The Robert Smith Memorial maiden heats will be run on Saturday night and with the likes of Power And Glory, French Martini, Embrace and Vamoose coming out of the series in previous years, here’s a few hopefuls to keep an eye on in 2026:
Doogie Mcgraw | Dave Irwin | Feral Franky x Khatanga Eve
Feral Franky continues to impress at stud but Doogie Mcgraw’s mum, Khatanga Eve, has also thrown some very talented types.
From 13 raced pups so far she had produced 100 winners with her best progeny including the 2024 Country Classic champion and G1 Peter Mosman runner-up Bella Una, Group 3 Casino Cup winner Party Mode and QLD Derby and Temora Cup finalist, Irinka Daniel.
Doogie Mcgraw had three race starts with owner Sandra Spratt late last year but he’s since shifted kennels and will be having his first run for Dave Irwin Saturday.
Blue Storm | Ken Burnett | Tommy Shelby x Just Terms
A blue bred pup out of Group 1 winning parents.
Tommy Shelby is one of the best dogs of the last decade but Just Terms also claimed the Zoom Top (725m) in 2019 and ran in nine Group finals herself.
Just Terms has already produced decent greyhounds like Bandit Daryl (7 wins), Canya Willow (7 wins) and Bandit Bugsy (9 wins) but it’s the recent performances of Fleeing that are catching the eye. He’s a full brother to Blue Storm, is 3/3 to open his career and has run 24.32 at Goulburn over 450m and 29.79 in his first race start at Wenty Park. Another littermate, Bandit Swagger, also won in 29.63 at Wenty on Thursday.
“Everyone knows what he’s been trialling up there but race conditions are different. He’s a ripper this dog, I’m very excited to race him and see what he can do and I’m very lucky Andy [Lord] decided to give him to me.” | Kenny Burnett
She’s Malicious | Dean Biddle | Collision x Mia She’s Fast
She's Malicious is part of the first litter out of Mia She’s Fast who was trained by Frank Hurst when she ran second in the 2023 Group 2 Gosford Cup.
She was beaten by ¼ of a length by Punter’s Bandit on that occasion before running in finals of the Richmond Oaks (eighth) and the Ambrosoli (fourth). She ran a PB of 29.85 at Wenty Park and claimed 13-races for connections.
Need An Alibi | Roxanne Farrell | Tommy Shelby x Need A Margarita
This youngster will be having his first start for the kennel and connections will hoping he can produce similar form to his mother, Need A Margarita.
She scorched her way around The Gardens back in 2023, winning her maiden over 515m in a time of 29.25. She was promptly transferred to the iconic kennels of Jack Smith but could only manage two more race starts before retiring to the breeding barn.
This guy is another of the famed Ritza line and he’s already had three starts for trainer Trish Chaker.
All three outings so far have been runner-up finishes in moderate time at Wentworth Park, but interestingly his brother, Ritza Law, is unbeaten to start his career (three from three) and has stopped the clock in 29.68 at headquarters.
Ritza Toby is out of Ritza Vonnie who produced Group 1 winning stayer, Ritza Piper and Ladies Bracelet finalist, Ritza Trish.
Lochinvar Angel | Jason Mackay | Feral Franky x Swift Current
Any first starter for the Jason Mackay kennel has to be respected and Lochinvar Angel is no different.
She’s a blue bitch out of the same mother who produced 2025 Ambrosoli winner, Shima Current and multiple Tasmanian Group finalist, Mighty Quinn.
“We got pretty wraps on her, we thought she was going to be exceptional. She’s just run into a few setbacks…we gave her a 400m at The Gardens a few weeks ago and she ran 22.56 and ran home in 11.52. She’s had two post to post runs since and Jase said she might be the fastest dog we've put out of the boxes.” | Kevin Gordon
Jazzy Mcgraw | Dave Irwin | Feral Franky x Nangar Opal
She’s another member of the powerful Tracsan racing lineup and she’s had race experience with one start coming back in October.
That run was with Jack Smith but she’ll also line up for Dave Irwin on Saturday. Her mother, Nangar Opal, threw Whiskey Mcgraw in her first litter to Feral Franky and that greyhound made a Group 2 Brother Fox final, a Group 3 Ipswich Derby decider and the annual Bill & Peg Miller memorial.
This guy is having his first career start and is a litter brother to the promising Zipping Lumiere who won in 29.65 at Richmond last week.
There’s already a handful of Zipping Kyrgios litters on the ground but it’s still hard to know what he will produce, but the mother, Zipping Niseko, was a star on the track as well.
She won the Group 3 Gold Cup over 720m at Wenty Park in 2021 and featured in several other group finals over the staying trips.
Her first litter produced 14-time winner Zipping Evania and Zipping Papalii who won at Wentworth Park in 29.59 and 29.67 a year ago.
Showman Baz | John Smart | Shima Shine x Esme Watson
This guy’s mum, Esme Watson, is the litter brother to Showman Jack who won the 2023 Country Classic and over $220,000 in prizemoney for the Smart kennel.
Esme Watson was a 9-time winner at Wentworth Park and ran as quick as 29.78 and Mr. Alexander will debut on Saturday together with his sister in the opening heat, Mabel’s Way.
“This guy is the best out of the litter so far. He’s very strong and been up to The Gardens twice. He went 29.60, Mr. Alexander went 29.70 and the bitches went 30 flat. He’s very strong but he’s got no early pace. He also runs 21 dead up the straight at Appin which is flying but he’s still working out the circle.” | John Smart
The first two across the line from each heat will qualify for next week's $20,000 final.
