The World’s Richest Greyhound Race, The Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase, returns to Wentworth Park on Friday October 13, where the winner will walk away with a mammoth $1 million prize.
This is Feature Racing at its finest, and a fitting finale for the burgeoning qualifier series which has weaved its way through regional NSW and into the bright lights of greyhound racing’s spiritual home, to see which canine superstar will become a legend.
Who can forget McInerney holding off the fast-finishing Zipping Kyrgios last year, despite racing waywardly around the first bend. Earlier in 2022, in the COVID-postponed 2021 edition, She’s A Pearl was scintillating out of the lids and made the race a one act affair in the most devastating Million Dollar Chase we’ve yet seen.
In 2020, Handsome Prince won a lengthy early speed battle to cause a boilover at a huge price. The 2019 edition saw Good Odds Harada too gritty for those following closely in his wake, but they were unable to make an impression. And of course we remember Mystic Riot winning the inaugural edition of the Million Dollar Chase, pinging to the front from out wide and staving off Jamella Jet.
Semi-final night for this year’s Chase was full of surprises, with three emergencies saluting from a variety of boxes, some huge boilovers and a few scorching hot favourites unable to get the job done. Victoria is well represented with three runners, including ex-Kiwi and hot favourite Postman Pat, and Queensland has the second favourite with Jay Is Jay, so the home town heroes will have their work cut out to claim the big prize.
Let’s take a look at the field, in box order.
CUMBRIA KID – 1
Cumbria Kid will certainly start one of the outsiders of the race, after doing something of a Steven Bradbury to work his way into the field. He was an emergency in the semi-final, but was able to gain a start, albeit jumping at $26.
A good dog on his day, he was helped further when the two favourites were slowly away and knocked each other out of the race on the first turn. He wasn’t quickly away himself, but it was a good, gritty win working his way into the race, taking inside runs when they were there. Still, he’ll be a deserved outsider.
JAY IS JAY – 2
Jay Is Jay has become one of the stars of the sport since his debut in June last year, winning 17 of his 33 career starts. He’s jumped at $2.30 or less at his last 12 starts, and is a tick under $3 in the early markets for this year’s Million Dollar Chase.
He didn’t win his heat by a big margin, but rectified that in the semi-final with a five length victory. That said, it was a messy race due to the initial leader going amiss and causing interference, so made the margins look bigger than they probably should have been. Still, Jay Is Jay ran the time, with his 29.45 proving to be the quickest of the night, and he’ll jump from box two for the third race in a row, which is surely in his favour. He’ll have lots of fans.
POSTMAN PAT – 3
Postman Pat was the shortest priced winner of the semi-final races, justifying his $1.45 quote. He’s been well travelled across his career, starting in New Zealand, making his presence felt all over Victoria, and popped up to Albion Park for a couple of wins including a track record performance in June this year.
His talent is beyond doubt, but he has started to mix his form a bit of late, a 73% career winning record dropping back to 50/50 over his last six starts.
Still, Postman Pat has always been well in the market for the Million Dollar Chase, and the outside box was no problem in his semi. He jumped well, got to the front untroubled, and while he wasn’t the most brilliant winner on the night, he never looked like losing and still ran 29.59 for the second quickest time of the semi’s. He can be slightly slowly away at times, and if he can’t muster speed immediately from box three, his supporters could have a few nervous moments.
BELLA UNA – 4
Similar to Cumbria Kid, Bella Una won her semi-final as an emergency at a big price of $26. She’s a particularly honest type whose record at the Wentworth Park 520m is rock solid, with four wins and five placings from 10 starts.
She was slowly away on Friday night, and copped a slight check which forced her to the inside and actually played in her favour once half the field got wiped out on the first turn. She worked her way to the front and posted a career-best time of 29.70, so she’s certainly peaking at the right moment. She’s only been on the scene five months, and could still be improving, but will be an outsider again.
