Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase

MDC Quinellas Prove Popular At Nowra

By Michael Cowley
Quinellas were in vogue at the Shoalhaven Greyhound Club on Saturday night for the TAB Million Dollar Chase heats, with first local mentor Stephen Fitch training the winner and runner-up in heat one, then his feat was mirrored by leading trainer JODIE Lord in heat two.

Litter sister Cumbria Belle and Cumbria Ninno jumped fast and raced away from their rivals to quinella the opening heat, the winner clocking a slick 29.67s, the runner-up 29.85.

It’s not the first time the pair have qualified for a big final. Back in July they both made it through to the final of the Group 1 Peter Mosman Opal, Cumbria Ninno finishing second and Cumbria Belle fifth behind Lilly Banner. 

Joining the pair out of the heat for the Nowra Regional Final on Sunday September 27 were Chrome and Where’s Ella.


Not to be outdone, 25 minutes later and Lord also got the quinella in the second heat, with Cawborne Footrot storming home to beat kennelmate Spritely Ebony, with the winner clocking 29.76s. 

My Word Shirley ran a great race for Karen Midson to finish third while Eagle Rock - Flying Ricciardo’s litter brother - also advanced to the Regional Final just, getting home late to grab fourth. 

Cawborne Footrot, a Wentworth Park winner earlier in his career in 30.41s, had been racing very successfully over the mid distances at Dapto and Nowra before being sidelined for seven months. Saturday was his first run since February, and he certainly sprinted well fresh.

It completed a great night for the Lord kennel. JODIE and her husband Andy also qualified Chrome for next week’s Regional Final from the opening heat.


Earlier in the night the pair boxed all four runners in the Free For All over the 520m, with joint track record holders Awesome Catch and Winlock On Top having already qualified for the Million Dollar Chase semi-finals through the Dapto series last week.

But they are no long joint track record holders, after Awesome Catch chipped 0.04s off their mark, clocking 29.42s in defeating El Rapido, Winlock On Top and stayer Just Terms.