Ross Davidson is making a habit of winning TAB Million Dollar Chase Regional Finals, and on Friday night he collected his second success in the space of three days, as Faithy Bale led throughout to win the decider at Richmond.
On Tuesday at Bulli, Wallerawang trainer Davidson produced the brilliant Shima Shine to win the Regional Final there for the second successive year, and now he has managed to qualify another dog for the Million Dollar Chase Semi-Finals at Wentworth Park on October 9.
And just like he did with Shima Shine the day after his Bulli win, Davidson will load up Faithy Bale on Saturday morning, head to the border where he will pass the dog on to a courier, who will then take the dog home to the Anakie kennels of Andrea and Tom Dailly.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Daillys decided to send their dogs to Davidson - who has raced dogs with the leading kennel for a number of years - to campaign during the series. But they haven’t just sent them up to stay at Wallerawang during their campaigns.
What has happened each time a runner heads north, Davidson has headed from his home just outside Lithgow to Albury and back, then the next day to the racetracks, and it has seen Davidson clock up more than 5,000 kms in just over a week. But it’s all been worthwhile with now a pair of dogs qualified for the semis of the world’s richest greyhound race.
When asked if he might be scheduled for a payrise from the success he’s having, Davidson joked: “There could be a sling somewhere along the line … maybe a carton?”
Just as she did in the heat a week earlier, Faithy Bale flew out of box eight and over to the rail, and running 5.25s to the first mark, she was in front by the post, and then opened up a handy lead.
Turning into the back Faithy Bale led Lilly Banner with Waging War in third while the rest of the field were strung up behind them.
The trio in front stayed there, and while Waging War grabbed Lilly Banner nearing the line, all three greyhounds advance to the MDC semi-finals, Faithy Bale posting 30.47s.
“She's come out beautifully, used that pace and probably took her sis (Gladioli Bale in box 7) out on the way past, but she got on the bunny, and it's probably even an improved run, even though the time is similar (to the heat’s 30.45s), with this pretty frigid weather and a bit of a wind,” Davidson said.
“She's come back (from a two-month spell) beautifully now and it’s all systems go for the semis.
“Obviously the way she cuts left (when she jumps), the closer the better (to the rails), but when you begin that well you can you clear most of them anyway.”
It’s the second straight year the Dailly kennel have brought dogs to Richmond for the Million Dollar Chase series and left with the winner, last year Jaro Bale winning the Regional Final.
“I think it’s the strength of their dogs,” Davidson said as to why they have success at the track. “They're very fit, they get worked hard and fed big and they're very strong and Richmond suits a strong dog.”
Just like last week’s heat when he ran second to Stanley Road in fast time, Waging War got to the line strongly for caretaker trainer John Finn.
Normally trained in Victoria by Glenn Rounds, Waging War hasn’t won a race since January but has run some great races including a fourth to Oh Mickey in the Richmond Derby in March.
Rounds is chasing a second successive Grand Finalist in the Million Dollar Chase. Last year he qualified Curt Lee for the big race with an impressive semi-final win, before he was slow to move and had no luck when chasing the $1 million. The dog he beat in the semi-final by just half a length last year was Galaxy Banner trained by Barry Gibbons, who, courtesy of Lilly Banner, has another semi-finalist in 2020.
“She got through so you have got to be happy, and it gives us another week to get her right,” Gibbon said. “She got the job done so I can’t complain.”
Lilly Banner won’t mind heading to Wentworth Park for the semis either. She has shown blistering box speed at her four latest starts there, leading all the way to win the heat and final of the Group 1 Peter Mosman Opal in July, then leading again before being run down by the brilliant Zipping Zeek later that month, then returning to the venue last month and leading throughout in 29.71s.
“I don't know what it is, she just loves Wenty. She was broken in here at this track so I always thought she would go well here, I'm not too sure what it is at Wenty.
“But take nothing away from the Bale dog tonight it was enormous, but for me, from box five, blowing a gale, I’m counting my lucky stars she got through.
“She is getting stronger. It's probably not her strongest suit but she sticks on, and I think when we get back to Wenty, she's going to be right in it.”
