There will be an exodus across the Queensland-NSW border on Friday morning, all headed towards Casino and the latest heats of The TAB Million Dollar Chase.
Casino will host heats of the world’s richest greyhound event for the first time this year, and the club has drawn three heats for their Friday afternoon meeting.
Among the runners at the meeting are 11 Queensland greyhounds, as each tries to grab one of the four semi-final berths on offer at Casino.
Casino will host its Regional Final the following Friday, September 13, with the first four in that event progressing to the semi-finals at Wentworth Park on October 11.
One of those who will cross the border from his base at Park Ridge, is leading trainer Brett Hazelgrove who will bring with him arguably Queensland best sprinter Dam Slippery, and the in-form Townsville Cup winner, Quara’s Flick.
“We thought we would see how they go at Casino, and if we don’t get through there, then there’s always the Lismore heats we can look at the week after,” Hazelgrove said.
“We have taken them down for a few trials in recent weeks and Dam Slippery hasn’t gone as quick as I thought she would, but I think she actually goes better in a field.
“And ultimately, I also think that Dam Slippery will be well suited to Wentworth Park.
“Quara’s Flick however flew around there last Friday in a solo trial … she actually went three tenths quicker than Dam Slippery went. I haven’t had her that long, but I think she will like most tracks too. But first we have to get through Casino before we start worrying about Wentworth Park.”
Hazelgrove said he wasn’t surprised that a number of Queenslanders make up the Casino fields this week, as it was the obvious stop for them in the Chase for the Chase. And as he pointed out, most of them will also target Lismore is they don’t get through the Casino series.
Among the other ‘visitors’ this Friday will be Tom Tzouvelis who will bring down five greyhounds including Brandi Alexander, Selena Zammit who is bringing two greyhounds, Stinger Noir and Pitch Black Jet, and Hazelgrove’s brother Craig who has the very talented sprinter Wise Misty engaged in heat three.
Evelyn Harris leads the way for the local trainers with four dogs engaged, however one of those is not her 2018 Masters Meteor winner Cosmic Bonus, who she is saving to defend his title in the veterans’ event on Chase Grand Final night.
