Sense Of Timing About King's Nationals Bid

THERE is a real sense of timing about Palawa King's assault on Saturday night's Group 1 National Distance Championship Grand Final (730m) at The Meadows.

And in more ways than one.

While the Jack Smith-trained son of Feral Franky has been tuned to the minute for the flagship event, this year also marks two decades (2003) since Irinka Barbie finished second in the race, staged that year in Adelaide.

"She finished second to Arvo's Junior at Angle Park," Smith said of his former group 1 winning stayer.

"What a grand chaser she was. 20 years – how time flies."

Adding even further relevance to Saturday night's national decider is the appearance of NSW representative Zipping Vanessa, trained by Smith's uncle John Finn, who prepared Irinka Barbie during a wonderful career which ultimately earned Greyhound of the Year honours.

In the NSW qualifier at Wentworth Park, Zipping Vanessa scored with a resounding 6 ¼ length victory over Palawa King which booked his place in the final via the wildcard slot, earned via a body of work which included a last stride win in the Group 1 Queensland Cup at Albion Park last month.

No stranger to big race success, Smith goes into Saturday night's National Distance Grand Final confident Palawa King can go one better than Irinka Barbie's runner-up performance all those years ago.

"He's jumping out of his skin – I couldn't be happier with him," the trainer said.

"I gave him a good 650m hitout at Temora to tune in him up for the race so it's all systems go.

"Everything I've done with him is to get the balance between keeping the speed in his legs but for him not to be too dour either. I'm happy with where he's at."

Palawa King, winner at 19 of his 43 starts, has drawn box five for the final where favouritism is with local star Zoha Bale, eyeing seven straight wins for Mark Delbridge.

And while Smith concedes box five isn't ideal, the Forbes mentor is confident his superstar stayer has the class to overcome the tricky draw.

"He'll likely miss the start but then show his acceleration – like he always does," Smith added.

"With so many different form lines it's hard to line them all up but it wouldn't surprise me to see him race handier than what he usually does. If he gets that luck in running they'll know he's in the race."

If Palawa King can annex the decider it will be two straight wins for NSW in the National Distance following Super Estrella's victory last year on home soil at Wentworth Park.

Interestingly, the last NSW stayer to win the event interstate was Bathurst product Smart Valentino, ironically at The Meadows, in 2013.

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Group 1 National Distance Grand Final (730m)

1. Zipping Neutron $18

2. Days Of Thunder $10

3. Zoha Bale $1.70

4. Fast Minardi $9

5. Palawa King $3.30

6. Opawa Louise $101

7. Zipping Vanessa $10

8. Ballistic Ant $101