Chaffey looking to again dominate Townsville

By Josh Spasaro

Bar One Smokers might be nearing the end of an excellent racing career, but the Bobbie-Jean Chaffey kennel operation believes he has still got some good racing left in him.

The veteran five-year-old will line up from box five over 498 metres at Townsville on Tuesday night.

The dog nicknamed ‘Barry’ ran a smart race on the inside to finish second last week.

“It was a tough run. He came from a fair way back to get second. I thought he did quite well,” Chaffey's handler Paul Smith said.

With the end to his on-track career in sight, Smith is expecting another strong showing from his kennel stalwart this week.

“It’s not far off. He may only have a couple of starts left in him. He’s no young spring chicken anymore. He’s five,” he said.

“Bar One Smokers is a great finisher. He’ll just run his race and go all right. I reckon he’ll probably be in the top four. He’s always managed to be there or there abouts.

“If he’s up there, only two lengths off the leader on the home straight, we’re all in trouble.”

Smith added Bar One Smokers had a calm temperament, which was the key to his longevity.

“To be honest, he does his own thing. We let him out and he runs if he wants to run,” he said.

“If he doesn’t, he doesn’t. That’s the trick to Barry.

“Beautiful dog. Calm. Never barks or plays up. Just a lovely natured dog, Barry.”

Smith and partner Chaffey are the two-time Townsville Greyhound Racing Club reigning premiers.

Their form has continued in 2026, celebrating a stunning six winners at the North Queensland venue last Tuesday night.

“I think we drew the right boxes in the right races for our dogs. And, we had a little bit of luck,” Smith said.

“You’ve always got to have a bit of luck in racing. But, I was pretty happy with strong performances across the board from my dogs.

“I thought they all went quite well.”

Smith said Smooth Blast was the pick of those victors.

He will start from box one in the same race as Bar One Smokers on Tuesday night.

With five wins from 29 starts, Smith added his chaser, who turns three on April 13, had a bright future.

“I think he drew the box where he wants to be. He’s a quality dog. He’s only had a couple of looks at the track and we’re hoping to see the best out of him,” he said.

“This week from the one box, if he doesn’t jump to the front we’re hoping he misses them coming across and just sits behind the leader and takes over on the back straight.

“He’s got a fair bit of ability and I think we’ve got a lot more to come out of that dog.”

The Good News and Smooth Bourbski dog was a convincing two-and-three-quarter length winner from box two last week, crossing the line in 28.80 seconds.

“He missed the kick a little bit. But, he sat behind the leader and loomed up,” Smith said.

“He’s trialled quite well, off the charts, to be honest. If he can put together what he’s done in trials he’ll be hard to beat. He’s a very fast dog.”

Smooth Blast will be starting his third race in Townsville for Smith and Chaffey, after champion trainer Tom Dailly and then Christopher Cassar trained him in Victoria.

“He was in good company when he was down south in Melbourne,” Smith said.

“It’s a little bit easier up here for him. He’s run 600 metres down there. But, I think the 498 metres will suit him.”

Smith and Chaffey have no shortage of quality runners on Tuesday night, which could see them celebrating another big haul of winners.

Solomon Cain is another veteran with a good chance over 498 metres after a smart runner-up finish from box four last week.

He will start from box four again this week.

The Fernando Bale and Amelia Ella chaser has 20 wins from 72 starts for $66,325 in prizemoney.

“He’s had a fair few starts, too. He’s at the end of his career,” Smith said.

“If he jumps, he’ll be hard to beat. He’s another older dog with 70-odd starts and he’s in top company in the sprints (380 metres) and 498 metres.”

The Chaffey and Smith operation also has five starters in the Free For All race over 380 metres on Tuesday night.

They will be Maple Wave, Pika Wave, Marjorie Maude, Instinctively and Aston Elisha.

Smith said Maple Wave and Pika Wave were the standouts of that bunch.

“I think Pika Wave is the pick of them. He was unlucky (last Tuesday night),” he said.

“Maple is a very strong dog with a heart of a lion. She’ll just try her guts out every time she goes around.

“Both those Wave dogs are just full-on. They go, go, go. They’re beautiful-natured dogs.

“But, when they go to the track they turn into tigers.”

And, Smith is confident of a strong showing from Ascend Kalmia over 498 metres, which is race five on the card on Tuesday night.

The two-year-old bitch has three wins from nine starts and she will race for the first time in Townsville this week.

She started her career with Dailly, who is based in Anakie near Geelong in regional Victoria.

Ascend Kalmia then had three starts for Colleen Wall at Muswellbrook and Taree in New South Wales.

“We’re expecting big things from that dog. The owner, Robert Connelly, paid a fair bit of money for her,” Smith said.

“She’s had a couple of trials here. I’m expecting her to jump to the front and for it to be all over, to be honest.

“But, we’ll have to wait and see. It’ll be her first run at the track after a couple of trials.”