with Amanda Holyfield and Midnight Money and being beaten a nose in the other heat with Jungle Ace.

Bella Una has already won the Country Classic, been second in the G1 Peter Mosman Opal and a finalist as a baby in the Million Dollar Chase, as well as setting a Temora track record

"Bella Una is the one to beat of course because of her draw," said Jack today.

"We tried to make her stay, but it just found her out the last little bit.

Let's hear from the happy trainers through to next weekend's $50,000-to-the-winner @ladbrokescomau Brother Fox final at Dubbo…#thedogs #greyhoundracing pic.twitter.com/3NuJPLnNjV

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) May 11, 2024

"She's better off sticking to sprints and 600 metre races."

Of Flash Boom Bang (Feral Franky-Midnight Flash), Jack admits he has an "enormous motor" but he is a slow beginner. He won his heat in 29.37 bating recent Easter Egg third Ferness.

"He's a mini Palawa King, giving them a start, but he can run great final sections in sprints," said Jack.

"I'm not sure he will stay because I doubt he can keep up those final sections for another 200 metres of a distance race."

He has drawn box three in the $50,000-to-the-winner final.

Staying great, Palawa King, has drawn the four in the final.

"Down the back he was five or six off them and I thought he could get into the final," said Jack.

"He flew home in the straight, like he always does."

Jack reports he has registered Palawa King (Feral Franky-Maximum Dos) at stud.

"We have had a number of inquiries about using him at stud and the paperwork is just about completed," he said.

Bella Una picked up where she left off on Country Classic night with a strong win in the opening heat of the @ladbrokescomau Brother Fox.

Embrace also qualifies for another Group final after flashing home for second.

Result: https://t.co/ou92mVgYvL#thedogs #greyhoundracing pic.twitter.com/juaKwdiLm1

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) May 11, 2024

"His semen is great."

All three Brother Fox finalists will head to Albion Park for Winter Carnival assignments.

"Flash Boom Bang will only go for the Flying Amy Classic, Palawa King and Bella Una will go for the 600 metre Group race, and Palawa King will go back for the 710 metre races," said Jack.

Other heats of the Brother Fox went to Camilla Keeping (Mogambo-Caitlyn Keeping) who won her heat in 29.69 beating Overflow Beau, and Who Knows Gus (Rippin' Sam-Black Treasure) for Vadim Roz downed Palawa King in 29.56.

Jack also won heats of the Miller Series, the final of which is worth $20,000 to the winner next week, with Amanda Holyfield in 29.81 and Midnight Money in 29.74.

"Midnight Money does not have a lot of early speed and he gets back, but he has great ability," said Jack.