Hurst’s warning: If we lead, we win

FRANK Hurst is the first to admit Group 2 Golden Ticket contender Smooth Plane is “a very, very good dog, more suited to two-dog match racing than ours”.

David Brasch14 January 2025

FRANK Hurst is the first to admit Group 2 Golden Ticket rival Smooth Plane is “a very, very good dog, more suited to two-dog match racing than ours”.

Frank’s star galloper Good Odds Cobber takes on Smooth Plane in the 2-dog match race series at Albion Park on Thursday night, with the pair fastest of the four-dog heats last week on a rain-affected track.

“Yes, Smooth Plane is a very, very good dog,” said Frank.

MARK AND SHAPE ALBION PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

“But so is ours.”

Good Odds Cobber comes to Golden Ticket after a career 52 starts for 30 wins and $421,000.

Smooth Plane, a flashing second to Explicit in G1. The Phoenix two runs back, has started 62 times for 22 wins and $494,000.

But Frank has a warning for his Victorian rival from the Tom Dailly kennel.

“If our dog is in front, he won’t be beaten,” Frank said.

“He’s very, very strong and he’s gotten a lot stronger this campaign.

“He can run super times from behind.

“If he leads, Smooth Plane will have to go around him because our guy won’t move from the fence.”

Good Odds Cobber was already selected as a runner in The Phoenix before he was withdrawn when a viral infection struck him while in Melbourne.

“That trip to Melbourne has done him a world of good,” Frank said.

“He’s trying harder now than he ever has.”

Smooth Plane was picked up by Australian Bloodstock as their runner in The Phoenix after Good Odds Cobber had to be scratched.

The winner of the Golden Ticket will get instant access to G1 Gold Bullion on January 30th.

The other two-dog match races are:

Danger Zone vs. Blue Kermaro

La Sagrada vs. Wreck James

Warm Cockles vs. Lakeview Emily