Trainer Jason MACKAY blamed himself for the tardy start of his latest kennel star, Get It Gizmo at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, but sent an ominous warning to his TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-final rivals, that he’s likely to improve next Friday.
Get It Gizmo was sent to MACKAY from Victorian trainer Harry Manolitsis to campaign in the rich series, and after finishing third in the heat at The Gardens, he has since won in fast time in the Regional Final, there, then clocked 29.89s winning at Wenty on Saturday, running home a very fast 11.57s.
“There was a little bit of drama at the first corner when he was trying to negotiate a run, but they just let him go through his gears, and he can run a bit this bloke, and he did power home,” MACKAY said.
“I’ll be honest, it’s probably my fault at the start. I haven’t had a chance to put him through the boxes here, and that’s everything when a Victorian comes here. You must go through the lids. We just ran out of time, but tonight was a trial for the lids, so I think he might improve in that area.”
Get It Gizmo drew box eight in the semi-final number seven next Friday. He has jumped three times from the pink for two wins and a very close second to Shima Shine at Warragul.
While the field is naturally good, it’s not possessing another of the big-name stars in the series. Awesome Catch from the Rob Camilleri kennel has drawn three, and looks the main danger.
While Get It Gizmo had an impressive hit-out, two of the best performances – and the best times – were run by Victorian kennelmates Curt Lee and Waging War.
The pair, trained by Glenn Rounds, each clocked 29.83s, however both doing it in different circumstances.
Waging War was slow to jump, got a run through at the first turn, then moved up to the leaders heading out of the back and powered away to win.
Curt Lee - runner-up in the South Australian Debry last start - flew the lids, clocking 5.39s for the first section, and was never in danger recording an impressive 7½ length win.
“We had this penciled in and a week is a long time with the dogs, so we made the decision we would come up and trial last Wednesday week, that gave him 10 days between the runs, and it worked well,” Rounds said. “Now we only have a short turnaround, and we’re going to meet better dogs. It gets hard very quickly.
“(Being fast out and leading) you just take a lot of trouble away from you if you can begin like that, it makes a huge difference.
“Waging War, we’ll get him over some 600m soon, probably after this series, he’s always been screaming for ground, but he did well tonight after getting through into a nice position out of the straight.”
Curt Lee will have his work cut out in the semis having drawn the same heat as the series’ favourite Feral Franky.
The Victorian has drawn box three and will jump alongside Feral Franky who has the four. Also in the heat are the consistent Kraken Spike, and fellow impressive heat winner at Wentworth Park on Saturday Slingshot Hammer, who has come up with the rails.
Waging War has drawn the seven in semi-final one, jumping inside last year’s winner Mystic Riot. It’s a tough heat with Victorians Black Opium (3) and Western Envoy (2) engaged, along with Black Forge (6) and Casino Regional Final winner Painted Picture who has drawn the rails box.
Another Victorian dog to find his way into the field on the last night of qualifying was the Phil Smith-trained Eight Ball, who led throughout off the one box in 29.91s.
“It was always a plan to come up for the series but I almost ran out of time with this dog because he’s had a few injuries and he’s a high maintenance dog, who is hard to train but he’s a good dog and you’ve just got to persevere with him,” Smith said. “I’ve done a bit of work with him and the way he ran tonight is indicative of what sort of dog he is. He’s a very talented greyhound there’s no doubt about that.”
Eight Ball has drawn box six in semi-final three and will have to get over one of the series’ favourites, Good Odds Harada (7) a good winner on Saturday night at Wentworth Park, and also Golden Easter Egg runner-up Federal Lilly who has drawn box one.
Smith believes Eight Ball can improve significantly on his win, as it was his first look at the track.
Smith, who experienced great success including a Sydney Cup win with Ringside Fire in the late 1990s, enjoys coming to Wentworth Park.
“I haven’t been here for 20 years. I had Ringside Fire and he won all the big races up here in the late ‘90s. I think I’ve been here 10 times now and this is my sixth win. This is my lucky track.”
