Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase

Thomas Qualifies Another 'Footy' Name For MDC Semis

By Michael Cowley
He had already qualified one named after an NRL player, now Hunter Valley trainer Darryl Thomas has managed to get his brother, this one named after an AFL star, through to the TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-finals.

A few weeks ago Thomas won the Gunnedah Regional Final with the promising Xerri, a dog named after Cronulla rugby league player Bronson Xerri. On Monday night at Maitland in the final Regional Final of the 2020 series, the Thomas-trained Whitfield, named after Greater Western Sydney star Lachie Whitfield, saluted and also booked a berth into the penultimate stage of the Million Dollar Chase.


Coincidentally, another brother from the Fernando Bale - Miss All Class litter, Wow, trained by Karina Britton, is also in the Million Dollar Chase semi-finals, having qualified when third to Shima Shine at Bulli last week

Between the three of them, they have raced 37 times for 20 wins and 11 placings.

Having just his 10th race start on Monday night, Whitfield took full advantage of his box one draw to register win number six, leading early then pushing through on the home turn to regain the front and race away for a comfortable 3¾ length win in 25.02s.

The Mark Moroney-trained Fire Legend battled on well for second, with Michael Eberand’s Ebby Infrared running home stoutly to grab third and capture a spot in the semis as well.


While all six of his wins have been on the big one turn Maitland track, Thomas has no doubts Whitfield will handle the two turns of Wentworth Park, insisting he is likely to be more suited there than the one turn tracks.

“I don’t really think he handles these big tracks too well. I think he’s more of a two turner. He rails his ears off on the two turns so let’s see what happens next week,” Thomas said.

Mark Moroney, trainer of runner-up Fire Legend was thrilled to make it through to the semi-finals, and like Thomas he has no concerns about heading to the two turn Wentworth Park.

“He does go good on two turns. He's won four from four at Sandown, so you know he's no slouch on two turns, but good box draws … you’ve got to draw well and hopefully we can in the semi-finals.

“He's always been very underrated, but not to me, and not to Jason and Seona (Thompson, the dog’s previous trainers).“

It was only a few months ago that Ebby Infrared was considered the best sprinter in NSW but his form has tapered off since a stint in Melbourne. Trainer Michael Eberand is hoping he’s returning to his best after a strong run to qualify for the MDC semis with third behind Whitfield and Fire Legend.

“He was checked early and went back through the field and lost the home turn but got home well so it was a really good effort,” Eberand said.

“He’s just lost that half a length of confidence in sort of the first 30 metres. He’s still as quick, he's there abouts, it just feels like he's nearly there. I’ve been working on his boxes but it’s not translating through to race day. He’s doing everything right at home, we’ve just got to keep working on it.

“Every race is a new race, so we're sort of 13 days or whatever from the semis so hopefully we'll get him right for that.”

The Maitland Regional Final signaled the conclusion of the regional side of the TAB Million Dollar Chase. Since the series began back on September 1 at Gosford, the series has visited 15 regional venues and has produced 45 semi-finals qualifiers.

The remainder of the qualifiers will be decided at Wentworth Park on Saturday night in the City Preludes.

While most eyes were on Whitfield winning the Million Dollar Chase Regional Final, it was another from the Thomas’ kennel which had everyone talking.

Hunter">Fernando Hunter">Hunter clocked a flying 24.95s winning his first start. The dog is owned by leading Sydney jockey Brenton Avdulla, and named after his young son, Hunter.