JOANNE, a dual winner over 720m at Wentworth Park in May, completed a remarkable transition back to 520m racing by setting the time standard in Saturday night's city qualifiers of the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase.
In an outstanding training effort by veteran Sam "Sparra" Sultana, Joanne began brilliantly from box six and led throughout in 29.46, posting sizzling early splits of 5.42 and 17.86 before running home in a powerful 11.60.
Second fastest city qualifier on Saturday was Victoria's Flaming Smooth, who led throughout in 29.47.
Flaming Smooth is trained by Kayla Cottrell, who won the 2022 New Sensation final at Wentworth Park with Devine Empress.
Cottrell's father, leading Victorian trainer Dave Knocker, said: "Kayla spotted this dog racing at Bendigo as a maiden and was keen to buy him.
"That didn't happen but later on Flaming Smooth's owner Paul Ellis gave the dog to Kayla to train and he has been a great acquisition for her, with success in the Pink Diamond Short Course final at Bendigo in June among his wins for her.''
Bandit Alex, trained by Chris O'Brien for Jodie Lord's Clover Park Racing Group, came from second early to win his qualifier in 29.50 while Pound Keeping, prepared by Minnie Finn's son Todd Barnes, won in 29.51.
Flash Ethics, who won at Wentworth Park in 29.42 last Saturday night, qualified for David Smith in 29.52 while Mick Hardman's Zipping Aladdin surprised by leading throughout from box five in his MDC qualifier in 29.56.
A recent minor heart operation forced Victorian owner-trainer Ken Bailey to send his dog My Boy Bingo to Sydney trainer Patricia Chaker for Saturday's MDC qualifiers and the dog led all the way in 29.62.
Slowest of the city qualifying winners was Shaq Keeping, who took advantage of a collision between the two pacemakers on the back straight to come away and win easily in 29.71.
Queenslander Beautiful Child ran a great trial for the heats of the group two Sydney Cup over 720m at Wentworth Park on Friday by leading throughout at her first start on the track, easily defeating Sin City Bandit, a winner of eight long-distance races at headquarters, in 41.93.
Exorbitant took his record to 10 wins and five placings from 15 starts with a slick 29.53 win in a 520m fifth grade on Saturday, but Rob Howard, whose wife Natina owns and trains the greyhound, has no regrets about by-passing the Million Dollar Chase with the dog.
"We won the 2025 Young Star in race record time with Zipper On Time and that will be Exorbitant's mission,'' Howard said.
"Exorbitant was a real problem dog early in his career because he used to leave the starting boxes two or three lengths behind the field.
"He is still not what you would call a good beginner but he gets away a lot better than he did when he started off.''
Heats of the Young Star will be run at Wentworth Park on Saturday night with the $30,000 to the winner final on October 16.
Fascinate Samuel qualified for the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase through winning the regional final at Gosford, but the dog made a surprise return to Wentworth Park on Saturday.
Fascinate Samuel came from second early to comfortably win a 520m fourth and fifth grade in the slick time of 29.62, running home in a smart 11.64.
After the race trainer Noelene Holloway said: "Although Fascinate Samuel did not have to race tonight he needed to have a run somewhere before the MDC semi-finals on Friday so I thought I might as well bring him back to Wenty.
"Early in his career Fascinate Samuel was desperate for an inside box and would crash towards the rails when he drew wide like he did tonight, but with experience he has learned not to cross to the rails until he has cleared his rivals.''
