The Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase trophy and the $1 million cheque which accompanies it, may again be headed interstate after the field for next Friday’s Grand Final was assembled.
Eight semi-finals of the world’s richest greyhound series were conducted at Wentworth Park in Sydney on Saturday night, with five of the winners advancing to the decider, hailing from interstate kennels.
After NSW-trained greyhounds dominated the first four editions of the event, visitors from across the borders have won the past two Million Dollar Chase Grand Finals, and two Victorians and a West Australian are the main fancies following this year's semi-finals.
Leading Victorian trainer Jason Thompson and his wife Seona have had five finalists in the event since its inception in 2018 with their best result a third placing last year with Postman Pat, but the Thompsons have their best chance in 2024 with pre-post favourite Explicit who was sensational in his semi-final win.
Normally a faultless beginner, Explicit missed the start badly but showing brilliant acceleration he was able to charge towards the lead on the first turn then explode away and record a stunning win in 29.19s, the third fastest time ever recorded at the Glebe racetrack.
“I don’t know what to say,” Thompson said. “When the lids came up I couldn’t believe how bad he came out. Then all of a sudden … look to be honest you probably could have run that race 10 times and he mightn’t have got that run through.
“It was a big effort, but we think he’s a very special dog and he showed what he is capable of.
“We have really just targeted this race. We had a few other handy dogs but I decided to only put him in it because none of the others at home can beat him. I thought you only need one dog to win it, and touch wood we’re through to the final now.
“I’ll be honest - and trainers all say this a lot - but I reckon this is the best dog we have ever had. I think he’s a great dog and if steps next week, he’ll be right in.”
Victorian-trained and Queensland-owned dog Inconspicuous was impressive winning his semi-final in 29.26s, the second fastest of the qualifiers.
Queensland trainer Warren Nicholls sent the dog to leading Victorian mentor Anthony Azzopardi in July to target some of the bigger races.
“After Warren sent him down, actually the plan was the ($100,000) Adelaide Cup and he was just getting better and better and I said I think he’s too good to go for an Adelaide Cup we’ll go for a $1 million instead of $100,000,” Azzopardi said.
“I expected him to come out running and he did, and if he gets it right he’s a pretty smart animal.”
West Australian Bezzecchi ran 29.12s, the second fastest time ever at Wentworth Park a week earlier to reach the semi-finals, and while he was slowly away and had to work much harder, he was able to win his way through to the Grand Final in 29.74s.
“It was a really good run,” caretaker trainer Minnie Finn said. “He actually sat down in the box when I put him in so I was a bit worried how he’d come out, but he’s a very strong dog and I was pretty confident when they passed the 700m boxes (in the back straight) when he hooked out wide knowing how strong he is.”
Finn who finished second in the Grand Final with Zipping Kyrgios in 2022, also qualified her own sprinter Both Bowers Ace who won his semi-final in 30.03s.
Frank Hurst won the Million Dollar Chase in 2019 with Good Odds Harada and he will have another chance to win the event in 2024 with Good Odds Cobber.
Good Odds Cobber, who won the Group 1 Dapto Megastar in September, is a son of Good Odds Meghan who is the sister of Good Odds Harada.
The best local hope could be the Jason Magri-trained Zipping Megatron. An impressive winner of his semi-final in 29.35s, Zipping Megatron drew perfectly in box one for the Grand Final, has the impeccable record at Wentworth Park of 10 wins and four seconds from 14 starts and has won five of the six times when drawn in box one.
West Australian Sunset Frazier who is in the care of NSW trainer Michelle Sultana while on the East Coast of the country, held off several challengers to win his semi-final in 30.12s, while the final qualifier into the Grand Final was Victorian greyhound Blue Kermaro who was impressive leading throughout in 29.37s.
The box draw for the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase Grand Final at Wentworth Park on Friday, October 18 is:
1: Zipping Megatron
2: Bezzecchi
3: Inconspicuous
4: Both Bowers Ace
5: Good Odds Cobber
6: Blue Kermaro
7: Explicit
8: Sunset Frazier
Reserves
9: Power And Glory
10: Scarlatti.
Contact details:
Contact: Michael Cowley - mcowley@grnsw.com.au
