Million Dollar Chase Final Night Preview

The Greyhound Recorder’s Adam Dobbin and Sky Racing’s Tim Newbold take a look at Friday night’s TAB Million Dollar Chase program at Wentworth Park.

The Greyhound Recorder's Adam Dobbin and Sky Racing's Tim Newbold take a look at Friday night's TAB Million Dollar Chase program at Wentworth Park.

R1: GAP Online Adoption Stake (520m) – 6.42pm

AD: Massive card of racing Tim and I'm really keen on SOVEREIGN KING in the first. In fact he's my best of the night. He's been airborne since moving to Jodie Lord's kennels and to my eye gets a great run in transit. Expect STILL BLUE to lead and no doubt she's the one to beat off a fast last start win. SHANJO Prince looks the other key chance  just not sure about the red for him tonight.

TIPS: 2,4,1  

TN: Ripper meeting Adam and can't wait to get trackside tonight. I agree SOVEREIGN KING is flying but I read it a little differently. Trendy Ethics on his immediate outside is the key to his chances. She takes a step left out of the boxes and can just hold him initially and that's where I see STILL BLUE going straight to the front. Set career best figures last start and can go back-to-back. The King will be hard to hold out if the breaks go his way.

TIPS: 4,2,3 

R2: TAB Million Dollar Maiden Final (520m) – 7.05pm

AD: Can't go past RITZA TOMMY which made his debut a winning one in 30.03 last week. Kennel has a big opinion of him and expect him to be even better for his first hit out. ICE CREAM STORY was backed as if unbeatable in her heat and won like it as well, has box six but looks a real up and comer. Look Tim, she's big odds but it wouldn't surprise me if AUSSIE SWIPER is in the finish. If there's some trouble up front she can definitely get into the money. You with Tommy, Tim? 

TIPS: 4,6,2

TN: He's a ultra-talented young pup and a fabulous chance Adam but I'm in the corner of ICE CREAM STORY. They put the money on like the number was already in the frame on debut and I loved what she did. Showed great box manners and has a really good turn of foot. Will be better for the experience and can improve a fraction on the clock. RITZA TOMMY the danger – he could well be the best dog to come out of this series. KIA HERRERA could lead and easily the best roughie. 

TIPS: 6,4,5

R3: TAB Young Star Final (520m) – 7.28pm

AD: Thought MIDNIGHT ESCAPE was a bit of value in the Young Star Final. He's a youngster still learning what it's all about and I thought his 30.11 heat win was full of merit. Gets the red tonight which is another plus. CHRISSIE BANNER has a picket fence beside her name and she's earned favouritism, the one to beat. RAPALLO is the other runner in the market and has strong claims. Keen on the red here at the tidy odds.

TIPS: 1,2,8

TN: Great betting race. Super-keen on RAPALLO, actually one of my better bets of the night. Perfectly drawn out in the pink, and has a speedy hard railer drawn directly underneath so will get a beautiful run down the centre of the track. Run down late last start but strips fitter now and ready to peak 3rd-up at ‘500'. SID CORE is a fantastic roughie around $20. Mixes box manners but will go close if he steps cleanly. Chrissie Banner facing her biggest challenge for a while and thought she was a genuine risk at the short quote.

TIPS: 8,5,1

R4: Thompson Building Services (520m) – 7.50pm

AD: Looks an ideal race for VAMOS PENNY. Well boxed in eight and plummets in grade for this assignment. She's won five of her 10 Wenty starts and falls into a fifth grade. Few ticks for her. Richmond Oaks winner SNIFFY is improving with recent racing and should race up on the pace, CHROME is suited by the small field as well and should be getting home hard.

TIPS: 8,4,7

TN: It's taken four races but we're seeing this one identical Adam. Hard to find anything to beat VAMOS PENNY. She's got great exposed form, loves the joint and suited with limited early speed underneath so should get a nice slide across. SNIFFY has been flying under the radar and ready to win. Could easily fire straight to the front and run a bottler. CHROME will appreciate the drop in class and a genuine winning chance.

TIPS: 8,4,7

R5: Watch Live Racing At The Dogs (520m) – 8.12pm

AD: Toughest race of the night. Tim I've gone with HOOPER because of the draw as much as anything. Has had six Wenty runs for three placings but not a lot's gone his way. Won't get a better chance to break through. HUNDRED DEGREES is right in the mix as well, he's better than his form suggests and the vacant box to his outside suits. SAUCY SMILE is over the odds for mine given the lack of exposed form. Good luck here, Tim. We'll all need it.

TIPS: 1,4,3

TN: Yeah cheers Adam – I do agree, very, very tricky race. Have gone over and over it and keep coming back to HUNDRED DEGREES. Comes into this off a little freshen-up which appeals and only needs a clean start to be rushing up the centre and punching for the lead. His best time at the track will win this race. JABENI rises in class but drawn for a cushy run just off the speed and will be strong late while HOOPER lobs into the easiest race he's been in at headquarters.

