Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase

Just A Dozen Starts But Xerri Into MDC Semis

By Michael Cowley
Darryl Thomas has always had a good opinion of his young dog Xerri, and now the pair are just one win away from a shot at $1 million after winning the Gunnedah Regional Final of the TAB Million Dollar Chase on Thursday.

Having just his 12th start, Xerri produced an impressive mid race burst to race away from his opponents and score a 30.56s victory, booking a berth in the MDC semi-finals at Wentworth Park on October 9. On that night, the eight semi-final winners advance to the grand final on October 16, where the winner walks away with a cheque for $1 million.

“It’s exciting. He might not be the best dog in the series but he’s a handy dog and the box draw will play a big part for him,” Thomas said. “But it’s exciting for the owners, and they’re new owners into the sport as well which is great.

“He’s only had 12 starts and I think he is going to make a really nice dog when he’s had about 20 (starts), but hopefully after he’s had about 15 (starts), he might be a millionaire.”

Xerri turned the tables on favourite Canya Star from last week’s qualifying heats, with the kennelmate of the runner-up, Second Exit, also qualifying for the semi-finals in third place.

“That mid race sprint that’s his normal go,” Thomas said. “Last week she (Canya Star) just kept hampering him a bit and he didn’t know whether to go in or out.

“He knocked up badly last week, so this week I have kept him on the lead and got him over the run. 

“It’s come around too quickly this race. We were sort of one or two weeks short in preparation, so we had an easy week and kept him quiet and made sure he was sound, and that was the winning move I think because he showed that mid race dash this week.”

Xerri has raced just once at Wentworth Park but was very impressive winning in 29.62s back in June, but has also trialled well, and fast, at headquarters.

“He likes Wenty. Every time I have taken him there he’s trialled really well, and run really fast post to post times, as good as any dog that has been around there,” Thomas said.

“He likes Wenty, we’re in the semi-finals, we’ve got a bit of time to make sure everything is right, and when it comes to it, it’s a race, and anything can happen in a race.”

Trainer Peter Sims will have clocked up more than 2,200kms, and over 24 hours on the road, but it is all worth it after his two bitches qualified for the Chase semi-finals.

Sims decided that he would target the Gunnedah heats with Canya Star and Second Exit, looking to get the pair qualified for the semi-finals early, but it meant driving from his home in the Riverina to the New England and back, twice in six days.

“Yes it is mission accomplished,” he said after his pair finished second and third behind Xerri. “It would have been nice to win of course, but it was all about taking the next step in the series and that’s what we have done.

“They have both handled the travelling well, and they’re through now (to the semi-finals), but he (Xerri) was just too good on the night. 

“That dog (Xerri) has a lot of mid race burn, and he just pinched too big a break. The two girls took a lot of ground off him in the later stages but he had just opened up too big a break.”