Superb Field For TAB Million Dollar Chase Grand Final

A West Australian, the first ever South Australian, a young dog which cost just $7,500, a dog trained by the man who won inaugural race in 2018, a pair of Victorians now trained in NSW, a brilliant dog who has started just 13 times, and a dog whose trainer was considering scratching him from the semi-finals. 

The Grand Final field for the TAB Million Dollar Chase truly has it all.

And the box draw which was conducted after the last race has made for an even more intriguing decider, where someone will walk away from Wentworth Park with a cheque for $1 million next Friday night.

Two years ago Peter Lagogiane danced down the Wentworth Park straight after Mystic Riot won the very first Million Dollar Chase. It took just one race on Friday before he had another grand finalist, with former Tasmanian greyhound Handsome Prince pushing through on the first turn, and then gave his rivals no chance, winning in 29.73s.

While he was desperate for an inside draw, Handsome Prince came up with box seven. However, that was the same box which Mystic Riot exited from back in 2018.

Lagogiane could have had three finalists in the big race. His other two semi-finalists - Stardom and Shetland - both ran second but the popular mentor will have one chance to again perform done the Wenty straight next Friday,.

Stardom led to the first turn but drifted off the fence and allowed Xerri - having just his 13th start - to rail up underneath him, and then powered to the lead passing the 720m boxes in the back straight.

Stardom tried to rally, but the Darryl Thomas-trained Xerri kept running and posted a two-length win in 29.72s. Xerri will again start from box 2 next Friday night.

Tommy Shelby was brilliant, overcoming a check soon after jumping, pushing through to lead around the first turn then powering away to score in 29.58s. The runner-up, Shetland was very gallant, but couldn’t match the star West Australian.

Tommy Shelby was the last dog drawn for the final, and the only box left was box 8. Had he drawn anywhere near the rail he would have been a short priced favourite.

Asked his thoughts on box 8, trainer Steve Withers said: “It’s better than box 9.”

The biggest upset of the night came when Victorian star Shima Shine - runner-up to Good Odds Harada in last year’s Grand Final - couldn’t find the lead and was unable to win his semi-final.

Victory went to the Christine Proctor-trained Wallbanger.

Formerly trained Jeff Britton and Angela Langton in Victoria, the dog has been with the Proctors for just a few weeks but they now have a grand finalist in the world’s richest race. 

And it was totally unexpected. Christine’s husband Alan admitted he would have been happy to finish second to the MDC series’ favourite Shima Shine and snare a start in next week’s consolation, but his plan was upset with the upset win. Wallbanger drew box 5 for the final.

The win many in the NSW industry were hoping for arrived in semi-final five when Flying Ricciardo, the ‘it’ dog in the sport with his trainer Kristy Sultana, just held on to win in a photo from Victorian Faithy Bale.

Kristy was brought to tears with the emotion and build up of the week naturally overflowing.

And now she has another week of it.

Flying Ricciardo showed his customary pace but couldn’t lead Faithy Bale, but showed great tenacity to continue to push through and took the front heading up the back.

But just when you thought he would race away to win, Faithy Bale came back and on the line it was the barest of margins - many thinking Faithy Bale had won – with the winner clocking 29.71s.

Flying Ricciardo came up with a perfect draw of box 3 for the grand final, and has been installed as the early favourite.

Most thought it would be a match race between Australian Greyhound of the Year Simon Told Helen and reigning champion Good Odds Harada in their semi, but Harada was checked early losing all chance, and after leading Simon Told Helen weakened to miss a place.

The win and the Grand Final spot went to the JODIE and Andy Lord trained Awesome Catch who stormed home late to win in 29.90s.

Andy revealed after the race that a niggling injury from his most recent start back in September had taken its time to heal and he was even tossing up whether to run Awesome Catch or not. He decided to and it turned out to be a decision which could be worth $1 million next Friday.

Awesome Catch has drawn box 6 in the grand final.

South Australian trainer Lauren Harris won through to the semi-finals with her dog Shadow Mist after he took out the in the SA Sprint Championship Final.

But with her hometown Group 1 Adelaide Cup scheduled for the same night as the MDC semis, Lauren was undecided whether to stay home for that or come to Sydney for the Chase semis.

Her good friend Kayla-Jane COLEMAN eventually convinced Lauren to bypass the Adelaide Cup and head to Sydney for the Million Dollar Chase, a decision which could be a $1 million one.

Showing brilliant speed Shadow Mist led from boxrise and posted the second fastest time of the semis, a 29.64s performance. And he has come up with box 1 for the grand final and is now second favourite for the event.

Asked what it would mean to win $1 million, Lauren revealed her and her partner Ryan Tugwell have promised to get married after 10 years together if Shadow Mist wins next week.

And the final place in the grand final went to another Victorian now trained in Sydney, Waging War, ran down Queensland Sprint Champion Stinger Noir to win in 29.87s.

John and Minnie Finn have only had Waging War in their kennel for eight weeks and eventually the plans are to step him up to race over the middle distances. But first, he has a date with seven others in a race for $1 million. Waging War drew box 4.

Three heats of the Sydney Cup were also run on Friday with the winners being Rockstar Beav, Here’s Tears and the grand old campaigner, track record holder Tornado Tears.