Hunter To Become The Hunted In Masters Meteor

Hong Kong-based jockey Brenton Avdulla is set for his biggest night as a greyhound owner on Million Dollar Chase night on Friday.

Avdulla shares in the ownership of three dogs contesting supporting features at Wentworth Park.

"If I had an Everest ride I'd have been coming back (to Australia) on Thursday and I would have gone," Avdulla said.

"I've got six dogs and three of them are in on the biggest night of racing in the sport.

FIELDS AND FORM WENTWORTH PARK FRIDAY NIGHT

"I'm very excited and looking forward to it."

Avdulla's night is likely to kick off with Connections in the GRNSW Syndication Showdown (520m) while the son of Fernando Bale is also the first reserve in the Masters Meteor Final (520m) which is the preferred option for the 21-time winner.

"I'm hoping he gets a start in the Masters because he deserves it," Avdulla said.

"He's in the Syndication race and it's going to be a strong race with a few dogs that can run real time.

"He's in good order and he never lets you down."

Avdulla's two other runners, Fernando Quality and Fernando Hunter, are both hard in the market in their respective races.

Ladbrokes has Fernando Quality at $4.40 for the $25,000-to-the-winner Young Star Classic Final (520m) while Fernando Hunter is the $2.30 favourite to take home the $100,000 winner's purse for the Masters Meteor Final (520m).

Fernando Quality was the second fastest qualifier for the Young Star Final when running a Wentworth Park personal best of 29.74 in his heat and will launch from box two in the final.

"He is always going to improve off last week coming off a 400m run," Avdulla said.

"Michelle (Sultana) and Darryl (Thomas) thought he could be vulnerable the other night going 400m to 520m.

"I think he can go quicker to the mark than the 5.42 he ran in the heat, and he'll take great benefit from his heat run.

"He's drawn well. If he can nail the start and find the front, he'll give them something to run down."

Fernando Hunter is Avdulla's favourite dog – for good reason.

The veteran chaser is named after his son Hunter and is the winner of 23 of his 52 starts.

He came from last to book his place in the final but on Friday he goes from box eight to a more suitable box one draw.

"In the past every time Hunter has lobbed into a semi or a good race he drew average but this time he's got the red," Avdulla said.

"This is the race we've targeted with him so he sets up well.

"Whenever he's drawn the red or the two, he's a different dog.

"If he can just step and run his 5.48 to the mark he might hold leaders back and then he's right in the game.

"Ability wise the times say he's the best dog there and he's got his box.

"He'll improve off the other night and this is what he's been set for."

Avdulla sees the Million Dollar Chase Final as a race in two but he's switched allegiances after last week's heats.

"I've always been on Postman Pat but I was really impressed with the Queenslander in the heats and I think it's a bonus he's drawn inside Postman Pat," he said.

"I like the two, Jay Is Jay."

And in Saturday's $20m The Everest he's sticking solid to the horse that he rode into second place last year.

"I'm with my old mate Private Eye," he said.

"I think Think About It will be hard to beat from the draw but Private Eye has been a good horse to me and I'd like to see him go one better on Saturday."