HAS ABILITY – 5
Has Ability has really struck a purple patch of form over the last three months, finishing no worse than third in his last nine starts, and coming into the Million Dollar Chase off four wins in a row. Despite this, he looks to be the despised outsider of the field, albeit bringing in the fifth best winning time of the semi-final winners, of 29.82.
What this dog has in his favour is his tenacity and fighting spirit. He gave up four lengths at the top of the straight to Dundee Smokey on Friday night, yet just kept finding all the way to the line, refusing to beat be beaten. That will to win tends to take you a long way, regardless of the athletic endeavour, and he’s a roughie that could surprise a few here.
TINKER NORM – 6
Tinker Norm represents Victoria in something of a fairytale appearance for handler Craig Burns, who has only been training for two and a half years. A son of the classy Orson Allen, Tinker Norm was born on the property where they live and train, and is a genuine home-grown product.
Tinker Norm was arguably the most impressive victor on semi-final night, despite having the seventh fastest time of all winners. He dawdled out of the box and got buffeted and knocked off the track on the first turn, yet showed remarkable resilience and speed to get back into the race and overhaul the smart favourite Landyn Bale.
Tinker Norm has a second to Postman Pat on his CV, and will jump third favourite on the night, but will have his work cut out from box six.
ONE HOT BANDIT – 7
One Hot Bandit is the Wentworth Park specialist of the field, with 80% of his career starts taking place at the venue of the Million Dollar Chase. He’s capable of putting a big margin on a field on his day, and is in a rich vein of form with four wins and three placings from his last seven starts.
He was slowly away in his semi-final, having only dwelled to that level once in his last 12 starts, but never panicked and kept moving into the race despite cramped room at various stages. It was a gutsy win, he just loved being in a dogfight and always looked like getting there. He’ll need to break cleanly from box 7 on Friday night though, given the heat of this competition, and will have each-way admirers.
YACHI BALE – 8
Yachi Bale is the third Victorian lining up for the $1,000,000 prize, and he is respected in the betting despite posting the slowest time of the eight semi-final winners. A Group 1 winner at Sandown last November, he does mix his form these days, and Friday night was just his second win from his last 24 starts.
His was the most open betting race of the heats, and involved a bit of rough and tumble too. Yachi Bale was almost run off the track early, so showed incredible tenacity to fight his way back into a winning position. The most thrilling finish of the night saw a blanket finish, and he came off heels to launch at the leaders late and blouse them in the last stride. If you back him on Friday, you’ll know you’re never out of it.
MAGISTRATE – 9
This Gregory Stella-trained veteran of 41 starts will certainly give a good account of himself if he gets into the field, having finished in the quiniela 32 times across his career. He’s a high class Queenslander in rock-solid form, and will be a sneaky each-way chance if he gets in with a good draw.
TOM KEEPING – 10
Tom Keeping was big odds in his semi-final on Friday night, but was far from disgraced in pushing Postman Pat. He’s rediscovered some form in the last month or so having been through a flat patch in Winter, and seems to be appreciating more distance as he gets older. He’ll be big odds if gaining a start.
Selections: 1.JAY IS JAY 2.POSTMAN PAT 3.ONE HOT BANDIT 4.HAS ABILITY
Don’t forget to book your tickets to the 2023 Million Dollar Chase!
The Roar/The Roar Racing, in conjunction with Greyhound Racing NSW are offering you the chance to win an exclusive hospitality package for you and a mate at The Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase, Friday October 13, Wentworth Park Sydney.
Prize includes:
• 1 x double pass in an open air corporate box for you and a mate
• All food and drinks included
To enter, simply follow these steps.
1. Join our private Facebook group here > (https://www.facebook.com/groups/theroarracing)
2. Find the Million Dollar Chase promotional post which is pinned to the ‘featured’ section.
3. Comment on the post with your best greyhound punting story.
The best five stories will each win a double pass.
It’s that simple!
with free entry and entertainment from start to finish, it’s guaranteed to be a great night out. Get your free tickets at www.milliondollarchase.com.au
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