The record books will show that TAB Million Dollar Chase winner Good Odds Harada finished second to Victorian star Sennachie in Friday’s Group 1 Gold Bullion Final at Albion Park, but watch the replay of the race, and in all honesty, it was daylight second.
In one of the most dominant performances in a Group 1 final, Sennachie was able to force through between his rivals soon after jumping, showed great acceleration and take the lead heading to the post the first time, and it was game over at that point.
At the finishing post the next time around, the margin was a stunning 10¼ lengths from Good Odds Harada, with his brother Feral Franky running home stoutly for third a further two lengths back.
The time for Sennachie was 29.41s, just 0.03s or half a length outside his own track record of 29.38s set in July last year when he won the Group 1 Brisbane Cup Final.
Sennachie now owns the three fastest times ever run at Albion Park, having clocked 29.39s on Boxing Day last year in the Golden Ticket.
The win takes his record to 18 wins from 32 starts with another eight placings, and the $150,000 first prize boosted his career earnings to $696,450.
“I really wasn’t expecting what I have seen tonight,” trainer Stave White said.
“I go into all my races feeling pretty confident but tonight I had some doubts because I thought gee we’ve got all those good dogs drawn underneath us, and if he doesn’t come out, it’s not going to happen
“I just watched the replay and he came out good and once he led … to me he had to lead and he really gapped them.
“He’s a real superstar. He always has been and now that’s his third group one and I’m ecstatic. And he’s gone good on the clock again.
“I am just amazed. I am just shaking. I don’t know whether to cry or not. He’s just a sensational dog and he just amazes me every time he goes around, and I just love the dog.”
Good Odd Harada was last out of the boxes, but charged up wide and ran into third heading up the back, and assumed the runner-up position on the top turn.
Had he won the Gold Bullion Final, Good Odds Harada would have surpassed Fanta Bale as our greatest stakes’ earner. Instead he remains in third place with the $40,000 for second taking his tally to $1,275,585, just shy of Fernando Bale’s $1,299,370 and Fanta Bale’s $1,365,175.
Feral Franky as expected was slowly away, and was back with his litter brother at the rear of the field as they passed the post the first time and his run to grab third was another strong one.
The Gold Bullion was part of a new Brisbane summer carnival, and in the night’s other feature the $75,000 to the winner Gold Cup Final for the stayers, Victorian True Detective staged a brave performance to lead early, be headed up the back, then come again to take the feature in 42.08s.
Second went to What About It three quarters of a length behind the winner, with NSW stayer Just Terms battling on well to grab third, just a neck away.
