It has become known as the last chance saloon, that final chance for a shot at $1 million in the TAB Million Dollar Chase. Eight City Qualifiers have been drawn for Wentworth Park on Saturday night, the final opportunity for dogs to qualify for the semi-finals of the event on October 9.
Miss out here and there are no other chances.
And judging by the calibre of greyhounds engaged in the eight races, there will be connections of some very smart dogs who will miss out in 2020.
Just 12 places remain after a month of qualifying events around the State, and now we head to headquarters. On Saturday night, all eight winners will advance as well as the fastest four seconds. That will bring us to a total of 64 dogs qualified, with the semi-finals to be drawn on Monday morning.
Most eyes will be transfixed on qualifier seven, the eighth event on the card. Reigning champions Good Odds Harada - fresh from a fast win at Bathurst on Monday - will jump from box two, the same draw he had 51 weeks ago when he won the Grand Final and the $1 million for Frank and Tracey Hurst. Only once in the past year has he drawn box two.
But standing in the way of a title defence is last year’s third placegetter, flying Victorian Get It Gizmo who has drawn box 6, Playlist who came to Sydney in July and won the Group 1 Vic Peters Classic defeating Tommy Shelby, as well as Matt Lanigan’s well performed Weblec Eagle.
As expected a number of interstate trainers have nominated for the qualifiers.
Recently crowned Australian trainer of the year Anthony Azzopardi has Aston Pilsner in qualifier one, and Short Pork in qualifier two.
Harry Manolitsis who trains Get It Gizmo is also sending smart sprinter Flynn who has drawn in qualifier four along with fellow Victorians Mepunga Pegasus, Aston Stealth, and Simon Told Helen’s brother Who Told Stevie.
Speed Star winner Christo Bale is drawn in the last qualifier and will clash with Cumbria Belle, Sanctify, Zipping Zeek, and Gladioli Bale, who is one of four dogs from the Andrea Dailly kennel contesting the qualifiers and hoping to join kennelmates Shima Shine and Faithy Bale in the semis.
The 2018 winner Peter Lagogiane has three dogs engaged in the qualifiers, Sanctify, Handsome Prince in qualifier two, and Shetland in qualifier three.
To see the full fields for Saturday night, click here.
