Could 'Baz' Be Smart's Next Big Thing?

“He’s a better dog than Showman Jack at the same age”

That’s the bold statement from John Smart after impressive youngster Showman Baz won his third race on the bounce at Bulli this week.

The son of Shima Shine x Esme Watson producing a second successive BON time in the process, with his 25.97 effort drawing high praise from Smart.

“If we get even luck, you might spend a bit of time interviewing me instead of walking past me this year”, he laughed.

“I told you he could gallop, we just had to get into his head and work him out. He’s going to be a freak of a dog I think.”

It's a big claim from the man who took Showman Jack to the Country Classic title in 2023 with wife Julie, and it comes after his latest kennel star debuted in the Robert Smith Memorial maiden series at The Garden last month.

“He ran so wide in that series but go back and have a look at how good his runs were despite doing so much work,” Smart added.

“We took him to Bulli after that and the time he produced to win two back in terrible conditions was impressive. Then he came out and broke 26 seconds in his fifth start, that’s pretty good going.”

Smart now steering his charge towards the Group 3 New Sensation at Wentworth Park later this month.

“He’s heading to Wenty on Monday for a trial and then his next start will hopefully be in those heats,” he said.

“Any of the age-restricted races coming up are possibilities for him. We’re just chasing fitness and letting him race naturally at the moment. I want him to have a long career so we’re just taking it slow and letting him work it out a bit.”

“I reckon he’ll stay every day of the week as well…he’s so strong for a dog we haven’t really put much work into.”

Smart's confidence coming off the back of a breeding line which includes Showman Baz's grand dam Lovelace – a former Group 1 placegetter over 720m.

“Lovelace was a good bitch over the staying trips. She was the Sydney Cup favourite one year before I had to scratch her and she ran third in the 2016 Gold Cup up in Queensland,” Smart said.

“She threw Showman Jack and Esme Watson, and in total, her three litters won over $700,000 in prizemoney.”

“Showman Baz is out of Esme’s first litter but she’s just had another seven pup litter by Power And Glory – six bitches and a dog - so we're excited to see what they can do.”

Showman Baz is named in honour of Julie Smart’s late brother Barry who died 16 years ago, with the dog whelped coincidentally on Barry’s birthday.

The heats of the Group 3 New Sensation will be run on March 14 with the final on March 21. The age-restricted race series is for greyhounds whelped on or after 1/12/2023.