The Central West kicked off the inaugural GRSNW + Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase series last night, with their Regional Qualifying heats at Bathurst. Tonight the show heads north to the NSW Northern Rivers and the qualifiers at Ladbrokes Park Lismore.
The opening heat was expected to be somewhat of a match-race between Neeky’s Way and Big Bad Bob, but the scratching yesterday of Neeky’s Way is likely to see Bob go around at a short quote.
Big Bad Bob travelled to Townsville recently and won the Townsville Cup, and his record at Lismore is superb with five wins and two placings from seven starts. From the two box tonight – a draw from which he has won four of five starts during his career – he looks the leader and will be incredibly tough to run around.
Queensland sprinter Snug – a winner of four of his past five and second in a heat of the Black Top at The Gardens in the other run – has drawn the three box and should lead, and like Big Bad Bob, be very difficult to catch.
The dangers are the five, Kulu Jasper who can be a shade risky early but has plenty of speed and can run time, with a 29.46s effort to his credit here, and Cash Point off the red, while a moderate beginner, he will storm home and won at Albion Park in a best of the night 30.00s last start.
Raven Izmir looks dominant in the third heat of the series. Drawn the rails, he is ideally placed here to drive through and lead and is racing in fine form.
After three straight wins at The Gardens, Maitland and Grafton, Raven Izmir was far from disgraced when third behind Black Forge in a heat of the Black Top at The Gardens last start.
He has four wins from six starts over this distance here and is unbeaten in three starts in his career when he has drawn the rails.
The danger, if any, will be Final Chalice in the six. She has won here in 29.79s and has won five from nine at this track and distance. Will be running on strongly.
And in the final heat of the night, Jonesy has a mix of speed and strength and excels over this trip at Lismore with five wins and two placings from eight starts, and he is also unbeaten when drawing the pink in his career.
Queenslanders Infrared Star (box 2) and Charming Chaos (5), both are making their Lismore debuts here, but both have strong claims.
While the heats of the Million Dollar Chase will capture the attention, the best bet on the card actually appears in the second event, the Ivan’s Camper Trailers Stakes over 420m in the shape of Senorita Dude in the eight box.
After being well backed on debut when placed at Casino, Senorita Dude came out last Friday and led throughout for impressive win at that track off the seven box. With the benefit of even more racing, and the fact she has shown she can handle the wide draw, she looks hard to beat here.
Before we get to Lismore there is a strong meeting at Goulburn, with the best on the card appearing in race four, the Goulburn Workers Club Stakes over 440m.
Doc Martini (box 6) was a good winner at Maitland in the best of the night, a 25.06s run, before not having a lot of luck last start at Bulli. He looks hard to beat here.
Another good bet on the card comes up in race three, the Ladbrokes Back Yourself Stakes over 440m in the shape of River Gave.
The youngster trialled well twice before making a winning debut at Goulburn in 25.28s, then last start posted best time of the day with a 25.07s run. He’ll take a power of beating here.
Also on today, is an 11-race card at LADBROKES GARDENS where the best appears in race 10, the Awesome Project Stakes over 400m.
The speedy Longbow Meri (4) has won her past three, all at this track, and leading throughout in each. She’ll be hard to run down again here.
Also on the card, Real Fantasy (4) won at Goulburn in fast time last start, can handle a wide draw and looks a big chance.
