After a day off, the GRNSW + Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase returns to our tracks this afternoon, with heats at LADBROKES GARDENS, and a Regional Final scheduled for Dubbo this evening.
The Dubbo final will see another two runners progress to the semi-finals of the series to be held at Wentworth Park on October 12. From there it is just one step away to a one in eight shot at $1 million.
Dubbo has been the unique event in the series. They only drew enough greyhounds for one heat, which was subsequently declared a prelude, as each of the runners in the race effectively had already qualified for the final.
The heat – prelude – was won in good style by Ray Smith’s Little Digger, not only a noted track specialist in Dubbo, but a proven sprinter with good form in the city.
Little Digger has drawn off the track in the eight for the final, but he has won three of five off the pink, and trainer Smith is not concerned. What the trainer does concede is that his dog needs to be in front of Midnight Starlet - which has the rails draw – when the field settles.
Midnight Starlet rattled home in the heat, and while the winner was impressive, Midnight Starlet certainly caught the eye.
It truly looks a match in two, but I’m leaning towards Little Digger. Proven in top company, proven off the draw, and loves the track.
Others with place chances are Cliff Keeping, Lexie Keeping and Bogan Vila.
At LADBROKES GARDENS there will be two heats, and both are quality contests.
In the opening heat, Drink Schooners has drawn the rails, and is due for a change of luck here. Two runs back Drink Schooners won at Maitland in in 25.22s, then last start was a good run when third to On Hour Parking at Dapto. One run for a placing here over this trip, but has won five of seven from this draw. Hard to beat in this.
The dangers are True Talent (8) and Elusive Wave which has drawn the two.
In the second heat of the Gardens’ series, the talented Aston Duke is the class runner and will find this much easier than many of his more recent starts. He’s a bit touchy at the jump but musters after hitting the ground and just needs some fresh air early to put these away. Clocked 29.40s in running second to Set To Storm in the Black Top heats last month. Should be hard to beat despite the draw. My Gal Penny (2) who won a heat of the Black Top in 29.61s leading throughout and cannot be dismissed here.
While Dubbo and the Gardens hold the spotlight for Million Dollar Chase activity, the big event of the Friday will be at Casino with the running of the $25,000 to the winner Casino Cup.
Judging by last week’s heats this will be a tremendous final with several live chances. Fab Fit (3) led and gave plenty of cheek here last week, and can take catching again if she pings out. Lismore’s Chase winner Snug (7, pictured) had her chance when she just missed last week, but the speed outside her is a concern. Cosmic Bonus (2) finished powerfully to clock the quickest heat run, 27.51s and must be included while Terra Torra won in 27.69s last week beating Snug, and has won 12 of 20 starts at Casino.
A great race which I’m sure will produce a thrilling finish.
If that isn’t enough for you, then there is also a meeting at Richmond and the pick of the card is brilliant stayer Veloce Nero.
Drawn in the four, Veloce Nero is a class act who has shown her motor recently with fine runs over 720m at Wentworth Park. Has only had the one start here but did win in handy 35.81s and looks the one tonight.
