It wasn’t a boilover of mammoth proportions, but had you suggested that neither of the favourites would advance to the GRNSW + Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase out of the penultimate Regional Final, run at the Gardens on Friday, you would have been greeted by puzzled looks.
But that was the case with both Drink Schooners and Aston Duke – each an impressive heat winner seven days ago - finishing third and fourth respectively in the final, and as such missing out of the automatic spots in the semi-finals which will be run at Wentworth Park on October 12.
Instead the Newcastle region will be represented by Elusive Wave and True Talent – the fourth and third favourites respectively according to punters – after the pair filled the quinella in the final.
While both Aston Duke and Drink Schooners both flew out last week and led throughout, neither was electric out of the boxes in the final. Elusive Wave however was dynamic out of the four box, and once in front – and with the main dangers battling with limited success to find their way out of traffic – she was never troubled, clocking an impressive 29.43s.
True Talent also exited the eight box well, but took time to eventually work his way into second out of the back, and held off the late surge of Drink Schooners.
While it may have shocked some, it’s not a real surprise when you look at what Elusive Wave did in The MACCA, the consolation of the Group 2 Black Top at The Gardens last month, when she again jumped in front. She won in a time of 29.31s, half a length faster than Caitlyn Keeping ran in winning the Black Top final.
“She is one of those bitches if she gets on the bunny she is very hard to run down and she got the lucky break tonight and got to the front,” said Darren Sultana, trainer Vic’s son.
“She jumped well last week but once Drink Schooners was underneath her and led her, he was always going to beat her because he’s a strong dog. But this week she came out in front and they all missed the start.”
It’s a case of finally for the Sultanas and their litter sisters. Vic qualified Elusive Wave’s litter sister, the talented Sky Wave in the Bathurst Regional Final, but she missed out on qualifying. Then Darren qualified Flying Ella – another litter sister to Sky Wave and Elusive Wave - in the Maitland Regional Final and she too missed out finishing fifth behind Big Black.
“It was third time lucky for us,” Darren said.
Elusive Wave has had seven runs at Wentworth Park for three wins and placing.
“She doesn’t go too badly there, she’s won a few races there but she’s probably going to have her work cut out against the better class dogs,” Darren said. “But if she keeps coming out and leads … they make their own luck sometimes.”
The semis will be held on October 12 and the day just happens to be the birthday of Darren Sultana.
It not hard to guess what sort of birthday present he may be hoping for, with the eight semi-finalists advancing to the grand final on October 20, where the winner will walk away with a cheque for $1 million.
The Gardens was the second last regional series to be decided in the Million Dollar Chase which began back in Bathurst on September 3. The final regional series was also conducted on Friday night, at Richmond.
