It’s a trip Mick Patterson doesn’t make very often, but he’s eagerly awaiting the eight-hour drive - each way to Sydney and back - on September 16, and he hopes he has to repeat the trek eight days later.
Patterson will be bringing his greyhound Respectability to Wentworth Park that night for the semi-finals of the TAB Million Dollar Chase after the talented young dog was brilliant winning the Regional Final of the series at Grafton on Sunday night. A win that night in Sydney and he’ll be back on the road on September 24 for a shot at $1 million in the Grand Final
“He hasn’t mastered Wenty yet, but we’ll give him his opportunity,” Patterson said after the 25.15s all the way win.
“We’re looking forward to the series. I think it’s a great series the Million Dollar Chase. The best thing about it for people in the country like myself eight hours away, is we’re now already qualified.
“The Easter Egg is a very hard series to have to drive down there eight hours, three weeks in a row, it’s very hard on the dog and hard on you as well.
“This is great series. You can qualify in your zone, on your own doorstep, and you’ve only got to go down once and if you’re lucky enough on that trip and you get away with a win, all of a sudden you’re racing for a $1 million.”
Respectability has been to Wentworth Park twice during his career and luck has deserted him in both appearances.
Last start, back in July, he was slow to jump and then was checked and spat out the back of the field approaching the first turn, losing all chance.
The only other time was back in March when he contested the heats of the Magic Maiden.
Respectability almost crossed the field from a wide draw but again was checked and went back to last and his race was run.
A week later he was a reserve for the Magic Maiden semi-finals, and What’s Thy Name, the dog drawn in the one box in his semi was scratched, giving Patterson’s dog a run.
Unfortunately though, there were three fallen trees on the road out town to Sydney, and the council shut the road, meaning Patterson couldn’t get through.
He will be hoping he gets that one box he missed out on when the Million Dollar Chase semi-finals are drawn.
“He’s still young but he ran some terrific times up in Brisbane (during their WINTER carnival), but he turns a little check into catastrophe. He just doesn’t know how to handle it yet. But I can tell you this he’s a very strong dog.
“I did something a bit different with him this last little break, I took him to Capalaba twice (to trial). He’d never been there, it was just to change his mindset a bit and maybe it’s changing my mindset too, but you have try things, and he went average at his first ever go there, and the next time he went super and ran the best of the morning.
“I kept him fresh for this race. I know how strong he is so I can come into a series fresh and fully expect him to run well.”
The win took Respectability’s record to eight wins from 16 starts and improved his record at Grafton to five wins from six outings.
QueenslanderShipwreck was slow to move and last early, but was able to push through the field and be fourth heading into the home turn. His strong finish saw the dog run into second place 2½ lengths behind the winner, with track record holder Cash View battling on well for third a further 1¾ lengths, with both placegetters also grabbing a berth in the semi-finals.
On September 16 Shipwreck will be attempting to do what no other Queenslander has done, and qualify for the Million Dollar Chase Grand Final.
In the four previous editions, finalists have come from NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, and South Australia, but Queensland is yet to provide a finalist.
