She may have left it late - very late in fact - but as the saying goes, better late than never as the defending champion Mystic Riot squeaked through into the semi-finals of the TAB Million Dollar Chase at The Gardens on Saturday night.
The series was set up so that a total of 56 greyhounds advanced out of the 14 regional venues into the semi-finals, with the other eight qualifying via what will be strong City Qualifiers at Wentworth Park next Saturday.
Mystic Riot picked up the 52nd qualifying spot on Saturday, finishing fourth behind Get It Gizmo, her own kennelmate Federal Lilly, and Miley Nismo. That was enough. She’s taken the next step, and the title defence stays alive.
“We’re tickled pick with both their runs,” trainer Peter Lagogiane said of his pair of qualifiers. ”When the series started we had six in the kennel and we’ve now got four through to the semi-finals.
“They were both good runs by both bitches tonight, and we’re pretty happy we’re through to the next round, now it’s all about the box draws in the semis and plenty of luck.
“Mystic Riot began a bit moderately tonight and she made plenty of ground up. It was an enormous run by her.
“She’s raced some pretty good dogs in the last four or five months and she made four out of five group finals that we’ve contested, so were pretty happy with Mystic Riot at the moment.
“She got to get a draw in two weeks’ time and she’ll be up there.”
While Lagiogiane was happy with his pair, for Jason MACKAY, it was two winners in three nights in the series, having won the Maitland Million Dollar Chase Regional Final on Thursday.
“He’s a good one this dog. He’s only young, and I don’t think the track, the circumference of this track at The Gardens, is his way of going. I think when we get to Wenty, a bit harder run and bit bigger circumference, he really might let go, but that was pretty impressive tonight,” MACKAY said.
“He’s run home in 11.93s, and it’s very rare that you see that.
“He had no luck at all last week. Tonight once he got balanced up and got to go through his gears, he’s pretty special this dog.”
Clocking 29.25s, Get It Gizmo had four lengths to spare over Federal Lilly, with 2¾ lengths back to Miley Nismo with Mystic Riot a half head away fourth.
The final Regional Final in the TAB Million Dollar Chase will be held at Goulburn on Sunday, with the final four qualifiers advancing to the semis, to be joined by eight more out of next week’s Wentworth Park qualifiers.
