Eight action packed Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase semi-finals will be run on Friday night at Wentworth Park. Here are some star chasers to keep an eye out for in each race...
Eriza Sparkles | It’s hard to believe the reigning Group 1 Ladbrokes Dapto Megastar champion has still only had 13 race starts. She’s won eight of them for Steve Fitch and it was a Peter Mosman Opal heat victory at Wenty back in June in a time 29.48 that put her on the map. She’s got brilliant early pace and could easily lead this field from Box 6 despite her relative inexperience.
Jungle Johnny | The Mark Gatt-prepared runner had a super start to 2025 with victory in the Ladbrokes Country Classic at Dubbo sandwiched between placings in the National Derby and Golden Easter Egg. He spent three months on the sidelines with a toe issue from June to September. He roared back into the frame for the MDC with big victories in the Nowra regional series and should get a nice cart into the race on the back of Eriza Sparkles.
Skedaddle Arlo | Has emerged in the last few months as a genuine contender in this race, especially now that he’s drawn an easier semi-final. He was oh so close to winning the Ladbrokes Bidgee Cup at Wagga Wagga early in the MDC series, before narrowly missing out again in the aforementioned Dapto Megastar last month behind Eriza Sparkles. Has a best of 29.66 at Wentworth Park.
Zipping Xaden | Announced himself on City Qualifier night with a dazzling BON 29.45 win. Still don’t know how he got through the mess on the first bend but showed great track sense to cut down to the fence and burn away from them. You’d think he’ll need to go quicker than 5.71 to the first mark in a semi-final but he’s certainly got an engine and has won seven of 12 career outings. Zoom Top Maiden final graduate.
Tim Zoo | This guy is a superstar. Has already earned over $800,000 in prizemoney, won two Group 1 titles, ran second in the recent G1 National Sprint Championship behind Cumbria Jack and is trained by the best in the country in Jason Thompson. The queries? Has only had two starts at Wentworth Park (in this year’s Golden Easter Egg series) and is just one run back from an injury in August.
Gold Force | To be the best, you have to beat the best and Gold Force gets his chance against one of the countries top sprinters in this semi-final. The Denice Warren-prepared runner is already a Goulburn 440m track record holder and ran second to Explicit in the Group 2 Ballarat Cup in May. He’s won 10 of 13 starts and only missed the frame once but can he replicate his one turn form at Wenty Park?
Lakeview Emily | She was desperately close to winning a City Qualifier last Saturday night and I still can’t believe she went under to be honest. A Group 1-calibre bitch, she has blinding early speed and is arguably the best beginner in the country. Just shy of half a million dollars in earnings, she has had enough looks at Wentworth Park now to be a serious threat, especially with a low draw.
Flying Zulu | He’s already a million dollr dog, why not make it two? Old enough now to contest the Masters Meteor but after beating Lakeview Emily at The Meadows on September 20 in a BON time of 29.63, Team Thompson have left him in the big race. Earned a spot after running third in the G1 National Sprint final and will like seeing a speedy beginner to his inside who can pull him into the race.
Power And Glory | Stiff to draw three of the most in-form dogs in the country in Boxes 5, 6 and 7 but the reigning Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg champion has the fastest track and trip PB of them all (29.15) and opened up the pipes with a breathtaking 29.16 win at Wenty Park two weeks ago. Box 8 gives him room to move, let’s hope he gets a shot at them.
Cumbria Jack | He’s probably the best greyhound in the country at the moment and he’s drawn beautifully to continue his charge towards a MDC Grand Final. The Steve Fitch-trained runner took out the Group 1 National Sprint final in August to thrust himself into calculations for this race, then he equalled the Wentworth Park track record of 29.04 in his last outing on September 27. He’s a star and unbeaten from Box 2.
Daysea’s Rory | The winner of the Grafton MDC regional series heads back to Wentworth Park where he last ran in a semi-final of the Golden Easter Egg in April. Trained by Tom Tzouvelis, Daysea’s Rory has already run in a dozen feature finals across 69 starts and has two Group 3 victories to his name. He’s drawn some absolute speedsters in his race so will need to be at his best to advance to the Grand Final.
Massaro | Warmed up for the biggest race of his young career with a dominant 29.43 victory at Wenty Park two weeks ago but that was in fifth grade company, now he has to do against the open age stars. Went within 0.13 of knocking off Badger’s Beast in the Maitland MDC series and that form reference is as good as any at the moment. Needs luck from the draw and has tough, experienced animals either side.
Paw Oswald | He continued his good form at Wentworth Park last start when registering his fifth win from 10 outings in Sydney. Among those runs is a Group 1 National Derby triumph in January, as well as appearances in the inaugural G1 Paul Wheeler final and the Young Star decider of 2024. Boasts a strong Box 8 record but will need to go near his 29.42 track and trip PB to win this strong semi.
