Feral Franky not only won Sunday night’s Regional Final of the TAB Million Dollar Chase at Gunnedah, he produced a simply stunning performance in qualifying for the semi-finals of the event, obliterating the track record, clocking a stunning 29.62s, a time which takes 0.57s off the previous mark.
To put some context into that, The Feral has gone more than 8 lengths faster than Myrniong Master went in May in clocking 30.19s.
Courtesy of the win, Feral Franky has now booked his place in the October 11 semi-finals of the series where he will now be one of 64 semi-finalists, competing for one of the eight places in the TAB Million Dollar Chase Grand Final on October 18.
And it would be a brave man to say he can’t go all the way to win the $1 million after performances like Sunday night’s.
Following the Gunnedah final, the price of Feral Franky was slashed with tab.com.au and he is now the outright favourite to win the Grand Final at $9.
Second place went to Charlie Casey, 8¾ lengths back, with Squiggle Keeping a head away third and another head back to China O’Brien in fourth. That trio also qualified for the semi-finals.
Watch Feral Franky smash the Gunnedah track record here
Good Odds Harada first through to Semis
Last year it was outsider Rohan Hill at Bathurst, but 12 months on, at the same venue, it was the short-priced favourite, Goods Odds Harada who collected the honour of being the first dog through to the semi-finals of the TAB Million Dollar Chase with a stunning victory in the Bathurst Regional Final on Saturday night.
On a cold blustering night, the Frank Hurst-trained Good Odds Harada clocked 29.43s - a stunning run considering the cold, windy conditions - figures which would have been closer to the track record on a fine, clear evening.
Second was Double Up Dee 5¼ lengths away with Solar Sky third and Wolf Bear fourth. All four will advance to the Wentworth Park semi-finals on October 11.
It’s an amazing feat too for broodbitch Solar Pak, who qualified littermates both Good Odds Harada and Solar Sky, and a night later would make it three from the litter into the semis when Feral Franky blitzed his rivals at Gunnedah in their Regional Final
Watch Good Odds Harada win at Bathurst here
Grafton redevelopment announced
GRNSW Chief Executive Tony Mestrov described last Wednesday’s announcement that the NSW Government will invest $4.6 million into a major redevelopment of the Grafton racetrack, as one of the most significant track infrastructure funding announcements in NSW history.
The project is the latest, and largest, to be funded by the Government’s $30 million, five-year Greyhound Racing Capital Grants Program to improve safety and boost animal welfare standards at racetracks across the state.
“This is one of the most significant track infrastructure funding announcements in NSW history,” Mr Mestrov said. “A massive $4.6 million investment to deliver a suite of safety, amenity and welfare upgrades and initiatives that will see this venue become the benchmark for greyhound racing facilities in Australia.
“GRNSW worked collaboratively with the Grafton club to request the release of funds from the Government’s grant program, and this project will ensure that greyhound racing can grow in the region while at the same time ensuring the welfare of our greyhounds and the sustainability of the sport.
“As we have continually said, welfare and safety are at the forefront of everything we do at GRNSW, and this redevelopment is our latest step in ensuring both of those aspects of our sport are being catered to.”
Among the work to be conducted is a new racetrack, designed in consultation with safety engineers at the University of Technology, with a larger footprint to ensure it exceeds the most stringent track safety requirements, new racing infrastructure including starting boxes, safety rails and lures, all incorporating the latest racing Technology.
There will be an upgraded irrigation system, a major venue enhancement to improve comfort for members and spectators including enhanced track lighting, access paths and landscaping, and a brand new kennel building that incorporates an animal welfare facility, a blueprint for a model which is planned to roll-out to other key regional venues going forward.
Work is expected to begin in November and take around five months to complete.
Dapto Million Dollar Chase heats
Talented sprinter Cawborne Marty not only maintained his unbeaten record at Dapto on Thursday night, but completed a fantastic evening for in-form training team of the JODIE and Andy Lord.
The Lords have been in tremendous form around the State in recent weeks, and last Thursday captured the $10,000 to the winner Dapto Maiden Final with El Rapido, a prequel to a great run from Cawborne Marty (Pictured) in winning his heat of the TAB Million Dollar Chase.
Dapto was making its debut as a Million Dollar Chase venue on Thursday, with three quality heats on the card, but it was the performance of Cawborne Marty which was the standout.
Having his sixth start at Dapto - having won the previous five - Cawborne Marty stalked the leader Caviar Quality then powered the lead heading out of the back and raced away for a comfortable 2½ length win from Good Odds Buddy, yet another sibling of Feral Franky, in the best time of the night, 29.80s.
The run of Good Odds Buddy – yes another member of the Collision-Solar Pak litter - was stunning. He was turned on his side soon after the jump, then checked again on the first turn, but somehow found his way into fourth place up the back and ran home strongly to finish second posting 29.98s, the second best time of the three heats.
The final will be run on Thursday. The box draw is: 1 Show Business 2 Good Odds Buddy 3 Milla Jean 4 My Bro’s Ethics 5 Kraken Spike 6 Cawborne Marty 7 Furious Not Fast 8 Curacao 9 Good Odds Meghan 10 Salute To Excel.
Watch Cawborne Marty win his heat of the MDC at Dapto here
Gosford Million Dollar Chase heats
Gosford will host their Regional Final of the TAB Million Dollar Chase on Tuesday night after two heats were held last Tuesday.
And it was the kennels of last year’s winner Peter Lagogiane and 2018 runner-up Adam Crouch, producing four of the eight finalists.
Crouch won the opening heat with Jamella Jet, with Lagogiane’s Shez Got Soul finishing third to qualify for the final.
In the second heat both had to play a supporting role to the Tim Caines-trained Nangar Jack, but again their two runners – Lagogiane’s Double Back and Crouch’s Sorry Scott – filled the placings and will take their places in the final on Tuesday.
The box draw for the Gosford Regional Final is: 1 Shez Got Soul 2 Jamella Jet 3 Typhoon To Excel 4 Nangar Jack 5 Double Back 6 Sorry Scott 7 Sheba’s Dream 8 Keep Guessing 9 Bob’s Chance 10 Seven Hour Park.
Watch Jamella Jet win his heat of the MDC at Gosford here
Casino Million Dollar Chase heats
Six Queensland trained greyhounds will make up the field for the Casino TAB Million Dollar Chase Regional Final on Friday following three heats at the venue last Friday.
The Maroons crossed the border to take on the locals at Casino, and while they make up three quarters of the field for the final, fastest qualifier is a local, the Mark Wilkes-trained Painted Picture who clocked 27.31s in winning.
The surprise was the disappointment of leading Queenslander Dam Slippery missing the final.
Trainer Brett Hazelgrove confirmed her will now head to the Lismore heats of the TAB Million Dollar Chase with Dam Slippery.
“She just doesn’t like Casino full stop,” Hazelgrove said. “She has never trialled anything brilliant here which you think she would. She’ll definitely go to Lismore. DIFFERENT track … DIFFERENT dog.”
The box draw for the Regional Final is: 1 Stinger Noir 2 Edelman 3 Noela's Boy 4 Quara's Flick 5 Wise Misty 6 Painted Picture 7 Pitch Black Jet 8 Brandi Alexander 9 Fran's Bonus 10 Cash Point.
Watch Painted Picture qualify fastest from the Casino MDC heats here
