Power And Glory could be on the way to emulating the great She's A Pearl and win the Golden Easter Egg - Million Dollar Chase double after drawing perfectly in Friday night's seventh semi-final of the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase.
She's A Pearl took out the Golden Easter Egg and Million Dollar Chase double in 2022 and Power And Glory defeated Jungle Johnny and early leader Lakeview Emily in this year's Egg final.
On Friday night Power And Glory will exit box eight in the fifth of the "sudden death" MDC semi-finals, with brilliant front-runner Badger's Beast going over 520m for the first time in box five and the talented Zig Zag Man, a noted powerful finisher, in one.
Syd Swain, whose dog Zig Zag Man has drawn box one and will be the dog backed to beat Power And Glory, said: "I trialled my bloke after the last race at Wenty last Saturday and he clocked 29.27.
"I was happy with that because I had freshened him up a bit because his mission is the Hume Cup over 600m at The Meadows next month.
"In Saturday's trial he ran home in 11.50-odd and he usually runs home a tenth faster.
"On Friday it looks as if Badger's Beast will lead early and possibly break the early sections records but if Zig Zag Man gets just behind him on the back straight he should run him down.
"The only dog in this race my dog couldn't run down would be Power And Glory, but by the same token I doubt if he could run Zig Zag Man down either.''
Pre-post MDC favourite and new joint Wentworth Park 520m record holder Cumbria Jack looks to have drawn the easiest of the Chase semis.
Cumbria Jack has box two in the sixth semi-final and has won each of his three starts from that draw.
"Naturally I'm very happy with that box and barring bad luck Cumbria Jack should be winning,'' trainer Steve Fitch.
The Nowra Hill trainer also has his Dapto Megastar Eriza Sparkles in box six in the first MDC semi-final, and he said: "She is all right drawn out there.
"Jungle Johnny has box seven and if he is a length behind Eriza Sparkles on the back straight we are in trouble.
"But if she is four or five lengths in front of him at the half-way mark it should be interesting.''
Sydney trainer Jason Magri's Zipping Megatron was beaten under a length when second to Victoria's Blue Kermaro in last year's Million Dollar Chase and he has a great chance of securing a 2025 finalist with Speedy Pie, who has box two in Friday's seventh semi-final.
"Both Bowers Ace ran Speedy Pie down and beat her a head in last week's MDC qualifier at Wentworth Park but I think my bitch will be improved by that run,'' Magri said.
"Speedy Pie split her webbing at Dapto on September 4 and needed two-and-a-half weeks off so last Saturday's Wentworth Park race was her first run over 520m since then.
"If she can come out as smartly as she did last Saturday she should make the pace again and I think she is capable of getting down to 29.60 this week.''
Two heats of the group two 720m Sydney Cup will open Friday's Wentworth Park card with Suribachi (box four) and Late Night News (box seven) clashing in heat one with Firethorn (box one), National Distance Championship runner-up Without A Trace (box two) and up-and-coming stayer Ayden's Warrior (box four) in heat two.
Suribachi was beaten six lengths into third place by Ayden's Warrior and Late Night News over 720m at WP last Saturday night but was desperately unlucky.
She jumped smartly from box two but was badly hampered by the wide running Bound's Missile, who had box one, in the early stages.
Trainer Ruth King said: "Suribachi pulled up well and I thought she possibly should have won.
"When she jumped so well I expected her to be the leader but the greyhound in box one ran up the track and that probably cost her the race.''
