Fitch Daring To Dream Ahead Of Million Dollar Bid

A man with his dog and a dream.

That's the inspiring storyline of Nowra trainer Steve Fitch and his grand chaser Cumbria Kid ahead of Friday night's Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase Final (520m) at Wentworth Park.

For the past 15 years, Fitch – who began training in 2016 – has made a living out of buying, building and selling cleaning franchises across New South Wales and Queensland.

And it's that hardened work ethic and relentless pursuit of success he's redirected to greyhound racing which has led to a potential $1m windfall at headquarters on Friday night.

"I actually sold my last franchise two weeks back on October 1 to take up training full-time," Fitch said.

"It just got to a point where to do the dogs properly I had to be all in with it.

"It's been a slog, when I first started back in 2016 I had a couple of pretty slow dogs but we managed to win some races and things have gone from there."

To fully appreciate the Cumbria Kid story you need to trace back to 2016 when Fitch put a call into group 1 winning Hunter Valley trainer, the late Robert Smith.

"Robert had trained a few dogs for me and I told him I was on the lookout for a well-bred brood to get started," Fitch recalled.

"He told me Kevin Gordon would have something and from that I ended up with Hill Top Belle which Kevin gave to me. I was happy to pay but Kevin wouldn't hear of it."

Fast forward to 2023 and Hill Top Belle, just a modest performer on the track winning five races, has proved a godsend for Fitch in the breeding barn.

Her two litters to Barcia Bale and Fernando Bale have produced a staggering 189 race wins and more than $800,000 in prize money.

Included among that offspring is Million Dollar Chase hopeful Cumbria Kid.

"She turns 10 next month and lives the life of luxury here at home – she's certainly earned it," Fitch said.

"From a breeding side she really got me off the ground and to have bred Cumbria Kid and made it to a Million Dollar Chase makes it that bit more special."

With some of the giants of the sport eyeing off Friday night's lucrative event, Fitch is well aware of the enormous task at hand.

But that flicker of hope shone a little brighter when the 17-time winner came up with the all important box one.

"I'm coining Jim Carey … ‘So you‘re telling me there's a chance', we are there and he's got his box," Fitch said.

"But whatever the result I'm just proud of the dog and looking forward to taking the night in with family and friends because you don't know the next chance you'll get.

"Had he drawn badly you'd go there expecting to make up the numbers but from box one you just never know. What I can promise is that he'll give his all. He always does."

Cumbria Kid, winner at 17 of his 68 starts, is a $27 chance with race sponsor Ladbrokes.