By his own admission it takes quite a bit to get Mick Lill excited, but just After 10pm on Thursday night he was “letting out some yahoos on the front verandah.”
Mick had just watched Casual Glance a dog he and his wife Michelle train, take out the Regional Final of the TAB Million Dollar Chase at Gunnedah. The win secured a berth in the semi-finals of the world’s richest greyhound event at Wentworth Park on April 29. Win that night and they have a one in eight shot at $1 million.
What made the win all the more satisfying for the Lills was it came After a frustrating four months when Casual Glance has been sidelined.
“Geez he went super the boy,” Mick said of the Gunnedah win. “It was an exceptional performance. It’s been a long four months back, but that’s one thing we are, is very patient trainers and if they are not right, they don’t go around.
“After a couple of unplaced runs at Wentworth Park, physically he was perfect but in the back of my mind there wasn’t something quite right there, so I pulled a blood and I wasn’t quite happy with it.
“We had to treat a couple of little things with him, kidneys and little liver infection as well. At that level they only have to be a little bit off.
“We got him back going super and he had a groin tear. Then about four weeks ago I probably could have started him, but when I pulled another blood, it wasn’t quite right - he was probably 98% - so I said hang on, ease up, we’ll set him for Gunnedah.
“He had four trials leading in and they were as fast, or faster, than he has ever gone to be honest.
“Last week in the heat - when he finished second to Fernando Hunter - he jumped out and collided with the two (Lektra Little) and it just turned him sideways a bit and he got a little tiny tear in his drive seam, off side hind. That’s why he couldn’t accelerate last week.
“We worked overtime on him during the week, although I couldn’t get him any work during the week - he’s been on the treadmill - so to pull out that performance … I’m pretty excited.
“It’s just good to see him back and the patience the owners have shown has made this even more special tonight.”
Showing his customary early speed Casual Glance lead around the first turn but the favourite, Fernando Hunter was straight onto his back and heading for home those on the favourite would have been happy.
But Casual Glance showed great tenacity to stave off the favourite and register his first win since October, clocking 30.39s.
This year’s Golden Slipper winning jockey Brenton Avdulla will have a runner in the Million Dollar Chase semi-finals AfterFernando Hunter’s second place at Gunnedah, with third placegetter Lektra Little also advancing to the April 29 semis in Sydney.
