Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase

Excitement Builds Ahead Of Friday

By Jeff Collerson
Jay Is Jay has come from second early to win his qualifying heat and his semi-final of the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase but is capable of jumping in front and leading all the way in Friday night's final at Wentworth Park.

Michael Zammit, whose wife Selena trains Jay Is Jay, is hoping their Albion Park record holder can bring his Brisbane box manners to Sydney.

"He has been beginning reasonably well at Wenty but hasn't pinged lids like he is capable of doing,'' Michel Zammit said.

"Now that he has had three races at Wentworth Park he should be fully accustomed to the Sydney boxes.

"Hopefully he is ready to nail the start like he can do but this is far from being a two dog race between our dog and Postman Pat.

"There were a couple of other great runs in last week's semis, and I was especially impressed by Jack Smith's bitch Bella Una, who overcame a bad check at the start.''

Zammit was also taken with the win of Victoria's Tinker Norm, who came from last but still broke 30sec.

Postman Pat's Melbourne-based trainer Jason Thompson has returned from Europe but doesn't intend coming to Wentworth Park for the Million Dollar Chase, leaving the dog in the care of Sydney trainer Peter Lagogiane.

Lagogiane, who won the 2018 final with Mystic Riot before completing the double with Handsome Prince two years later, said: "Jason is happy with how everything has gone with the dog while he has been overseas and is happy with Postman Pat's box three draw.

"He particularly likes the dog being in the first line to be placed into the starting boxes.

"But Postman Pat and Jay Is Jay do not jump brilliantly every time they race so whichever one of them lands on the bunny will be probably be hardest to beat.''

Top Sydney trainer Andy Lord was delighted with his dog One Hot Bandit's last-to-first 29.64 semi-final win and is far happier seeing him in box seven in the final.

"I really like his draw this week because I think One Hot Bandit is better suited out there,'' Lord said.

"But he certainly needs to begin better than he did in his semi.''

Fastest semi-final winner was Jay Is Jay, who came from box two to win in 29.45, while Postman Pat exited box eight before scoring in 29.58 with One Hot Bandit next best.

Zipping Megatron will be all the rage for Friday's Ladbrokes MDC Maiden Final despite being beaten into second place by Tootsie Tears in his heat on October 4.

Zipping Megatron was making his debut in the heats but was sent out a heavily backed $1.55 favourite on the strength of a blistering 29.55 trial over 520m at Wentworth Park.

But he ruined his chance when he "fell" out of the boxes several lengths behind the second last dog before producing an amazing performance to be runner-up in 29.93.

Trainer Jason Magri said: "Zipping Megatron had never done anything like that in any of his trials, in fact he normally gets away cleanly.

"I've watched the replay several times trying to work out what happened and I think he must have clipped the lid of the box as it opened and then went down.''

Fernando Hunter and Zipping Vanessa will be hot favourites for Friday's $100,000 to the winner Master Meteor and Sydney Cup finals.

Fernando Hunter was never out of trouble from his awkward box eight draw in his heat before flashing home to go under by a length to speedy Sutton Sandy, who had led throughout.

In the final Fernando Hunter moves from box eight to box one, and seems certain to secure a clear run with Sutton Sandy, who tends to run in the centre of the track, in box two.

The John Finn-trained Zipping Vanessa qualified for the Sydney Cup with a 12 lengths' heat win from box one and her time for the 720m, 41.54, puts her well ahead of the other heat winner Ritza Piper, who led throughout in 41.87.

Zipping Vanessa had box one last week but raced wide so her box seven draw on Friday is unlikely to present her with any problems.

Fernando Hunter looms as Friday's best bet but the good value runner could be Spring General, in the opening race, the Ladbrokes MDC Maiden Consolation.

Spring General was a heavily backed $1.90 favourite when having his first start in the October 4 heat and may have been unlucky when beaten into second place by Battle Tears after colliding at the start.

Best Bet Fernando Hunter (race 5)
Best Value Spring General (race 1)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 1, 3, 5
Race 6 - 7, 1, 3
Race 7 - 2, 6
Race 8 - 2, 7, 3
$20 for 37.03%