A word of warning for any visitors, particularly those crossing the border from down South for a crack at the TAB Million Dollar Chase series at Wagga - beware of Brian Smith.
While Victorians won the inaugural Wagga Regional Final back in 2018 with Blue Sky Riot, and again in 2020 with Tiggerlong Tonk (although the dog was prepared locally for the series), the other three editions of the Wagga series have all been taken out by Smith-trained dogs, completing that treble on Friday night when My Boy Rockin’ booked his berth at Wentworth Park for the TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-finals.
In 2019 Smith trained Ultimate Speed to win the Wagga Regional series defeating leading Victorian trainer Jason Thompson’s superstar Black Opium, twice, in the heat and then in the Regional Final.
Ultimate Speed went to Wentworth Park for the semi-finals that year but drew off the track and was never able to get into the race, finishing fifth behind Flying Bazza.
Earlier this year in the Wagga Regional series of the postponed 2021 Million Dollar Chase, Smith again took on some star Victorians but again got the win, this time with My Boy Rockin’.
“They come to Wagga and they get a bit of a shock when they come here,” Smith said after My Boy Rockin’ went back -to-back with Wagga MDC Regional Final wins.
“He never got in that semi earlier this year. He took two steps out of the boxes at Wenty they just got him from box 5.
“He’s got to draw in. He will be a different dog if he draws a box. If he draws 7 or 8 we’ve got no hope at all but he loves the rail and usually everywhere we have been, he sticks to it.
“I went up and gave him a slip last time post to post at Wenty. I might take him up again, I’m not sure to be honest but we’ve got a month, so there’s plenty of time to plan. That’s the good thing about qualifying early for the semis.”
My Boy Rockin’ was second elect behind odds-on favourite, Victorian Let’s Win Coin and as some of the field jammed heading into the first turn, it was those two railing through to the lead.
But, nailed to the rail, My Boy Rockin’ pushed under Let’s Win Coin and was able to takeover heading into the back.
“He was very arrogant when he pushed the red out of the way,” Smith said. “When I saw him in front I thought, wow they won’t run him down from there because he’s s strong as an ox.”
My Boy Rockin’s arrogance pushed Let’s Win Coin out of contention and Cawbourne Hooper and Dama Maggie were able to get through and battle out the minor placings.
The trio all now head to Wentworth Park for the semi-finals on September 16, with those eight semi winners heading into the grand final of the $1 million TAB Million Dollar Chase.
