Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase

Penny Ready For Gosford MDC Heats

By Jeff Collerson
Vamos Penny ran a great trial for Tuesday night's opening round of the TAB Million Dollar Chase by recording her fourth win in seven Wentworth Park appearances on Saturday night.

The Kerry Drynan-trained Vamos Penny led throughout to win by just over four lengths from her kennelmate Kurios Motion, stopping the clock at 29.72s, fastest 520m time of the meeting.

Vamos Penny and Kurios Motion will contest heats two and four respectively of the 515m Chase heats at Gosford, where Vamos Penny is already a winner in a slick 29.47s.


Sunburnt Highway, who turned four this month so has only just qualified to compete in Masters races, scored first-up in the veterans' class when he led from the first turn to win Saturday night's opening event in 30.27s.

It was Sunburnt Highway's 16th win in 67 Wentworth Park appearances and trainer Judith Richardson will now set her grand old warrior for the $100,000 to the winner Masters Meteor at Wentworth Park during the Million Dollar Chase carnival in October.

After Saturday's race Richardson's husband John said: "Sunburnt Highway has been in a half a dozen group finals without landing one, with his biggest winning purse being a $10,000 Ladbrokes event.

"But he was in the Group 3 Magic Maiden final at the beginning of his career, in the group 1 Dapto Megastar final on two occasions, and contested the inaugural Million Dollar Chase won by Mystic Riot in 2018.

"He has been a once-in-a-lifetime dog for Judith and I.''


Wow enhanced his remarkable record from outside boxes when he overcame his customary slow start to win in 30.01s on Saturday night.

Wow exited box seven and has now won five of his six starts from boxes seven and eight.

Trainer Sid Swain was left scratching his head after Midnight Escape led throughout to win the 520m Maiden Final by five lengths in a fast 29.94.

Reason for Swain being perplexed was that Midnight Escape's litter brother and kennelmate Night Tracker finished seventh.

"When I trial them, Night Tracker is consistently three lengths faster than Midnight Escape,'' Swain said later.

"The difference tonight was that Midnight Escape jumped in front while Night Tracker missed the kick and then got checked at the first turn.''

Eagle Rock, a litter brother to Friday night's group 2 Sires On Ice Black Top winner Flying Ricciardo, took his record to five wins from 10 starts by coming from second early to win in 30.12s on Saturday.

Eagle Rock is owned and trained by his breeder Lynne Aldous, who sold Flying Ricciardo at the Richmond Puppy Auction to Kristy Sultana, but retained Eagle Rock.

Both greyhounds are sons of Aldous' former classy race bitch Megalodon.

Training honours on Saturday again rested with Jodie Lord, who won the 520m Free-For-All with Winlock On Top and the sole 720m event with El Rapido.

Winlock On Top led throughout in a slick 29.81s while El Rapido jumped in front and after being headed by staying newcomer Midnight Flash, finished determinedly to win comfortably in a smart 42.35s.

El Rapido is now one of the early favourites for the Group 1 Sydney Cup, worth $100,000 to the winner, to be held on Million Dollar Chase final night in October.