The Ken Burnett-trained chaser Power And Glory has been installed as favourite for Friday night’s $1 million Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase Grand Final despite drawing a touch awkwardly in box five.
The box draw for the culmination of the world’s richest greyhound series was conducted on the water on Sunday with a harbour cruise the unique venue where boxes were determined.
In the lead-up to Friday’s feature, Power And Glory - the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg winner back in April - is expected to vie for favouritism with Group 1 Dapto Megastar winner Eriza Sparkles who has drawn perfectly in box two.
In the seven previous editions of the Million Dollar Chase, the runner exiting box two has never missed a place, winning twice (Jay Is Jay in 2023 and Good Odds Harada in 2019), finishing second twice (Xerri in 2020 and Zipping Megatron in 2024) and third in the other three editions - He’s On Fire (2022 Sep), Ritza Donna (2022 May), and Sky Wave (2018).
Eriza Sparkle was the fastest winner in Friday’s semi-finals clocking 29.17s, and from her two starts from box two, she has led all the way both times.
Drawn between the two favourites are young Victorian dog My Boy Bingo (box three) and Canya Sapphire (box four) who both led all the way in their semi-final victories, however Eriza Sparkles did have the fastest split to the first section of the trio.
Box one went to Foreign Capital who does not have the speed to trouble those outside him in the crucial run the first turn.
The mad dash to the first turn could see Power And Glory get across and be camped on the leaders around the turn and his power up the back straight he could again provide his connections with glory at the finish.
In-form Queenslander Daysea’s Rory has drawn box six and will be looking for a forward position early, as will Victorian Smooth Plane who drew box seven, a box like the two and also the four, which has produced two winners of the Million Dollar Chase.
The outside draw has seen Zipping Ariel listed as the outsider of the field with Ladbrokes at $26.
Equal Wentworth Park track record holder Cumbria Jack, who suffered a shock loss in the semi-finals behind My Boy Bingo, is second reserve for the final but sits just behind Power And Glory and his own kennelmate Eriza Sparkles in the betting, and should he somehow gain a start he would be pushing for favouritism.
Cumbria Jack drew box two in the Million Dollar Chase Consolation and was installed a $1.50 favourite.
Friday night at Wentworth Park will be a card full of feature events and the box draw was also conducted for the Group 2 Sydney Cup on Sunday.
Victorian stayer Without A Trace, a brilliant winner of her heat last Friday, is odds on favourite after drawing to lead in box three, but NSW chaser Firethorn (box six) and Late Night News (box 7) the next two in the market.
