THE stage is set for a thrilling Bulli regional final of the GRNSW + Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase following outstanding heat wins by the Ruth Matic-trained Embye and Burning Fuel, from the Mark Wilcox kennels, on Saturday night.
Embye, usually inclined to be midfield early, surprised all by leading throughout from box one and rocketing over the 515m trip in 28.54, not far wide of El Magnifico's track record figures of 28.27sec.
Burning Fuel's 28.77 was not quite as quick but her performance was a particularly 'tough' win, as she had to run down noted strong finisher Goldstein before winning comfortably.
Embye trialled a sizzling 29.80 at Wentworth Park as an unraced puppy but after being all the rage during the series he was relegated to sixth in the Group 3 Magic Maiden final there earlier this year.
When Embye finally broke through to win at Wentworth Park at his fifth start, Matic said: "I am so relieved because I was thinking I was going to have to step him up in distance to enable him to fulfil his true potential.''
Burning Fuel's win was her 13th in 19 starts, and Saturday night's powerful performance was all the more impressive as she had not previously raced at Bulli beyond the 472m trip.
Zipping Mitzy's second placing to Embye was the eye-catching run among the beaten division in the Million Dollar Chase heats as she was "squeezed out'' when caught between rivals at the first turn and finished brilliantly.
Bulli's Million Dollar Chase final will be held next Saturday night.
Embye has come up with the rail again for the final, with Burning Fuel drawing the three.
The full draw is: 1- Embye 2- Bekin Street 3- Burning Fuel 4- Goldstein 5- Book Of Luck 6- Nino De Oro 7- Blocker Tifia 8- Zipping Mitzy 9- Bronelly Pearl 10- Bad Ronnnie.
Saturday's metropolitan class meeting was at LADBROKES GARDENS where Lochinvar Hugo registered his 30th win in 46 starts when he easily took out a 715m event, defeating class greyhounds such as Poco Dorado, the NSW representative in this year's National Distance Championship.
Lochinvar Hugo covered the trip in 41.61, just .06 outside Big Butters' course record.
His trainer Robert Smith can't wait for Wentworth Park to reopen, saying on Saturday: "Tonight's win was the dog's best this preparation.
"While he was an outstanding middle distance dog last time up, Lochinvar Hugo has lost a bit of his early pace and is a true stayer now so I will be looking at 720m races at Wenty with him now.''
Fast Car Driving will tackle Thursday night's heats of the Group 1 Dapto Megastar following his strong finishing 29.73 win over 515m at LADBROKES GARDENS on Saturday.
Trainer Jody Gordon's partner Chris Carl said after the race: "Fast Car Driving has not raced at Dapto but Jody will take him there on Monday to give him a look at the track.
"We were not surprised the dog went so well tonight because when he returned to Sydney after his recent stint racing in Victoria, he lost a lot of weight.
"He dropped over 2kg on the road trip back from Melbourne and has only just come good again.''
Blue Moon Rising scored his 10th win when he defeated Zipping Kelly in a fast 34.41 in Saturday's top middle distance race at LADBROKES GARDENS, continuing the amazing run of success of his dam Chica Destacada's first litter.
Blue Moon Rising's siblings include Poco Dorado (16 wins), Two Times Twice (13 wins) and Veloce Nero (nine wins) and while he went to the line solidly over the LADBROKES GARDENS 600m journey on Saturday, runner-up Zipping Kelly lost no admirers from a staying viewpoint.
Zipping Kelly would have finished closer to Blue Moon Rising had she not collided on the back straight, and she stormed home in the straight.
See you next week!
