Dusty Seeks Dubbo Upset as 'Chris Hemsworth' Of Chasers Emerges
By Simon Orchard
The Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase (MDC) train chugs into the Central West on Saturday night with the Dubbo regional final the latest in a long line of qualifying races to be run across NSW this month.
The field of eight certainly not short on quality, with 2022 MDC finalist Agland Luai, ‘715’ placegetter Nangar Rocket, as well as Peter Mosman Opal finalists Bella Una and Miss McGraw headlining Race 3 on the program.
But it’s the appearance of Dusty Bourbski that potentially adds the most intrigue to the contest.
The three-time Group 1 finalist back in the care of owner Ross Davidson after some indifferent form of late, but still “seriously overs in the market” according to his trainer ahead of Saturday night.
“I was pretty happy with the heat run and I thought it was one of his better efforts this year,” Davidson said.
“It was his first look at Dubbo and the rest of this final field have probably been around there a million times. Box 2 is alright but I would have preferred a middle draw because he has stepped up the track a bit in his Victorian starts. In saying that, he went pretty straight in the heats so if he jumps like he can, he’ll run a big race,” he added.
This time last year, Dusty Bourbski was one of the spruik sprinters on the Australian circuit.
Fresh off appearances in the Group 3 Launching Pad and Group 1 Maturity Classic finals (both behind Wow She’s Fast), ‘Dusty’ also represented Victoria in the 2022 National Sprint Final (won by Good Odds Cash) in Sydney.
A failed tilt at the 2022 MDC could be put down to bad luck more than a bad performance, before a messy Group 1 Adelaide Cup final created some confidence issues for the winner of more than $150,000 in prizemoney.
“He got pushed around a bit in that South Australian final and he’s been a bit down on form since then,” Davidson said.
“We gave him a few runs leading into the Melbourne Cup and he did no good so we brought him back to our place at Wallerawang (about two hours West of Sydney) for a spell over Christmas but he just hasn’t got back to where he was.”
“And because there are some good dogs coming through Melbourne at the moment, and with him just being a few tenths off his best, we thought we’d try something different.”
A change of scenery tipped to reinvigorate the 14-time winner, with Winter trips to DARWIN and Healesville garnering mixed results.
“He went up for the DARWIN Cup but he went backwards a bit after winning well first up. We were a bit unsure if it was the humidity or the different environment so we sent him back down to have a go at the Healesville Cup but that didn’t work out either. So he’s come back home again and the Dubbo heats of the MDC fell at the perfect time,” Davidson said.
A third-placed heat finish behind Nangar Rocket in 30.05 advancing ‘Dusty’ to the final, with Davidson hopeful but not desperate to advance with the son of 2015 Bold Trease winner Bourbski Fever.
“It’d be nice to get through to the next phase of the series but the dog has done enough that if he fails tomorrow, we’re still very happy. He owes us nothing, he’s been in three Group 1 finals and has won $150,000. He’s sound and healthy and we want to keep it that way,” he said.
The keen breeder already eyeing off the latest progeny from the ‘Bourbski’ line.
“We’ve got a litter of pups due next week out of Foxy Bourbski, she’s a granddaughter of Bourbski Fever. And Sunset Bourbski’s first litter are just starting to race. Tom’s Bourbski ran second at Ballarat on Wednesday night and the litter brothers, Love A Bourbski and Beach Bourbski, are about to make their debuts,” Davidson added.
The 52-year-old throwing up a very cheeky comparison for the trio when asked to evaluate their ability.
“I’ve graded the three brothers like the Hemsworth family. Tom’s Bourbski is like Luke Hemsworth. He might have a good career but it probably won’t be anything special. Love A Bourbski might be alright, so he’s Liam Hemsworth. And Beach Bourbski is the Chris Hemsworth of the group and the one we think could be something special,” he laughed.
The top three from Saturday night's Dubbo regional final of the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase will advance to the semi-finals of the series at Wentworth Park on October 6, with the final to be held on October 13.
