The stage is set for four epic semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Country Classic after the heats of the $125,000 series wrapped up in the Central West overnight.
Dubbo was the final stop on the weeklong heat tour of NSW for the rich middle-distance event and the two all-in favourites, Father Rick and Palawa King, gained safe passage to the next stage of proceedings with a dominant 1-2 performance.
“I thought it was his best run ever…we’re on a magic carpet ride at the moment,” trainer Ray Webster said following Father Rick’s 29th career win.
“He’s four years and three months old and we keep wondering how long this will go on. When he went through the catching pen three wide and was planted out there permanently, I thought “that’s the end of that, we won’t be back next weekend”, but he just kept coming.”
“The way the series has unfolded, we were down in Melbourne for the Rookie Rebel last weekend and we just didn’t have a chance to trial him at Dubbo so we thought we’d take him up there and use the heat as his trial.”
“We didn’t expect the heat to be as tough as it was to be honest but that’s the way we went and fortunately it’s worked out well .”
Father Rick has won seven of his last nine starts and hasn't missed the top two in what has been a sensational run of form for the Webster kennel
Father Rick winning in a time of 34.71, with multiple Group 1 winning star Palawa King winding up late to nab second spot.
The reigning Greyhound Of The Year finishing 1.5 lengths in arrears of the reigning Summer Six Hundy and Dapto Middle Distance Championship winner.
Aston Costello for Vicki Wisener and the Dennis Barnes-trained Nangar Nellie also qualified for the next phase.
The Helen Rylands runner clocked 35.60 for the 622m journey, knocking two tenths of his personal best at the circuit.
Earlier on Friday, Nangar Luna continued the good run for Joe McFadyen by securing her spot in the semis with a tough 34.49 win at The Gardens.
The daughter of Barcia Bale x Little Nangar taking full advantage of her half-brother, Nangar Rocket, slipping on the mat as the boxes opened and falling 10 length behind in the early stages.
“I thought Nangar Rocket’s run was outstanding, he was the run of the race but blind Freddie could see that,” McFadyen said.
“But I thought her [Nangar Luna’s] run was full of merit as well. She didn’t really get things her own way, she had to zig zag a bit behind them before a gap opened up in the back straight and then she put the pedal down.”
“She hasn’t had the best preparation either. She tore her stopper pad off during her last run at Gosford, that’s why she hasn’t been seen for about a month. We had put a lot of work into her before that because our sneaky little plan was to go to the Galaxy in Perth…so not ideal, but her class got her home tonight.”
The 11-time winner now heading back to the track she began her racing career at.
“Buying here off Dennis Barnes, she’s had race starts at Dubbo and I’m sure she’s been around there plenty of other times. I kind of thought she wouldn’t need to go and have a look there if we go through so that’s why we headed to The Gardens. I love it when a plan works out,” a jovial McFadyen added.
The Sharon Grey duo of Gypsy Flyer and Royal Rush also advanced alongside ‘715’ runner-up Nangar Rocket.
And on Thursday night, Maitland Cup placegetter, War Hawk, claimed the Dapto heat of the series in a time of 34.33.
The semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Country Classic will be held this Saturday night at Dubbo, with the $125,000 final set to go off a week later on March 16.
