FLAMING Smooth has won five of his six starts from box eight so with the dog set to wear the pink rug in Friday night's second semi-final trainer Kayla Cottrell gives him a great chance of qualifying for the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase final at Wentworth Park.
Flaming Smooth began brilliantly from box five and led throughout to win his heat last week in 29.47, just .01sec slower than Joanne's time standard.
"His record from box eight speaks for itself so providing Flaming Smooth gets away cleanly he should be hard to beat,'' Cottrell said.
"Naturally I'm hoping he can come out running like he did last Saturday.''
Likely favourite for this strong semi-final is He's A Pearl, whose dam She's A Pearl won the 2022 Million Dollar Chase in race record time.
She's A Pearl was trained in NSW by Jodie Lord but after beginning his career in her kennel, the greyhound has been campaigning with leading Victorian trainer Jason Thompson in recent months.
He's A Pearl has box three and looks nicely positioned, as Isle Of Lachlan, in box four, tends to get wide, while Taw Galaxy in five also uses a bit of the track.
He's A Pearl's record from inside draws is impressive, and he has had two wins and a placing in three races wearing the white rug.
Champion Sydney trainer Minnie Finn has several runners in the MDC semi-finals but surprisingly rates Shaq Keeping, who opposes Flaming Smooth and He's A Pearl, as her best prospect.
"Shaq Keeping had a couple of tumbles early in his career at Wenty and went off the boil a bit after that.'' Finn said.
"But he has got his confidence back completely and is flying at the moment."
"Before he won in 29.71 at Wentworth Park at his most recent race on October 3, I had given him a trial at Wenty when he clocked his fastest time and recorded the quickest time of the night.''
All eyes will be on Wentworth Park 520m record holder Jungle Johnny in Friday night's sixth Million Dollar Chase Semi-Final and trainer Mark Gatt is quietly confident.
"He has box four and being in the middle is never perfect but looking at the dogs drawn around him I think it is better than it looks on paper." Gatt said.
"West Rock Casey and Best Surprise, drawn outside Johnny in five and six, usually run straight from the boxes to the first turn so my dog should get a bit of room to move."
"Since his fifth in the Black Top final at The Gardens on September 26 Jungle Johnny has had a trial at Wentworth Park and went well."
"He is going as good ever.''
Jungle Johnny has broken the Wentworth Park 520m record twice this year and will be all the rage to qualify for the sport's biggest race by winning on Saturday night.
Daniel Gatt said: "Off The Chart is a really good dog and if he jumps as well as he usually does, he is likely to run blistering time."
"But my bitch Ritza Sophie looks boxed to get a clear run so I couldn't be happier with the draw.''
Weakest of the eight Million Dollar Chase Semi-Finals looks to be the opening qualifying race where fastest heat winner Joanne, who clocked 29.46 leading all the way last Saturday, has box three.
