It’s a double dose of the Regional Chase tonight, with heats of the GRNSW + Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase scheduled at both Maitland and Wagga Wagga.
Queensland trainer Darren Russell took one of his kennel stars to Lismore for their regional qualifying heats on Tuesday night and Snug got the job done, winning in the best of the night and then drawing the rails for next Tuesday Regional Final.
Russell will be looking to advance a couple more of his runners through to the next stage of the series via the Maitland heats, bringing Precious Sal and Yeah Okay from his base at Innisplain just over the Queensland border.
Precious Sal has been in good form in Brisbane and last start won at Albion Park in 30.07s. She has drawn the red in the opening heat and she has been here before and flown around the course.
Back in January she posted new track record figures of 21.87s over the 400m leading throughout, and then stepped up to the 450m in February and clocked very slick figures of 24.86s, again leading all the way.
She returned for the Maitland Cup heats in April, but missed the start and effectively her race was then over in that company.
She clearly looks the one to beat, and the best bet on the card.
Wicked Quality has drawn the pink and is Well placed out there. He has won eight of his past 10 starts including four at Maitland, and two of those over this trip. He looks the danger, along with the two, O’Leary, who has run 25.02 here.
Victorian bitch She’s Gifted has been living up to her name. She has won her past four - three at the Meadows and once at Geelong, she won the Group 2 Queensland Futurity back in April, and importantly has been here before and been fast here, clocking 24.78s back in December last year. Perfectly drawn in two, she will justify her short quote.
Interesting runner in the event is Kong, having just his second run in almost 12 months after a few injuries have sidelined him.
The most open of the regional qualifying heats at Maitland is the third, race seven. Only the red runner, Smokem Joe - who arrives here with good form at MusWellbrook but that’s far easier than this - looks unlikely. Throw a blanket over the rest.
Yeah Okay (2) won at Albion Park three runs back and has clocked 24.99s here at his only start, Patch Adam (3) showed in winning a heat of the Black Top at LADBROKES GARDENS what he is capable of, and the blue, Opulence, while she is risky at the jump, she can nail it on her day and she possesses speed and strength.
The six Big Gora was a winner at Wentworth Park back in June, Alpine Little (7) clocked 30.13s there two runs back, and the pink, Flying Ella, has won four of her last six, including a last start 25.34s here.
Perhaps Opulence could be the way to go, but I’d be watching Yeah Okay closely.
And in the final heat of the Maitland round, promising youngster Willoughby (6) is the one to beat. Jill Harper’s dog has won five of seven starts and his past four including a 25.04s (BON) and a 24.91s (BON) wins here. He looks a class above these.
Zipping Buddy (2) has won his only five races all at Maitland and has some claims here, along with the four, Keno Jake a winner of seven of 14, and a last start 22.74s winner at Bulli.
At Wagga Wagga, there are two heats of the series being staged, and the one of most intrigue is the first heat, race six, with talented sprinter Blue Sky Riot making her return to racing.
Blue Sky Riot hasn’t been seen since March when she was injured in a heat of the Golden Easter Egg. Before that she beat Up Hill Jill and Miss Splendamiro in the Richmond Oaks, lowered the colours of Striker Light in Melbourne, and also won the Group 1 National Futurity at Wentworth Park. She has trialled here, and if she is right, she just wins this race.
For the placings, stick with Irinka Hammo (7) from the Andrew Bell kennel, and the red runner Vegas Ethics.
In the second heat, locally trained Smart Desire in the six, was a good winner here in 31.10s when having his first try at this trip. He has won three of five from this draw, and is a good chance in an open race.
Blue Sky Riot’s kennelmate Zipping Olympia (7) is a city winner in Victoria, and while she doesn’t have the class of her kennelmate, she has to be considered a threat here, along with Zipping Buck (3) and Strickland (4), both winners at this track.
Away from the heats and the best bet on the Wagga Wagga card appears in the opening event, with Agroroo. Well drawn and will appreciate the step up to this distance.
