It was a massive Friday night of feature racing around the state with six more chasers advancing to the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase (MDC).
In Sydney’s west, Zig Zag Man savaged the line to claim the Richmond MDC regional final for experienced mentor, Syd Swain.
The son of Fernando Bale x Julia Mulwee beat home False Witness and Supermaxi, with the winner starting to realise his enormous potential after claiming his fifth victory from his last seven starts.
“The first time I trialled him at Wenty [Park] over the 500m, he went 29.50…they don’t run that in their first time,” Swain said.
“Mark Gatt was there the night he did it and said “he’s stud dog”...I said I don’t know about that but this boy's a good one.”
“He was broken in here [at Richmond] so he loves this track. He’s broken the track record over the 400, broken the track record over 500 on his own…he’s a different dog in a field but he’s learning.”
Swain “just happy to get through” to the October 10 semi-finals with his former Group 1 finalist, before setting his sights on some feature staying races down south.
Zig Zag man in full flight on his way to claiming his 12th career win for connections at Richmond overnight
“It’s been my mission ever since I got him, I knew his metabolism and the way he was and the way he pulls up, but I’ll be heading to Sandown Park on the 22nd of November for the Bold Trease and I’ll be giving it to them,” he added.
Down at Wagga Wagga, Sam and Correy Grenfell continued their remarkable run of success in the Group 3 Ladbrokes Bidgee Cup.
Intrepid Bale arriving just in time to claim the $25,000 feature from Skeddadle Arlo and Balmoral Queen, handing the Victorian duo their fifth win in the race in the last six editions.
Kennel representative Mason Koffman full of praise for the winner.
“He’s just a natural chaser, he knows what he’s doing when he comes to the races and anywhere you take him, he’ll just chase,” Koffman told Tim Newbold.
“We knew he was going to be last early but he could be 10 lengths back and still win a race, he’s strong as an ox, he’s the best chaser we’ve got…we’re so stoked.”
Intrepid Bale (centre) flanked by Ladbrokes Bidgee Cup placegetters Skeddadle Arlo (right) and Balmoral Queen (left)
The Ladbrokes MDC continues on Monday night with star sprinter Badger’s Beast a raging favourite for the Maitland Regional final.
The Peter Lagogiane-trained runner has claimed eight straight victories for connections and won 12 of his last 13 starts for owner Dave Grundy, with promising youngsters Black Myth Wave, Massaro and Allan Keeping looming as the main dangers.
The top three from every Ladbrokes MDC regional final qualify for the semi-finals of the series on October 10 at Wentworth Park, with the final set for October 17.
