For a third time in five editions, leading Western Districts trainer Dennis Barnes has taken out the Dubbo TAB Million Dollar Chase Regional Final.
In the Million Dollar Chase’s inaugural year in 2018, Barnes had Nangar Ace in the Dubbo final and he finished fourth to eventual grand finalist Midnight Starlet. Since then, Barnes has won each of the Dubbo finals his greyhounds have contested.
In 2019 Nangar Gift won the Dubbo event to qualify for the MDC semi-finals, then the following year Nangar Silk won the Dubbo Regional Final to earn a trip to town. In the postponed 2021 event run earlier this year Barnes didn’t have runner in the Dubbo series, but he was back doing what he does best on Saturday night.
The lightly-raced Nangar Chief showed experience beyond his 23 months to take out the Dubbo Regional Final and qualify for the MDC semis at Wentworth Park on September 16.
It was just Nangar Chief’s seventh race start and enhanced his record to four wins and three placings.
“He went really well for a young pup,” a delighted Barnes said.
“He’s been trialing and racing well, but the performance still surprised me with what he did. He missed it a little bit and then was able to go through the field and handle himself really well, especially for a dog having only his seventh start.
“He looks like a real race dog he does, but I guess we’ll find out how good he is over the next 12 months.
“He’s only young and inexperienced, but we thought why not give him a go against the better dogs and see how he measures up. If it didn’t work out then at least it’s been an experience for him.”
It worked very well for Nangar Chief who negotiated his way through the field after the slow getaway, and powered home to beat Agland Luai and Here Comes Buddy in best of the night figures of 29.77s.
Nangar Chief, who started his racing career winning a heat of the prestigious Grafton Maiden series before finishing third behind kennelmate Nangar Rocket in the final, is yet to race at Wentworth Park.
“We’ll go down and give him a look before the semi-finals that’s for sure and certain,” Barnes confirmed.
