POUND Keeping posted fastest first split and quickest overall time in last week's semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase so looks the one to beat in Friday night's ninth running of the world's first $1m greyhound race at Wentworth Park.
Her trainer Minnie Finn has trained or been associated with five previous unsuccessful Million Dollar Chase finalists but with four of the eight qualifiers this year coming from her kennels at Cranebrook she acknowledges this is her best chance.
"The box draw has been kind to me, especially with Pound Keeping in box three and Winsome Jet in eight,” Finn said.
"Pound Keeping should only need to come out cleanly to be the pacemaker and she ran 29.23 at Wentworth Park prior to winning her Million Dollar Chase semi in 29.25.”
"Winsome Jet could be my next best hope because while he is not real quick early, he is very strong and might get a lovely run down the outside from box eight.”
"Magical Ang in box six and Fearless Bandit in seven should give him plenty of room.”
"Obviously Canya Mayhem, the Melbourne Cup winner in box one and Jungle Johnny, the Wentworth Park 520m record holder, are going to be hard to toss.”
"Jungle Johnny is an awesome dog and if he sat behind Pound Keeping he would probably run her down but from box five he could get tangled up early.
"I think Magical Ang on his outside could worry him in the run to the first turn.”
Jungle Johnny is Wentworth Park fans' favourite dog and trainer Mark Gatt believes box five won't stop him winning providing he can avoid Magical Ang, in box six.
"I agree with what Minnie said, that my dog needs to hold out Magical Ang who has good pace and is a railer, when they leave the boxes.”
"I've always liked box five at Wentworth Park but Magical Ang's presence in six is my concern this week.”
"Apart from that, Jungle Johnny pulled up perfectly after his Million Dollar Chase semi win in 29.39 and he has worked a treat at home all week.”
Canya Mayhem's earnings will balloon to over $2m if he wins for Victorian trainer Jess Hopkins and part-owners Nick Lalli and Frank Cremona.
Nick Lalli enjoyed big race success as an owner before Canya Mayhem's Melbourne Cup win as he raced Buzz Junkie, who won the 2022 Adelaide Cup as a $101 outsider for South Australian trainer Petar Jovanovic.
The Sydney Cup, first run at Wentworth Park in 1963 and among the oldest long-distance races on the calendar, will provide an exciting sidelight to the Million Dollar Chase on Friday night.
The Cup final features Magpie Hector, certainly the best stayer in NSW and widely considered Australia's top long-distance performer.
Magpie Hector is a renowned slow beginner but jumped better than ever before winning his heat in 41.47, his fastest Wentworth Park 720m time.
He had box six in last week's heat and trainer Jack Smith is not concerned about Magpie Hector's box seven draw on Friday night.
The dog has drawn seven or eight in 19 of his 47 starts, but has won eight races and has never been in better form than right now.
Trainer Jack Smith said: "If Hector jumps like he did last week the box won't worry him but even if he misses the jump his chances depend on what happens in the run to the first turn.”
"Everyone seems to think Beautiful Child, the other heat winner in 41.64, who has box six, will give my dog a good cart across in the run to the first corner.”
"But my main worry is Ayden's Warrior in box eight.”
"If Ayden's Warrior beats Magpie Hector out of the boxes and crowds him immediately my dog could be in a bit of trouble.”
Ritza Sophie, who has box one in Friday's Million Dollar Chase Bronze Final, for minor placegetters in last week's Chase semi-finals, looms as the best bet of the night.
Ritza Sophie is ideally drawn because she is unbeaten in two starts from box one and has won five of six appearances from the two inside boxes.
On top of that, Promote Tilly, who led to the home bend when third in her Million Dollar Chase semi-final, is an extremely wide runner and from box two should ensure Ritza Sophie gets a "dream" run to the first corner.
Zipping Alita, drawn in box two in Friday's Young Star Consolation, should represent good value on Friday night.
She had box six when second in Summer Angel's Young Star heat last Friday, but her trainer Mick Hardman is much happier seeing her boxed closer to the rails this week.
Jodie Lord trained the 2020 Young Star winner Rapallo and is in the box seat to win this year's final with her greyhound Baby Face Bandit to wear the red rug.
Baby Face Bandit won on debut at Wentworth Park from box one in April and is ideally positioned on Friday night, with main danger Paw Winder, in box two, usually a slow beginner.
