Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase

Long Trip Worthwhile For Sims

By Michael Cowley
It was a long trip and one he will have to do again next week, but it was a worthwhile one for trainer Peter Sims, qualifying two dogs for the Gunnedah Regional Final of the TAB Million Dollar Chase. 

Sims had never been to Gunnedah, nor had either of his two dogs, Canya Star and Second Exit, but that didn’t stop him making the six and a half hour trip from the Riverina to Gunnedah for Friday night’s heats.

And while many expected him to win at least one heat - and he did - it wasn’t the expected results for Sims.

In the opening heat of the night, Canya Star flew from the boxes and was able to cross the inside runners and take the lead into the first turn.

Odds-on favourite Xerri from the Darryl Thomas kennel, also got across from his box eight draw.

From there, the pair - both having their first outing at Gunnedah - had it between them, with Xerri looking like he was going to hook out and go around the leader several times.

But Canya Star refused to surrender, and held off her rival to win by 2½ lengths in 30.41s from Xerri with Jabeni third and Murphey fourth well behind the first pair, but all four qualifying for the final which will be run next Thursday night.


Then in heat two, Second Exit - runner-up to Ritza Coen in last month’s NSW Sprint Championship Final - was justifiably sent out a very short-priced favourite, and when she took the lead down the back, it appeared the punters were correct.

But it was Michelle Shambler’s Muzza Keeping, a dog who broke the 431m Gunnedah track record at his racetrack debut back in August last year, who stalked the leader and then stormed to the lead swinging for home, racing away for an impressive 1¾ length win in 30.55s over Second Exit, with Full Powered third and Franco Fernando fourth, the quartet also going through to the final.


The box draw for the final is: 1 Murphey 2 Canya Star 3 Muzza Keeping 4 Second Exit 5 Full Powered 6 Xerri 7 Franco Fernando 8 Jabeni 9 Ferrari Blaster 10 Mr Rain Maker.