Palawa King wins 2023 Group 1 Queensland Cup in nail-biting finish
Palawa King delivered one of the greatest greyhound racing comebacks to take out the Group 1 Queensland Cup Final at Albion Park on Friday night.
The best greyhound betting sites had the Ray Smith-trained stayer as +160 race favourite for the $262,500 feature, as NSW's only chance in the field.
Last week even after being the last from the boxes, he won his heat by seven and a half lengths, to qualify fastest for the Queensland Cup final.
At box rise for the 710m final, the favourite fell to the rear while local hope Locked On Scotch (+450) got out fast to the lead and held that position for most of the trip.
Palawa King, the son of Feral Franky and Maximum Dos, sped through from last to be mid field on the final turn, before moving up with West Australian (WA) hope Rippin' Grace in the shadows of the post.
At the post, it came down to the slightest of margins; as Palawa King and Locked On Scotch crossed the line together needing a photo finish for the final decision.
After the photo, Palawa King prevailed as he took the win by a margin of 0.13 of a length in a time of 42.00.
2023 Group 1 Queensland Cup (Albion Park, 710m) – Palawa King (42.00) T: Ray Smith
Bred, owned and trained by Ray Smith, Palawa King is now the winner of 16 races from 39 starts, including the recent Group 3 Origin Distance series at Albion Park, and has banked $421,115 in prize money for connections.
With a Group 1 now added to the trophy cabinet, he will head home to Forbes as trainer Smith looks to his next staying assignment.
In current ‘all-in' greyhound betting markets at greyhound bookmakers, Palawa King is paying +800 to win the Stayers Topgun on November 11, and +1100 odds to win the Bold Trease at Sandown Park on December 2.
2023 Group 1 Queensland Cup
2023 Queensland Cup ResultsAlbion Park710mGroup 1$175,000 to-the-winnerFriday July 7 202342.00
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| 1st |
2 Palawa King
T: Ray Smith42.00 – $175,000
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| 2nd |
3 Locked On Scotch
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| 3rd |
6 Rippin' Grace
T: Shayne Williams42.071 lengths $21,875
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| 4th |
8 Dirt Farmer
T: Tim Britton42.284 lengths $10,940
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| 5th |
5 Wheel And Go
T: Tim Britton42.294.25 lengths
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| 6th |
7 Blue Hornet
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| 7th |
4 Ariarne Bale
T: Daniel Gibbons42.7811 lengths
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| 8th |
1 Play Nice
T: Tim Britton42.8412 lengths
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