TIPS: 4,2,1

R6: TAB Masters Meteor Final (520m) – 8.35pm

AD: The greybeards step out in force and anyway I look at it I can't go past the favs SUNBURNT HIGHWAY and NANGAR KASH. They're the two that have been competitive in higher grades prior to this series and their heat wins in identical time suggested one set of connections will be scooping the $100k first prize. Because of the draw I'm with Sunburnt Highway – just. The value runner for mine is BENKENNIE CHIC from the inside. Seeing it the same?

TIPS: 5,7,1

TN: Sure am Adam, we're on the same page with SUNBURNT HIGHWAY and NANGAR KASH with the top two but I've got them around the other way. They've both been specifically set for the series and racing in tremendous fashion but a very slight leaning towards the latter. With speed drawn inside and out SH, I can envisage the black rug getting a clearer run in the drive to the first bend which might just make the race for him. My value runner is the speedy ROBBIE KNOWS, strips fitter for his last run and has no pace drawn around him.

TIPS: 7,5,2

R7: Sydney Cup Final (720m) – 8.59pm

AD: Expecting a big performance from SUNSET BOURBSKI tonight. Tad disappointing in her heat on face value but before that her form was irrepressible. Really bullish about her prospects. HERE'S TEARS was outstanding in his heat but just slightly concerned where he lands in the run drawn near the fence. TORNADO TEARS the other major player – a win tonight takes his earnings past $1 million. If he puts his best foot forward he'll be right there at the finish.

TIPS: 7,2,1

TN: SUNSET BOURBSKI came into this series arguably the best stayer in the country and if you buttered up to the shorts last week, you'd be entitled to be disappointed in the run, but like you, I'm prepared to give her another chance. We know she's capable of better and going quicker, Gets a suitable wide draw. She's on top from HERE'S TEARS, who is better drawn off the track but can use his speed to clear his older brother TORNADO TEARS in the early stages. And of course, TT can't be forgotten and could easily blow them away.
 
TIPS: 7,1,2

R8: TAB Million Dollar Chase Consolation – 9.26pm

AD: Fantastic consolation of the MDC with a host of chances. I thought STINGER NOIR could run a race at around $8. Has to contend with box five but if he begins it could work in his favour. FAITHY BALE went within a nose of beating Flying Ricciardo last week and going around in tonight's big dance so she's a deserved favourite. SHETLAND is in sensational form and has strong claims as well. Just one of the eight runners over double figures here.

TIPS: 5,4,7

TN: Wide-open Consolation, could make a real case for the majority of runners and have landed on SHETLAND at great value. He's been airborne in recent weeks and was outstanding when runner-up behind Tommy Shelby last week. Love him drawn off the track where he is. FAITHY BALE was super-gallant last start and a repeat of that run will see her in the finish again. SECOND EXIT is drawn for a soft run back on the rails and will be powerful late.

Tips: 7,4,1

R9: TAB Million Dollar Chase Grand Final (520m) – 10.03pm

AD: Tim, I'm with Tommy Shelby. His three runs at WPK have been nothing short of sensational and the way they're all drawn expect he gets his chance to charge into the race. SHADOW MIST was awesome last week and has the benefit of the rails while I reckon XERRI still has something in the locker as well. And then there's FLYING RICCIARDO. He'll need to be every bit as good as we know he is tonight crossing a hot speed. Promises to be an absolute corker of a race – and we'd expect nothing less.

TIPS: 8,1,2

TN: With a line-up like this Adam, it's certainly worthy of a million bucks to the winner. I'm with Tommy as well after a brilliant front-running performance in his semi. With the exception of him, all the pace is drawn in boxes 1, 2 and 3 so there could be some jostling near the inside early and he'll get every chance to rush to the front and let rip mid-race. FLYING RICCIARDO is the baby of the field but as the old adage goes, if you're good enough you're old enough – and he's certainly good enough. Absolute star! If there's a blow-out, WAGING WAR could be the one at big odds.

TIPS: 8,3,4

R10: GRNSW Stakes (520m) – 10.35pm

AD: DRINK MOET should lead the last for fun and at the better odds happy to be with her to get the better of RITZA COEN. The latter is suited by the small field and if he gets through the first corner untouched will be powering home. If you're looking to get out in the last with a value runner look to RITZA DONALD. Win not beyond him here at his best. 

TIPS: 5,7,4

TN: Waiting until the last for my best bet Adam. RITZA COEN is one of the premier sprinters in NSW and finished right on the heels of Flying Ricciardo and Faithy Bale in sizzling time in the hottest MDC semi final last week. His racing style is suited with only five other rivals. Confident he'll be too strong late for DRINK MOET, who as you suggested, maps to lead clearly. BLAND PURR is beautifully boxed out on the wing and racing in career best form.

TIPS:7,5,8

 

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