Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase

First Up Win Stunned Mitch

By Jeff Collerson
Kooringa Lucy stunned trainer Mitch Northfield with her best time of the meeting win in her heat of the TAB Million Dollar Chase at Casino last week and seems set to move into the semi-finals after drawing box one in her regional final tomorrow (Thursday).

Kooringa Lucy won her 484m heat in 27.39, despite having been sidelined for five months after taking a tumble at Grafton in April.

"I couldn't believe how well she went because she had no work going into the Million Dollar Chase heat,'' Northfield said.

"She has drawn box one in the regional final and while I don't know whether she likes it, I certainly do!''

Placegetters in tomorrow's Casino event will move into the Chase semi-finals at WP on October 9, where the eight winners will qualify for the $1 million to the winner grand final a week later.

Kooringa Lucy, who has had nine wins and eight placings from just 23 starts, is a daughter of Northfield's best greyhound Mitcharlie Mia, who won 38 from 85 races.

Mitcharlie Mia won a Richmond Oaks final and was a finalist in two group one Wentworth Park races, the 2016 Golden Easter Egg and National Futurity.


Xerri found Canya Star too good in last week's Gunnedah heat of the TAB Million Dollar Chase but trainer Daryl Thomas believes his exciting youngster can overcome box six and take out tomorrow's 527m regional final.

The Peter Sims-trained Canya Star began brilliantly from box six to win in 30.41 last week, while the Michelle Shambler-trained Muzza Keeping stormed home out wide to win the other heat in 30.55.

Canya Star defeated Xerri, who came from box eight, by two and a half lengths, but Thomas thinks his dog can turn the tables tomorrow.

"I trialled Xerri over 440m at Gunnedah the week before the heats and he clocked 24.48, just .01sec outside the track record,'' Thomas said.

"He was badly hampered crossing from box eight last week and then twice ran into the back of the leader.

"Xerri has never been beaten when he has been 'on the bunny' but he is not real good coming from behind.

"Last week he didn't seem to know what to do, couldn't work out how to get past the pacemaker Canya Star.

"The way the boxes have fallen in the final I think Xerri is a lot better off in the six than he was in box eight in his heat.

"If he nails the start the way he can I think he can lead and then he should be in the semis at WP.

"Once he gets that far, Xerri is just one win away from racing for $1 million.''

Canya Star has won nine races at Wentworth Park so is the class runner in tomorrow's Gunnedah heats and trainer Peter Sims is delighted with her box two draw.

But while Canya Star's kennelmate Second Exit was beaten into second place by Muzza Keeping, the Gunnedah 440m track record holder, in her heat, Sims still gives her a strong chance in the final.

"Second Exit had box one in her heat and another dog was laying on her all the way to the first turn,'' Sims said.

"Second Exit doesn't like box one, and the further away from the rails she draws the better off she is so box four in the final is okay as far as I'm concerned.

"Her second was a lot better run that it looked on paper and don't forget she is a winner of five races at Wenty.''