Good Odds Harada Primed For Topgun Tilt

FRANK Hurst has declared Good Odds Harada better than ever leading into Saturday night’s Group 1 Topgun (525m) at The Meadows.

FRANK Hurst has declared Million Dollar Chase hero Good Odds Harada better than ever leading into Saturday night's Group 1 Topgun (525m) at The Meadows, but admits to having serious reservations about a "horror" box six draw.

Last Friday night at Richmond the 20-race winner was put through his paces by Hurst in a 535-metre trial, leaving the Londonderry conditioner in no doubt that the star son of Collision is on song for Saturday night's group 1 blockbuster.

"He went 30.20 at 11 o'clock at night … I almost had to wake him up to bring him over to the track," Hurst declared.

"His sections were 5.19 early and 15.13 up the back … he's just airborne.

"I put him up at Appin on Tuesday morning to top him off for Saturday and he went better than he usually goes, I couldn't be happier with him.

"Since he's come back from Perth for the Nationals he's gone up about three levels. Early on I thought he had to lead to win but he's proved me wrong, if anything he's getting better."

Current betting for Saturday night's Topgun has Sennachie the $3.50 favourite to land a third career group 1 victory, while Black Opium, the only female in the field, is $4.00 from box one to claim an elusive group 1 triumph.

Good Odds Harada is on the third line of betting at $4.60 with Shima Shine a $5.50 chance, eyeing group 1 glory at just his 14th race appearance.

And while Hurst couldn't be happier with Good Odds Harada heading into Saturday night's assignment, he is however rueing the box six draw.

"I was having a few drinks at the club last week with Lindsay Niccol (Feral Franky's owner) and we both agreed you'd need to draw 1,2,3 to win the race," Hurst added.

"Box six is a horror draw, it's shithouse actually, we'll just see what happens from there."

Win, lose or draw in Saturday night's Topgun invitation, Hurst will back Good Odds Harada up at Sandown Park next Thursday night to contest either the Group 3 four-dog Shootout or a prelude of the Melbourne Cup.

Currently, the son of Collision and Solar Pak isn't qualified for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup heats on November 22, a situation Hurst will remedy next Thursday just by turning up.

"It's worth $450,000 to the winner so we want to be there," quipped Hurst.

"It's my fault he's not qualified. I'd planned to have him down there a few weeks back for a round of the preludes. If he wins the Topgun he'll be exempt but it doesn't matter what happens Saturday, he'll have a look at Sandown next Thursday.

"We might nominate for the Shootout. I'll have a talk to (wife) Tracey and decide what we do.

"Looking at the dogs that will be there for the Shootout I'd back my bloke to have the speed to lead them so we might go that way. We've got until Monday so we'll just get through Saturday first."

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