Lagogiane Eyes More Million Dollar Riches

FORMER Tasmanian sprinter Handsome Prince has roared into next Friday night's TAB Million Dollar Chase Final (520m) with a slick 29.73 semi-final win at Wentworth Park on Friday night.

Trained by Peter Lagogiane – who prepared inaugural Million Dollar Chase winner Mystic Riot – Handsome Prince was just sublime winning his semi-final and progressing through to next week's $1 million to-the-winner decider.

Having just his fourth start for Lagogiane since transferring from the Apple Isle, Handsome Prince only qualified for the semi-final stage by way of his first-up last ditch Wentworth Park qualifying win last Saturday night.

And didn't he make the most if it, storming into the world's richest greyhound race with a powerhouse victory.

"He just keeps taking a step forward every week he's here … he's just a professional race dog," Lagogiane said.

"The dog came up in fantastic order from Pat Ryan in Tassie which allowed us to shoot for this series not long after he arrived. He deserves a lot of credit for him getting this far."

The second MDC semi-final on Friday night was won by a rampaging Xerri for trainer Darryl Thomas, stopping the clock in a slick 29.73 from box two.

Railing underneath early leader Stardom – another Lagogiane runner – Xerri put his raw ability on full display with a powerhouse victory from thereon.

Semi-final three was won by WA superstar Tommy Shelby in 29.58, defeating a gallant Shetland – another Lagogiane runner – by 2 ¼ lengths.

Returning to Wentworth Park for the first time since June when a very unlucky second in the Group 1 Vic Peters Classic (520m), Tommy Shelby was simply brilliant, running 5.45 early en route to his blistering 29.58 victory.

It was a performance that will see the prolific winning sprinter start atop of betting for next week's decider along with Flying Ricciardo which progressed with the narrowest of semi-final wins over Faithy Bale.

Considered the best young sprinter New South Wales has produced in years, Flying Ricciardo had to pull out all stops for trainer Kristy Sultana to defeat Faithy Bale in an epic drive to the line.

Semi-final six was won by Awesome Catch for trainers Jodie and Andy Lord, powering over the top of some floundering leaders to win at double figure odds.

Semi-final seven was annexed by SA star Shadow Mist in a blistering 29.64 for trainer Lauren Harris while the final chance to qualify went the way of Waging War which finished over the top of Stinger Noir in 29.87.