VETERAN Wagga trainer Brian Smith has lauded Tanami Express as potentially the most talented greyhound he's ever owned after he unleashed another brilliant display in Friday's Ladbroke Cash Out Final (320m) at Wagga.
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Despite missing the start from box six, Tanami Express ($1.30) ran to the front with ease and stopped the clock at 18.11 seconds to beat Tiggerlong Ginga by two-and-three-quarter lengths.
The run came a week after he set a new Wagga track record of 17.97 seconds but Friday's head wind, his slow start and the slower condition of the track means the performance was equally impressive.
Tanami Express has now won all four of his starts and Smith said he's more than capable of winning big races should his development remain on track.
"At the stage he is now he's probably the best (I've had)," Smith said.
"I do have a good dog (Ultimate Speed) at home who ran 29.90 in the million dollar race heats, but he broke his leg and whether he comes back is another thing.
"They're on a par but he (Tanami Express) may be a bit more brilliant. He missed the start which isn't like him, but he showed me a bit more today because every previous race he's led.
"He's getting stronger on his run home."
Tanami Express has finished every race superbly, which indicates he'll be capable of running longer distance races.
Smith plans to trial the youngster over 390 metres at Shepparton on Saturday and gradually step up the distance from there.
"If he gets up to 500 and can run it he's capable of winning a big race somewhere, there's no doubt in the world," Smith said.
"We'll travel him wherever he needs to go.
"You can't rush them. He's 22 months old and I don't like pushing them too hard, but he'll get up to 500 over the next couple of months and then we'll know."
Another Smith runner Galaxy Blaster ($3.20) won the M Williams Painting and Decor Stakes (400m), with wife Joanne's dog Tammin coming second.
Shannon Ellis' Maximum Refusal ($3.60) took advantage of box one to lead all the way in the Ladbrokes Cash In Stakes (525m), with his brother Keenando finishing runner up after a luckless run from box six.
"He (Keenando) didn't have much luck and if he drew closer to the fence it may have been a different story, but they're both very fast dogs," Ellis said.
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