Way back on September 3, the GRNSW + Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase got underWay with four competitive heats at Bathurst.
Since that afternoon, the series has conducted a further 10 sets of heats and nine finals from Lismore to Temora, Wagga Wagga to Dubbo, and right across the State.
Tonight, the regional qualifying series are completed and the 22 regional qualifiers will be finalised when both Richmond and LADBROKES GARDENS stage their regional finals.
Those 22, plus the 42 who advance from three weeks of City Qualifiers at Wentworth Park, make up the eight semi-finals of the series to be run on October 12.
The Gardens will be the first to provide the next two semi-finalists, and after last Friday’s heats, and the box draw, it looks an intriguing affair.
Drink Schooners and Aston Duke won the two heats, the latter posting the best of the day a 29.33s effort, while Drink Schooners produced a fast 29.45s run.
Aston Duke, trained in Victoria by Seona Thompson, but in the care of Jason MACKAY for this series, stepped perfectly from the six last week and gave nothing else a chance.
According to MACKAY, the wide draw suits so box seven won’t be a concern, and if he jumps again, he will prove incredibly difficult to catch.
Drink Schooners took complete advantage of the rails’ draw in the heat, leading throughout also and scoring his sixth win in eight starts off that box in slick time.
He’s not as good from the two box but has been placed six out of 10 starts from the checks including a pair of wins.
Michelle Sultana’s dog is in career best form and while there are some doubts about how cleanly Aston Duke will jump, those are not questions about Drink Schooners. He looks the one to go with here, just ahead of Aston Duke.
Elusive Wave and True Talent both tried hard behind Drink Schooners last Friday and both are in the mix this week again.
And then there will be just two semi-final spots available from the regional series, and those will be filled around 9.20pm when Richmond hold the 11th and final regional final.
Richmond has brought together an outstanding field of sprinters, with last week’s fastest heat winner, Jamella Jet the likely favourite.
The Andrew Crouch-trained dog scorched around the track in 30.47s, four lengths quicker than its kennelmate and fellow heat winner Big Butters, and more than six lengths faster than the other heat win Fast Car Driving. If he lands on the bunny again Jamella Jet will be incredibly hard to run down.
The wildcard could be the first reserve Zipping Falcon, a group one placegetter who originally missed the regional final but picked up a spot in the eight box when Fast Car Driving was scratched after he qualified for the semis at Wentworth Park last Saturday.
Zipping Falcon was dragged down on the first turn in his heat last week losing all winning chance and finishing nine and a half lengths behind Jamella Jet. His trainer Jason Magri concedes he can’t be giving aWay a big start again this week, and while the eight is not an ideal draw, he looms as the big danger, along with Big Butters and the red, Zipping Bailey who produced a very good run albeit in slow time, in the heat when third behind Fast Car Driving.
The best bet on the Richmond card appears in race three in the form of American Hustle in the three box.
Lightly raced since arriving from Victoria, she trialled at Bathurst recently in a slick 25.71s and was good here last start leading before being narrowly beaten in 22.94s. She’s the one they will all have to catch here.
It has been a big week for the Richmond club which announced the extension and upgrade of their sponsorship arrangement with Ladbrokes Digital Australia through until the end of 2022, with a further two-year option.
The new deal will include the ongoing support of the Richmond Oaks and Richmond Derby until 2023, also with a two-year option. Ladbrokes have also pledged their ongoing support of the Richmond Riches Puppy Auction and race series, as well as well as the monthly Red Dog series.
Richmond Chairman, Steve Moran was understandably ecstatic with the news, stating: "Ladbrokes are true friends and supporters of the Richmond Club and Greyhound Racing in NSW."
There’s also two other meetings on a big day in NSW greyhound racing, at Wagga Wagga and Casino.
At Wagga Wagga, the best bet arrives early in race two, and given an even start at box rise She Can Move (6) looks a big chance. She won her maiden at Temora in good time, then last start was good second to Sandy Flash here in smart time. She only has to run up to that to be winning here.
And at Casino the best bet is in race seven in the shape of Peta Gledhill (6). She is new to this venue, but she is a fast beginner who will look to charge across and lead. Hails from a strong kennel and looks the one to beat.
