Cash All Good For Million Dollar Chase Test

IF Frank Hurst can secure his second TAB Million Dollar Chase title at Wentworth Park on Saturday night he'll have rival trainer Andy Lord to partly thank for it.

It was at the height of the NSW bushfires in late 2019 that Hurst lent on Lord to select one of two pups residing at his vast Gunning property that he had intended to purchase.

The end result was Good Odds Cash and tomorrow night at Wentworth Park the fashionably bred sprinter is considered the biggest opposition to Lord's three-pronged attack on the Million Dollar Chase spearheaded by raging hot favourite She's A Pearl.

"He not only picked her out for me but he told me what to name her as well," Hurst revealed.

"It's funny that a few years on here we are racing each other in the biggest race the sport has. But he's got three chances and I've got one so he's got a pretty decent head start!"

"So far, it's sensational" – Frank Hurst on what it's like to have another crack at $1 Million after Good Odds Cash won her TAB #MDC Semi-Final at Wentworth Park Greyhounds tonight…#thedogs #milliondollarchase #wentypark pic.twitter.com/9HHF1DM3U2

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) April 29, 2022

It was back in 2019 that Hurst climbed greyhound racing's highest peak when guiding Good Odds Harada to a thrilling victory in the TAB Million Dollar Chase.

Scenes of Hurst in full stretch in front of a jam-packed Wentworth Park crowd becoming etched in greyhound racing folklore.

"It's a lot different this time around," Hurst, 75, said.

"With Harada I honestly expected him to win so there was an enormous amount of pressure going into the race. With Good Odds Cash I know she can win but I'm not going there expecting to.

"It's been a fairly relaxing week because the level of expectation is tempered a bit. I do think she's ready to run the race of her life but that still might not be good enough.

"We'll find out Saturday." 

Good Odds Cash, winner at 19 of her 39 starts, is a $6.50 third favourite for Saturday's Million Dollar Chase finale.

The blueblood will exit box five directly outside the juggernaut that is She's A Pearl which is shooting for a twelfth straight victory in the world's richest greyhound race.

"To beat She's A Pearl we are relying on doing everything absolutely right and hoping she makes a mistake," Hurst said.

"But it's a greyhound race and anything can happen. We are there, she's in perfect order and she's proven time and time again she can mix it with the best dogs in the land."

The enormity of potentially securing two of the first four TAB Million Dollar Chases isn't lost on Frank and his wife Tracey.

Remarkably, it's a feat that's already been accomplished with Peter Lagogiane training Mystic Riot and Handsome Prince to victory in 2018 and 2020 respectively.

"The whole concept has been huge for the industry and I'm not just saying that because we've been lucky enough to win one," Hurst said.

"It gives everyone involved in the industry something to dream and aspire to. If we are lucky enough to win again then great but if not we'll be back again trying later in the year."

Adding further excitement to Saturday night's star-studded meeting is the appearance of Good Odds Harada youngster We Don't Share in the TAB Million Dollar Chase Maiden.

Ironically, We Don't Share's biggest rival is Our Boy Duke which shares the same mum as Good Odds Harada, grand producer Solar Pak.