Blue Kermaro pulled off the biggest upset in Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase history and stamped himself as one of any code of racing's great bargains when he held off Zipping Megatron and early leader Sunset Frazier to win Friday night's $1 million to the winner 520m race at Wentworth Park.
Young Victorian trainer Josh Formosa and his friend Ben Peart bought Blue Kermaro off the internet for only $10,000 after the dog had raced twice in NSW.
Ben Peart celebrating the MDC win
Blue Kermaro was put on the market after finishing fourth at Gosford and third at The Gardens in February and after being beaten at his first three starts for his new connections he won a maiden race at The Meadows in April.
Josh Formosa made virtually a last minute decision to tackle the Million Dollar Chase after Blue Kermaro showed sudden improvement, winning in a flying 29.20 at Sandown and a smart 29.64 at The Meadows.
An emotional Josh Formosa after the win
Blue Kermaro was sent out an $18 chance when he upset Power And Glory in his Million Dollar Chase semi-final at Wentworth Park on October 12 and although specked at long odds, was at $19 at box rise on Friday night.
Hot favourite Explicit bungled the start and was never a chance in the MDC Final, failing to beat one home.
Leading NSW breeders Fiona and Marty Hallinan again had to be content with second prizemoney when Zipping Megatron, trained by Jason Magri, flashed home to be three-quarters of a length behind the winner.
The Hallinans were runner-up with the John Finn-trained Zipping Kyrgios, who was beaten a head when second to McInerney in a 2022 final.
Sunset Frazier, prepared by caretaker NSW trainer Michelle Sultana for WA trainer David Hobby, was third, three lengths behind Zipping Megatron, almost giving Sultana a big race double for interstate clients on Friday.
Sultana and her partner Darryl Thomas won Friday's $50,000 to the winner Masters Meteor with the Adelaide owned Adhana Rico, who headed Agland Luai at the first turn before holding off Deadly Class to win in 29.57.
After Friday's race Darryl Thomas said: "The owner wants to leave Adhana Rico in NSW with us but we are undecided because there aren't many suitable races for him as he turned four in July.''
Jason MACKAY again proved himself a master trainer of stayers when Exploded ran down Ella's Babe to win Friday night's group 2 Farrell's Sydney Cup final over 720m.
It took Exploded's Wentworth Park record to four wins and a second in five starts after the dog's Victorian owner-breeders Amanda and Vince Tullio sent the dog to MACKAY in July.
Vince Tullio said: "We sent a dog called Deliver to Jason MACKAY in 2018 and he won the Group 1 Vic Peters Classic with him for us at Wentworth Park.''
On Friday Exploded led to the catching pen but was headed off on the back straight by Ella's Babe, trained in Victoria by Brooke Ennis for Sydney bookmaker Mark Alati.
Ella's Babe is renowned as a powerful stayer but Exploded surprised by overtaking her in the straight to win by three-quarters of a length in 41.70.
Daniel Flanagan, who handles Exploded for MACKAY, said: "Jason has been pumping the work into this dog, making him run 900 metres twice a week.
"Exploded just thrives on hard work and that tough conditioning was why he got to the line so well tonight.''
Shaula was fastest qualifier for the MDC Maiden Final when she won her heat in 29.58 but she slashed those smart figures to a blistering 29.33 in Friday night's run-off.
Shaula, at $5, led all the way to easily defeat the $3 favourite Jungle Johnny by over six lengths.
Peter Davis, whose wife Sonia owns and trains Shaula, said later: "I wasn't surprised she went so fast tonight, because I did not expect her to lead around the first turn.
"The track was fast and she had come from behind to win her heat in 29.58, so when she jumped in front I knew she was going to post quick time.''
WA trainer Steve Shinners had a big night, winning the Million Dollar Chase consolation with Miss Envy in 29.80 after taking out the Young Star consolation final with Transcendent in a flying 29.38.
Transcendent had won one of 10 heats of the Young Star last Sunday but after going down on his nose at box rise, his time of 29.76 only qualified him as first reserve for Friday's final.
Ironically that was taken out in 29.96 by Susan Smith's brilliant front runner My Pharaoh, who led from the first turn after LADY WILSON and Make Them Cry had collided heavily and knocked each other out of the race.
.JPG)
.JPG)
