IF history is any guide, greyhound racing could usher in its two newest millionaires in Thursday night’s mouth-watering TAB Origin Distance (710m) at Albion Park.
Victory in the $100,000-to-the-winner showpiece will see NSW powerhouse Palawa King ($904,935) eclipse the magical million dollar barrier while for Queensland starlet Valpolicella ($989,995), a podium finish will be enough to see her reach the memorable milestone.
In the sport’s long history, just 14 greyhounds have hit the million-dollar mark, an illustration of the gravity of occasion that awaits the group 1 winning duo.
FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY NIGHT
“It would be a nice milestone to reach but the most important thing is to get a win on the board early for the Blues,” Palawa King’s trainer Jack Smith said.
“This series is a lot of fun and different to anything else you contest. If it looks at some stage that we can’t win the first thing we’ll be looking for is the other NSW runners to cheer on.
“It would be good to beat Queensland on the track because we aren’t having much luck doing it on the football field.”
The clash between Palawa King and Valpolicella in the Origin Distance launches a stellar card of racing.
Universally considered the premier two stayers in the land, the gifted group 1 winning duo have amassed a sizeable rivalry in the past 12 months, tackling the biggest staying events on the calendar.
But while Valpolicella – boasting 10 wins and 3 minors from 14 Albion Park 710m appearances – takes home track advantage into Thursday night, it’s almost in name only, with Palawa King proving to be a revelation in his trips north of the border.
In eight Albion Park starts, the son of Feral Franky, which famously won the 2019 Origin Match Race, boasts four wins and three placings, including victory in last year’s Origin Distance before going on to annex the Group 1 Queensland Cup.
“That’s the program again this year – he loves Albion Park,” Smith said of his five-time group 1 winner.
“He feels as if he’s going every bit as good as last year and it was good to see him perform like he did at Richmond last week.
“Thursday night will be his first 700 for six weeks but he’ll relish it. If the breaks go his way he’ll be in the finish. I can’t fault him.”
Bookmakers are struggling to separate Palawa King (box 4) and Valpolicella (box 7) for their Origin clash, installing them each at $2.50.
And if Palawa King defends his Origin Distance title, it will continue a remarkable run Smith has enjoyed in recent Origin clashes, having landed the Match Race in 2019 and 2021 with Feral Franky and Jungle Deuce.
Third favourite is NSW contender Fahey’s Magic which has drawn the rails eyeing a third Albion Park feature this year following wins in the Group 1 Golden Sands and last week’s Group 2 Cyndie’s Magic.
Originally published as Champion stayers Palawa King and Valpolicella can both surpass the magical million dollar milestone in the Origin Distance