Ready To Rock: Mackay's Million Dollar Journey

THE enormity of tonight's TAB Million Dollar Chase Final at Wentworth Park isn't lost on champion Hunter Valley trainer Jason Mackay.

Mackay, the unflappable Richmond Vale conditioner well-known for his steely hard-edged exterior, will line-up two runners in tonight's Million Dollar Chase after Get It Gizmo and Flying Bazza were ultra-impressive winners of their semi-finals last Friday night.

Get It Gizmo set the time-standard for the world's richest greyhound race with an electrifying 29.45 seconds victory, while the long striding Flying Bazza scored one race later in a slick 29.78.

Both owned by Victorian interests, TAB has Get It Gizmo a $4.00 equal second favourite from box one, while Flying Bazza (box three) is quoted a $15.00 chance in a wide-open betting affair.

"To tell you the truth, I don't think either of them could be better boxed," Mackay said.

"I reckon the one box is absolute gold for Get It Gizmo. Had he drawn wide, I doubt he could have got across. If he runs 5.45 early and holds the inside we'll see something pretty special from him. He went 29.45 last week in a late race, there's still a bit more in the tank I think."

And while Mackay is confident Get It Gizmo is ready to run a bottler in the $1 million to-the-winner decider, he's warned punters not to undersell the prospects of Flying Bazza.

"His inexperience cost him running 29.60 last week," Mackay added.

"When I first took him to Wentworth Park he trialled 23.91 post-to-post. There's only a few dogs that can do that, Pindari Express is one. If Bazza drops to the fence and there's some trouble up front, he's not out of it.

"The most pleasing thing is that they've both come out of their semi-finals in great order. They were bouncing off their beds last Saturday like they hadn't been around. That's what you want to see."

Mackay, not one to mince words, was his matter of fact self when quizzed on where a Million Dollar Chase triumph would sit among his career highlights.

Highlights that include victories in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup and Golden Easter Egg, significant events at the pinnacle of Australian greyhound racing.

"This race would definitely be at the top," quipped the 49 year-old.

"And don't get me wrong it's not because of the money … it's more about where the industry in NSW was a few years back to where we are now. We've done a full 360 and this race is a big part of that."

Mackay is of course speaking about then Premier Mike Baird's plans to close the NSW greyhound industry in 2016. A decision that was later reversed.

"Back then we had a photographer here at home taking a picture of the family because we were heading for ruin … a few years on they're here because we've got two dogs in a $1 million dollar race," Mackay beamed.

With new life in an industry which had been consigned to the scrapheap, in many ways tonight's TAB Million Dollar Chase is a celebration of all that's been achieved in the past two years under the direction of Greyhound Racing NSW.

"I've been gobsmacked by just how much progress has been made … we've come a long way," Mackay added.

"The bad eggs have been squashed and people are proud to say they're involved in the industry again. You enjoy going to the races, there's so much positivity. We're not totally there yet, but we're climbing the ladder. Everything's heading the right way."

Tonight at Wentworth Park, Mackay looks to add the Million Dollar Chase trophy to a series of achievements that already includes numerous group 1 victories, greyhound of the year titles, track record holders and metropolitan trainers' premierships.

A bona fide Hall of Famer in waiting, renowned for his meticulous training approach, Mackay boasts a CV that has him firmly perched among the training elite.

"If you want to put the hard work in you're a chance, if you don't you're not – it's as simple as that," Mackay added. "And you need good people around you, trainers like Dave Irwin and Bob Douglas have been invaluable to me.

"I couldn't be happier with my two going into the race. I don't need good luck in the final, I just don't need any bad luck. But win, lose or draw it's all good … the sun will come up tomorrow."