It may now be eight months away, but the Mick Hardman-trained Zulu Warlord has become the first dog to qualify for the TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-finals after a brilliant, upset win in the NSW Sprint Championship final at Bathurst on Monday.
On the day when Greyhound Racing NSW announced that the 2021 TAB Million Dollar Chase had been postponed until April-May in 2022, the bonus prize on offer for the Championship winner remained the same … a semi-final berth in the world’s richest greyhound race.
And managing to hold off the short-priced favourite Jungle Deuce, Zulu Warlord not only meant that he claimed the elusive State champion crown for his persistent trainer, but he also qualified for his second successive Chase semi-final.
Last October, he met the likes of Victorian superstar Shima Shine, and swinging for home Zulu Warlord was right in the mix, sharing the lead, only to be swamped by the swoopers storming home including semi winner Wallbanger.
On Monday at Bathurst, after showing his customary brilliant early speed, Zulu Warlord opened up a good break on the Jack Smith-trained favourite, but Jungle Deuce was able to get into a good position leaving the first turn, and then closed quickly down the back to be in striking distance heading to the home turn.
Again it looked like Zulu Warlord would be run down in another big race.
But showing great tenacity, Zulu Warlord held off the rising superstar, winning by the barest of margins in 29.72s.
“I thought I was in trouble going out the first turn because Jungle Deuce got a dream run through and was right behind him, and I thought he would pick him (Zulu Warlord ) up for sure,” Hardman said.
“That’s probably the best run he’s ever put in, in a sense that he came out fast and still found the line good. He was entitled to get beaten three times in that run.
“We can’t see from behind the boxes who wins and I heard the racecaller say Zulu Warlord. Jack (Smith) looked at me, and said: “Did you win?” I said: “maybe, I think he called it.””
Hardman revealed that while he now has that semi-final berth for the Chase, he has a dilemma in that Zulu Warlord will actually be eligible for the $100,000 Masters Meteor when the Million Dollar Chase carnival rolls around in April.
“It’s not a bad position to be in is it?” he said.
For Hardman it was also a case of third time lucky in the NSW Sprint Championship.
In 2019 he had both Nangar Kash and Nangar Blaze in the final, with the former being run down near the line by Good Odds Harada who of course went on to win the Million Dollar Chase two months later.
“It’s been hard for him because there hasn’t been a lot of racing for him. The week in and week out racing hasn’t been there for him with zoning, and races not holding up, so he’s just been in the big paddock at home.
“But’s he’s been a terrific dog for us. I think he’s been in about six Group finals. He was second to Zipping Kyrgios in the Bob Payne (in May), and made the semis of the Golden Easter Egg this year as well as the Million Dollar Chase semis.
“And of course he won the Bathurst Cup here earlier this year.
“I’ve always had a good opinion of the dog. He’s not a group 1 dog, but he’s always batted above his average because he’s a good Chaser.”
Due to the State being cut by lock down restrictions, Greyhound Racing NSW decided that this year two versions of the NSW Sprint Championship would be staged, one for those outside of the locked down region – at Bathurst – and the other for those locked in, to be held at Dapto on Thursday.
The Dapto, Zone 1 NSW Sprint Championship, has drawn a smart field of sprinters, with the John Finn-trained Zipping Kyrgios and the ever-consistent Ebby Infrared two of the standouts.
While Smith narrowly missed in the main race, his talented middle distance bitch Miss Ezmae was at it Again, breaking another track record.
Having broken the Dubbo 605m track record on July 31, she was brilliant on Monday clocking a stunning 35.59s to shave 0.10s from the old mark, a mark she set five days before her Dubbo record.
