There's nothing surprising about Raymond Smith winning at Dawson Park but the master trainer from Forbes produced an almighty boilover in Saturday night's Brother Fox Series heats.
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A strong crowd was at the Dubbo track as the field was decided for next Friday's $40,000-to-the-winner Brother Fox final and Smith will have three chances in the showpiece event.
Jungle Deuce - who had trialled in track record time - was his leading chance but he could only manage third in the night's opening heat as kennelmate Midnight Flash stunned those in attendance when winning as a $41 outsider.
Midnight Flash entered the race having not won in his past eight starts but scored a three-and-a-quarter-length victory from box eight ahead of Dennis Barnes' Nangar Gold ($13) while Jungle Deuce ($2.60 favourite) was third.
"It was a bit of a surprise, but she got the job done," Smith told Greyhound Racing NSW.
"She has had no luck in the box draws, so we nearly didn't put her around, but we decided to, and there you go."
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Jungle Deuce's performance came as no great shock to Smith given the chaser is still finding his way.
"He just found a bit of trouble," the trainer said.
"He's got to learn to navigate through fields. He hasn't got a lot of box speed, and the run wasn't bad, but he's still got to learn how to win.
"He is still young and he's just got to put it all together and hopefully that will happen soon."
There was no upset in the second heat as John Finn's $2.60 favourite Zipping Kyrgios won from Casual Glance ($8.20) and Shayne Stiff's hometown hope Bonnie Keeping ($14.50).
Blazing Lisa and Smith's Irinka Riley also qualified for the final after running fourth in the first and second heats respectively.
The box draw was conducted after the heats and Midnight Flash landed the five box while Irinka Riley will go from box one with Nangar Deuce just one his outside.
Zipping Kyrgios drew box eight.
Heats of the Peg and Bill Miller Memorial Series were also run on the night and Smith also enjoyed success there.
Irinka Molly ($5.30) won the third and final heat after Leighton Winter's Total Bogle ($4.40) and the Stiff-trained Ned Keeping ($6.30) won the first two qualifiers respectively.
Both finals will be run on Friday night.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
