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It’s a great day of racing across NSW today, highlighted by six heats of the GRNSW + Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase this evening.
North and South will both host Regional Qualifying heats tonight, three scheduled at Nowra, and another three to be run at Grafton, as the series starts to get towards its pointy end.
At Grafton, the opening heat is an open affair.
Ogodei Star has drawn the two, and while his past two at Albion Park and then Lismore have been below his best, he put together back to back wins prior to that at both those venues, and is well drawn to hit back here. Fabrique in the three, looks the class runner and brings some very solid Queensland form here, most recently in the Townsville Cup, and will be prominent early. While Farmor Above (7) and Pantera Negra (4) have claims.
In the second heat at Grafton, Freddys Back is a fast beginner who is racing well at present, is ideally suited rising in trip and has clocked 27.53 over this track and distance. He can handle the draw, and the kennel is flying at the moment with Raven Izmir qualifying for the Chase semis at Lismore last week.
Bokarm Dean (8) bounced back to form at Lismore last start and is ideally drawn out wide on the track. He looks the danger to Freddy, while the ultra-consistent Fire To Rain arrives at Grafton with some good form in Queensland, most recently second to Big Bad Bob in the Group 3 Townsville Cup, and off the rails must be considered.
The final heat, race eight on the card, has been ravaged by scratchings and just five runners will head to the boxes.
The eight, Mottza, is very a talented youngster with more upside than most of his rivals here after just seven career starts. He is jumping in the deep end to some degree but was very impressive winning here over the shorter course in a slick 23.21s (BON) last week and I can't see the rise in trip stopping him here.
DIRECT Terror has been racing consistently and deserves another win while Sonic Thunder comes here off a 30.10s Albion Park win and has some hope.
Away from the Million Dollar Chase heats, the best bet on the card is in race two, the Ladbrokes Maiden over 407m. Key Largo (6) is a fast beginner who has been placed in five of her six career starts including two off this draw. She is new to Grafton but only needs to bring her recent Casino form to take beating in this.
At Nowra, Time Lord looks very hard to beat in the opening Chase heat.
He has a stack of ability and is unbeaten in two runs at this track, winning last start in 29.91s and back in August in a flying 29.69s when he led throughout.
The rails runner, Hear the Drums, is new here but racing in sensational form with wins at his past seven starts and 10 of his last 11 starts. A brilliant beginner whose recent winning form has been over shorter trips, but he has won at Wenty so he can run a trip. Big chance here, with Mighty Leader (7) and Zombie (4) also having claims.
The second heat of the night is a tricky race. Fancy Irene (6) can be moderately away but a vacant box on the inside should help and she looks a chance if she can bring her recent solid form here for her Nowra debut. Winsome Currency is a good beginner who can take advantage of the rails draw, while Fiery Crash (4) and Late Night Lager (2) have to be included in the chances.
And in the final heat, race seven on the card, Sweet Nangar looks very hard to beat. Drawn the three tonight, Sweet Nangar has won her past two in smart tine at Bulli, and at her only start her won in 29.97s. Bogan Doonie (4) is strong and will be running on, while Takahi Storm (6) has been racing well and goes well at this course.
Bathurst hosted their Regional Final of the Million Dollar Chase last Monday but they have a good 10-race card on this afternoon.
You need to wait until the last for the best bet, We'll Soon Know. Drawn the two, he’s a handy local who scored a good win at Dubbo, and then posted the best of the day here, 17.96s, on Saturday. Hard to beat if he backs up here.
