After a stellar career, punctuated by victories in the 2019 TAB Million Dollar Chase Grand Final and the 2019 Group 1 Dapto Megastar, Good Odds Harada has been retired to stud.
The son of Collision and Solar Pak raced for the last time on Saturday night when third in a Wentworth Park Free-For-All. It was only two weeks ago that he had absolutely no luck in the semi-finals of the Million Dollar Chase as he embarked on a title defence.
But ultimately it came down to a choice between stud duties or a racing career, and the demand from breeders saw trainer Frank Hurst and his wife Tracey who owns the dog, opt for racetrack retirement.
Earlier this year the Hursts gave Good Odds Harada a break from racing and tested the waters in drawing some straws. It proved a success and now Tracey says demand for more has led to this decision.
“We didn’t really have that many straws because he was racing, and the demand for straws got a bit more than what we had, so we had to make a decision,” Tracey explained. “You can’t do both, you can’t draw him and race him, and Frank and I decided the time had come.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to make because he’s still trialing and racing really Well. He hasn’t had much luck in racing of late. In the Million Dollar Chase semi-final, Dennis Barnes’ dog (Nangar Silk) broke its hock right in front of him.
“But people want to use him and I can understand that – the conformation of him, his speed and stamina, he was never injured once, so I’m not surprised there is demand, and his litters already, there have been 10 in almost every litter and they are big strong healthy pups.
“At some point we had to make the move, so now is that time.”
Good Odds Harada retires with a record of 31 wins and 29 placings from 75 starts and prizemoney of $1,302,735. That figure sees him sit second on the list of Australian greyhound racing prizemoney winners, with only Fanta Bale ahead of him, having earned $1,365,175 during his illustrious career.
Apart from the Million Dollar Chase and Megastar, Good Odds Harada won or was placed in several feature events including victory in the NSW Sprint Championship in 2019, and second in the National final in Perth later that year.
The highlight was undoubtedly the win in the Million Dollar Chase Grand Final where he led throughout in a stunning 29.34s, Only a select few have gone quicker at Wentworth Park - Shakey Jakey (29.07s), Fernando Bale (29.26s and 29.27s), Punch One Out (29.27s), Benali (29.29s) and Zulu Zeus (29.32s).
“It was a once in a lifetime experience (the Million Dollar Chase) and he’s been a once in a lifetime dog,” Tracey said. “People say why didn’t you retire him after Million Dollar Chase. Well, six weeks later he won a Group 1, the Dapto Megastar. While ever he wanted to race, we would race him. He told us what he wanted to do.
“And Frank was never happier than when he was with the dog, in fact he’s not happy unless he’s got an animal of some description with him. He just loves animals.”
But … is there some sort of possibility we may not have seen his last race start?
“He is still six months off Masters’ racing yet, so, maybe he might, in six months’ time, come back and start racing Masters’ events. By then we’ll have a lot of straws banked, but, who knows, we’ll see what happens,” Tracey said.
