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Golden Easter Egg winner Zipping Bailey, boom Victorian Flynn, promising youngster Flying Bazza, and Gold Cup winner, Black Forge, highlight an outstanding set of TAB Million Dollar Chase heats at Maitland on Thursday night.
Local trainer Jason MACKAY, fresh from training four winners at last Thursday’s Maitland meeting, will start Flynn for the first time since he joined the kennel from Victorian mentor Harry Manolitsis.
A winner of eight of his 18 starts, Flynn was the winner of the Speed Star series back in May clocking a stunning 29.08s, defeating Feral Franky.
“I’m starting to get Flynn where I want him,” MACKAY said. “He’ll be okay Thursday but even better for another week if he can qualify for the final.
“He trialled around the 25.20s mark at Maitland last week and I’m sure there’s more in the tank. For now it’s really just about qualifying him.”
MACKAY conceded Zipping Bailey was a little underdone but she is working back to her best, and like Flynn, it’s about getting through the stages of the series and being at their best for the semi-finals on October 11.
MACKAY also has smart youngster Flying Bazza who has won five of his 10 starts and has four wins and two seconds since joining MACKAY’s kennel from Victoria in June.
Also engaged in the heats is 2019 Maitland Gold Cup winner Black Forge, who failed to qualify for the Richmond Regional Final last Friday night.
The Darren Sultana-trained dog has won five and been placed twice in eight starts over the Maitland 450m, and clocked 24.81s and 24.90s in the heat and final of the Gold Cup in March.
He has come up with the red in heat two, a box he has exited six times for four wins and two placings.
Also in the heat is Willoughby who has won in 24.91s here, and is a winner of eight of 16 starts. A year ago qualified for the Maitland Million Dollar Chase Regional Final only to be scratched due to injury.
Ron Marsden’s speedy Ce Jay’s Boy a winner of 21 of 34 starts including two of three at Maitland over 450m, is also engaged.
Among those joining Zipping Bailey and Flying Bazza in the opening heat is Cee Jay’s Boy’s brother Hardaway Titan, himself a winner of 20 form 27 including three of four over the 450m at Maitland, including a best of 24.86s.
