Explicit Electrifying In Setting MDC Time Standard
AN all-male contingent will line-up in the Million Dollar Chase after the staging of eight action packed semi-finals at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
AN all-male contingent will line-up in the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase (520m) after the staging of eight action packed semi-finals at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
And the $1 million-to-the-winner decider shapes as one of the most open on record after the all important box draw threw the race wide open.
Setting the pace for Friday night's final was the Jason Thompson-trained Explicit which carved out a flying 29.19 – third fastest ever time recorded at Wentworth Park – to take out the opening semi-final by six-lengths.
The four-time group race winning son of Bernardo was simply awesome at his Wentworth Park debut, reminding all and sundry why he is the sport's premier sprinter and was installed pre-pos series favourite.
But his task in the final won't prove an easy one after drawing box seven with the speedy and rails hugging Sunset Frazier, a 30.12 semi-final winner, drawn to his immediate outside in eight.
Explicit has been installed a $2.90 favourite with bookmakers ahead of fellow Victorian Inconspicuous at $3.80.
Trained by Anthony Azzopardi, Inconspicuous made a real statement in his semi-final romp, stopping the clock in a flying 29.26.
Another to storm into the final was Western Australia star Bezzecchi which charged home late to score in his semi-final in 29.74.
A flying 29.12 winner of his city qualifier a week earlier to progress through to the semi-finals, the Paul Stuart-trained Bezzecchi has drawn box two in the final, with bookmakers keeping him safe at $4.80.
Sitting up in the rails for the final is the Jason Magri-trained Zipping Megatron which continued his sensational Wentworth Park record with a 29.35 semi-final win.
The son of Superior Panama extended his Wentworth Park record to 10 wins and four minors from 14 starts and with the aid of box one in the final, will get every chance to extend that streak on Friday night.
Trainer Frank Hurst already has a Million Dollar Chase trophy on the mantelpiece and will get the chance to add a second on Friday night when Good Odds Cobber steps out from box five.
In a sensational training performance, Hurst had his prized Megastar hero in perfect order for his semi-final appearance, just a fortnight on from falling in the final of the Black Top where his prospect of contesting the pointy end of the MDC series appeared forlorn.
The final semi-final produced one of the races of the night with Victorian Blue Kermaro defeating locally trained Power And Glory in 29.37.
Blue Kermaro only snuck into the semi-finals a week earlier with a third placed finish and will now be racing for $1 million for trainer Josh Formosa on Friday night.
The remaining semi-final was annexed by Both Bowers Ace for Minnie Finn in 30.03 in a nail biting finish.
BOX DRAW – LADBROKES MILLION DOLLAR CHASE (520M)
1. ZIPPING MEGATRON
2. BEZZECCHI
3. INCONSPICIUOS
4. BOTH BOWERS ACE
5. GOOD ODDS COBBER
6. BLUE KERMARO
7. EXPLICIT
8. SUNSET FRAZIER