An additional TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-final berth is now on offer at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, following notification to Greyhound Racing NSW on Wednesday that NEW ZEALAND greyhound Leonard Bale will not be making the trip across the Tasman.
With the cancellation of the National Championships in 2020, GRNSW for the first time offered semi-final berths to the winners of each of the State Sprint Championship Finals and also a spot to the winner of the NEW ZEALAND Sprint Championship Final, that event won by the Craig Roberts-trained Leonard Bale.
All the Australian State Sprint Championship winners have now confirmed they will be attending, but Roberts unfortunately had to notify GRNSW that he will not be able to make it.
“Unfortunately I am going to have to decline the invitation,” Roberts told GRNSW. “It is just too much of a logistical nightmare to get myself and the dog there under the current circumstances.
“The invitation is very much appreciated and I am disappointed I can't get there.”
What it now means is that the place occupied by Leonard Bale becomes available again and will be up for grabs at Saturday night’s City Qualifiers.
Now, instead of the eight winners of the Qualifiers and the four fastest seconds advancing to the MDC semis on October 9, the fifth fastest second will now join them.
Two of the TAB Million Dollar Chase favourites will be at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night. Flying Ricciardo will be having his first run since qualifying through the Bathurst Regional heats and final, while the brilliant Shima Shine from the Andrea Dailly kennel, will trial before the first race.
Also racing on Wednesday night and already qualified for the semis are Mark Gatt’s Goulburn Regional Final winner Blistering, Ruth Matic’s Poppy Jack, third to Blistering at Goulburn and Pat Parrelli’s Rivergum Gem, who Chased down Simon Told Helen at Temora.
Apart from the eight City Qualifiers on Saturday night, a number of semi-finalists will be trialling solo before the first. They included Simon Told Helen, Faithy Bale, Fire Legend and Wow, while Victorian star Tiggerlong Tonk who won the Wagga Wagga Regional Final effortlessly, will trial after the last race.
The box draw for the semi-finals and the Sydney Cup heats will be conducted on Monday morning.
