The new qualification criteria for the TAB Million Dollar Chase in 2019, played perfectly into the hands of the Dennis Barnes-trained Nangar Gift, who on Saturday night booked her berth into the semi-finals of the series.
Nangar Gift showed explosive speed out of the boxes, charged to the lead, and her rivals never got near her as she clocked 29.56s to win the Regional Final of the Chase at Dubbo.
Barnes’ wife Ann explained that they actually thought Bathurst would be the track where Nangar Gift would have the best opportunity to qualify.
“We took her to Bathurst for the series last year but she didn’t make the final,” Ann said.
“We thought Bathurst would be her track again this year because she loves Bathurst, and we just thought Bathurst would be a better track for her than the others in the series, so we went there. But she missed the kick out of the eight (box) and got tangled up on the first turn and didn’t qualify for their final.
“That would have been the end of it if the race (series) was like last year, but because you can try again at another country venue, we came to Dubbo. It’s so good they changed the conditions so you could go to another venue, and we have taken or second chance.
“I was really pleased when she jumped tonight. I was hoping she could lead out of the eight box tonight, she did and she just kept going.”
Connie’s Boy was expected to be one of the leaders but was tardy out, and struck traffic on the first turn, before powering home to finish second and book his semi-final berth, three lengths behind the winner.
Third went to Jimmy Casey who will now join his brother Charlie Casey who finished second to Feral Franky in the Gunnedah Regional Final earlier this month, in the semi-finals.
Syd Swain’s Buck’s Future snapped up fourth spot and a place in the semi-finals. A year ago Buck’s Future came very close to making the inaugural Million Dollar Chase Grand Final, finishing 1½ lengths second behind Midnight Starlet in the semi-finals.
Nangar Gift’s fellow semi-finalist Shima Shine who won the Bulli Regional Final last Saturday, trialled at Wentworth Park on Saturday and clocked a very handy 29.81s.
