Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase

Another Superstar Through to MDC Semi-Finals

By Michael Cowley
Another of the stars of Australian greyhound racing has qualified for the TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-finals, with brilliant Victorian Tiggerlong Tonk toying with his rivals in the Regional Final at Wagga Wagga on Friday night.

It was hardly a surprise that one of country’s elite sprinters would be able to take care of a field of locals, but in racing you still have to get the job done and stranger things have happened in big races before. In fact Tiggerlong Tonk actually looked like he was dragged down slightly in the charge to the first turn, but thankfully for his supporters, he was able to steady and balance, race away around the first turn, and it was game over.

From there it was about what time Tiggerlong Tonk would run on the rain sodden and wind swept track, how far he would win by, and who would grab the other two semi-final berths.

In order it was 30.85s on the clock, and stunning 9¼ lengths the margin, and Sell More House was second and With Confidence third.

That trio will now advance to the semi-finals of the world’s richest greyhound race at Wentworth Park on October 9. A win there would see them have a shot at the $1 million first prize in the MDC grand final on October 16, and certainly Tiggerlong Tonk would be considered a realistic chance to be there that night. 


While COVID-19 has certainly impacted all sports and racing codes, the TAB Million Dollar Chase has now managed to get almost all the best dogs in the country qualified for the semi-finals.

Apart from Tiggerlong Tonk, fellow Victorians Simon Told Helen qualified through the Temora series, and Shima Shine got to the semis by brilliantly winning the Bulli series last week, Tommy Shelby won through via the WA Sprint Championship Final, and of course the new boom dog, Flying Ricciardo won through the semis by winning the Bathurst Regional Final.

And still we have another handful of regional finals to go, plus a night of City Preludes at Wentworth Park on October 3.

But Tiggerlong Tonk was tradesman like at Wagga Wagga, jumping with the field then accelerating to hit the lead, shaking off the contact at the post then racing away. 

“It is a relief,” said caretaker trainer, and owner, Michael Finn. “He went super. He’s done everything right, it was just a shame we had the wind and rain tonight, but his class got him through.”

Finn has had Tiggerlong Tonk in his kennel since trainer Correy Grenfell sent the dog to Wagga to contest the series.

“He’s going home tomorrow. I’ll work out with Correy tomorrow what we will do between now and the semis. We haven’t discussed it yet. He’s had his holiday here and done what he was meant to do.

“I’m also glad I bought him back here (to Wagga Wagga) so everyone could see him race.”

Cowra trainer Rod McDonald who won the 2009 Golden Easter Egg with Dana Beatrice, qualified Sell More Houses, while Andrew Mulrine managed to get With Confidence through for local owner Shannon Ellis.