While he says it wouldn’t be a dream come true if his greyhound Forners Flame could advance through to the TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-finals, hobby trainer Sergio Forner concedes it would be beyond his wildest expectations.
Forners Flame took a step towards achieving the target on Thursday at Dapto when she stormed home to win her heat of the Chase at Dapto, advancing to next Thursday’s Regional Final.
“I was really happy with that,” Forner said. “I was worried as there was a lot of pace inside of her. And she didn't jump all that crash hot tonight, but she just kept on going.
“I think a second section is her best asset and you could see that up the back the way she was starting to reel in the leader.
“She’s the best I’ve ever had. I've never had a dog so talented.
“I wouldn't say it would be a dream come true but it's beyond my wildest expectations (to make the MDC semis). I’m just a hobby trainer, that’s all I am, nothing else, but I look after them.”
A frustrating run of four consecutive seconds came to an end with the win for Forners Flame, the most recent coming last week when she was beaten in a close race by Awesome Catch, who would also win a Dapto heat of the Chase.
Forners Flame clocked 29.84s in running down the leader Left Unsaid, with Winlock On Top and Topper Brax also advancing to next week’s final.
In the opening heat Michelle Sultana’s Drink Moet flew the lids and was able to cross to the rail on the first turn and race away.
Having walked out of the boxes, Awesome Catch was negotiating his way through traffic up the back and by the top turn had worked his way into a clear second and was setting out after the leader.
Swinging for home Awesome Catch still had some ground to make up, but timed his run to perfection, claiming Drink Moet in the shadows of the post to register yet another win at Dapto, this time in 29.76s.
Awesome Catch has now raced nine times over the Dapto 520m for seven wins and second.
“He just knows how to win that dog,” said Andy Lord, husband of trainer JODIE. “And he hasn’t just done it once, he’s done it a stack of times. A lot of people think when he’s last he’s done, but he just keep coming.
“Winlock on Top was probably a bit disappointing, but there was a lot of pace on the inside in that race, and once he got caught out wide, he wasn’t going to win, but the main thing was about getting through to the final and they have both done that.”
For Michelle Sultana, it was a case of close twice with both of her greyhounds leading and finishing second, but on the bright side, both qualified for next Thursday’s Regional Final.
“She (Drink Moet) did what she can do tonight and she led, she got run down but we still made next week so that was the main thing,” Michelle said.
“(Left Unsaid) has been winning a lot over the short course and it was time to step her up so it's probably been the right time to do that. We’re just taking it day by day but she just keeps impressing me like last week when she actually jumped a little bit ahead of Flying Ricciardo (in the Black Top Final), and she only got beaten by 2½ lengths, so getting beat by a dog like that, it's pretty good.”
