Five local greyhounds will be looking to end the run of interstate dogs winning the Grand Final of the world’s richest race, next Friday’s Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park.
The eight winners of last night’s semi-finals - each with their own unique story - advanced to the Grand Final have qualified where in around 29s one will earn their connections $1 million.
Queenslander Daysea’s Rory and Victorians Smooth Plane and My Boy Bingo will each be looking to make it four successive Chase Grand Final wins for visitors.
The all-important box draw will be conducted on Sunday afternoon and is certain to play a big role on who punters will make favourite to take out the eighth edition of the race.
Nowra trainer Steve Fitch was expected to have a finalist, possibly the fastest qualifier, and the likely favourite and he has just that, just not with the greyhound all expected.
Fitch’s Cumbria Jack is considered one of the best dogs in the country but was unable to navigate his way around My Boy Bingo in his semi-final and narrowly missed qualifying. His kennelmate, Eriza Sparkles who won the last ever Dapto Megastar in September, was first into the final, leading throughout in a flying time of 29.17s which stood up as the fastest of the night.
“I had in my head that if she jumped cleanly she would run 29.20s,” Fitch said. “It’s special to win any race. I whelp them, I rear them, I do everything with them and you just hope you have a dog that can win some races and were now in the biggest race in the world. It’s unreal.”
Another flying the flag for the locals is the Ken Burnett-trained Power And Glory who is looking to join champion sprinter She’s A Pearl in winning the ‘Big Double’, the two biggest races in NSW, the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg and the Million Dollar Chase.
In April this year Power And Glory was brilliant winning Easter Egg in 29.15s, the fastest time in the race’s lengthy history, but just two runs later suffered an injury and was sidelined for four months, only returning to the track a month ago.
“He had a really bad hip support tear, it was split in two, we did a lot of work and brought him back slowly and that’s just his fourth run back, so hopefully he’s peaking next week,” Burnett said.
“He’s only had 34 starts and he’s really coming of age. I don’t think I’ll ever get another one like him. All your career you wish you get a dog like this and we’ve got him.”
A year ago Korie Heinrich and her partner Josh Formosa won the last semi-final of the MDC and a week later won the grand final with Blue Kermaro. Last night Korie handled Smooth Plane, trained by her mother Andrea Daily and her husband Tom, and watched it also win the eight semi-final.
The Daillys have for many years been among Australia’s leading trainers and won just about every feature race on the calendar expect this MDC. They finished second in 2019 with Shima Shine.
“Even last year while it was Josh and my dog, there is a massive team at home and to say we do it on our own is not the case, and it’s the same with this dog,” Korie said.
“They (Tom and Andrea) work hard and they deserve every ounce of success they get and to take out a race like this would be the icing on top.”
Four of the eight trainers have had previous experience in MDC finals, and three have had dogs finish second, the Daillys with Shima Shine, Fitch with Cumbria Kid in 2023, and Jason Magri with Zipping Megatron last year, while Vic Sultana had Sky Wave finish third in 2018.
Magri’s finalist is Canya Sapphire who originally narrowly missed the final, but after gaining a start as a reserve when a runner was scratched, led all the way to win her heat.
“She’s a real little trier, she’s probably millions (1,000,000-1) but we’re there and anything can happen,” Magri said.
Vic Sultana qualified roughie Foreign Capital who came from nowhere to score a last stride win.
“Dad does get excited he just doesn’t show it,” said Vic’s son Darren. “If you don’t get excited getting into a million dollar race there’d be something wrong.”
My Boy Bingo upset Cumbria Jack but did it leading all the way in a slick time of 29.33s.
“We thought he would improve on last week and he’s a young dog and they keep improving,” said trainer Ken Bailey.
“When you come up against a dog like that (Cumbria Jack) you’re kidding yourself that if things don’t go your way that you can beat them, but they did for us.
“This race is life changing. You see the people who have actually won it. (When people win other features) a lot of them don’t show much expression … they do when they win this, I’ve seen them go off their tree.
“We’ve got a ticket in the raffle now, that’s all we can do.”
Courtney Barnes had her first Group 1 finalist in the past 12 months and now she has an MDC finalist after Zipping Ariel took out her semi-final.
Barnes works closely with her mother-in-law, leading trainer Minnie Finn who finished second in the MDC in 2022 with Zipping Kyrgios.
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. This is a 24-7 job, and Minnie and I work really well together and we have Brad (Barnes) and couple of the young ones as well now, and it’s a very demanding job and I’m very grateful I’ve got a good husband at home who helps out with the kids,” she said.
The other finalist is Queenslander Daysea’s Rory who waited until the final stride to hit the lead and win his semi-final.
Trainer Tom Tzouvelis won the Ladbrokes 715 the world’s richest distance race at Newcastle’s Gardens in May now he’s chasing another major NSW feature.
“We were giving them a big start, and geez it was a big run, but he just gives you everything, every time,” Tzouvelis said.
“Getting into these finals is great but his owner is 91 years’ old and he’s having the best run he’s ever had in his life with his dogs and I’m just happy to help and be on the ride with him. The last 12 months have been enormous and hope we can one more week.”
