“Mercurial Mick” Takes Aim At Million Dollar Chase

THAT man Mick Patterson has proved once again what a trainer he is by producing Respectability to lead throughout to win the Grafton Million Dollar Chase regional final on Sunday night.

Respectability (Raw Ability-Fay's Magic) was coming off a dismal last in a top grade at Wentworth Park back on July 27 beaten 10 lengths behind Coast Model.

But at Grafton last night, Respectability flew, leading throughout to score by two and a half lengths over Shipwreck and Cash View with favourite Zipping Maserati in fourth.

He ran a flying 25.15 for his eighth win in 16 starts.

Ever modest, “Mercurial Mick” Patterson said he was never sure with Respectability who was training who.

Respectability for Michael Patterson has won the Grafton Greyhound Racing Club TAB Million Dollar Chase series winning in 25.15.

Shipwreck (2nd) and Cash View (3rd) will join him in the MDC Semi Finals on the 16th September. pic.twitter.com/BBPJn0FsVp

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) August 21, 2022

“Is it me getting the best out of him or is it him training me,” questioned Mick.

“Who is wagging the tail?”

Patterson said he was fully aware after the dog's Wentworth Park failure back in July that he had more than his fair share of critics.

“Plenty put their hands up to tell me how to train him,” said Mick.

“After that run, he got my brain thinking. I knew I needed to change his mind-set.

“He is a dog who can turn a little bump into a catastrophe.”

That involved a complete change.

Mick headed off to Capalaba for a couple of trials.

“He went 20.57 and there were lots of people telling me that was good for his first look there,” he said. “I wasn't that happy though.

“But, the next week he went back and went 20.08 and Peter Bellamy told me that was the best of the morning and a hot run on trial morning.

“I don't think I could have had him better than he was last night at Grafton. And, he beat some special greyhounds at Grafton. I was in awe of the field they put together.”

Patterson has a plan for his dog.

“He is still eligible for a fifth grade on a Saturday night at Wenty so that will be the plan on September 3,” he said. “He will go back, in the meantime, to Capalaba for more of those straight track gallops.

“Hopefully the fifth grade at Wenty will give him super confidence going into the semi-finals of the Million Dollar Chase two weeks later.”

Patterson is an avid fan of the Million Dollar Chase concept.

“I like that dogs get their chance to qualify for the semis through regional racing,” he said.

“It gives country trainers a chance without having to go through trials and three rounds of a series each week.

“All that travelling for country dogs is not ideal.”

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Andrew and Sarah Monaghan produced Suzie Dutton, a daughter of exciting young sire Hooked On Scotch and their proven broodbitch Luminescence, to brilliantly win a maiden at Grafton on Sunday in 20.02.

The track record is 19.65.

Suzie Dutton scored by 10 and a half lengths as the $1.20 favourite.

“We had 12 in the litter,” said Sarah. “Nine of them will make it for sure.

“This bitch and a dog called Austin Dutton are probably the best but it is a very even litter.

“I have a wrap on the Hooked On Scotch pups. Crazy keen chases and at the same age they are better than the mother's first litter.

“We have not pushed the litter at all, but they are showing us plenty.”