Harada's Second Act Starts Off In Style

SUPERSTAR sprinter Good Odds Harada has made a stunning return to racing, scoring by ten lengths at Bulli on Saturday night for Jason Magri.

SUPERSTAR sprinter Good Odds Harada has made a stunning return to racing.

The TAB Million Dollar Chase winner was simply breathtaking at Bulli on Saturday night, rocketing over the 400 metres in a sizzling 22.20 for caretaker trainer Jason Magri.

Retired to stud in mid-February after contesting the Group 1 Temlee at The Meadows, Frank Hurst handed the reins to Jason Magri to reignite the son of Collision's racing career after Hurst was injured in a trialing mishap last month.

And if what we witnessed on Saturday night is any indication of what's ahead, there's every chance the second act could be every bit as good as the first.

Heavily backed from $1.75 into $1.35 at jump time, it was a sea of green soon after box rise, with Good Odds Harada's burly 35 kilo frame well out in front from his box six draw in a matter of strides.

Going on to score by 9 ¼ lengths, the victory took the brindle flyer's record to 25 wins from 57 starts, the $1,600 winner's purse extending his career earnings to $1.28 million.

And on the strength of Saturday night's dazzling return, it would appear that only the uncertainty of the group racing schedule in the coming months stands between him and Fanta Bale's all-time prize money record.

Utilised at stud by some of the country's leading breeders in recent times, there was always the sense of feeling that the Million Dollar Chase champ would return to the track at some juncture.

The early plan was to resume in the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg, the semi-finals of which would have been staged on Saturday night had it not been rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What racing looks like in the coming months is anyone's guess.

But whatever the landscape, having a fit and firing Good Odds Harada plying his trade is only a positive for racing.

Meanwhile, on a fantastic program of racing, the final race of the night saw Nangar Rust come with a withering burst to score on the line in 26.37 for trainer Mick Hardman.

With the highly talented Unison scorching along out in front and appearing all over a winner, stayer in waiting Nangar Rust sprouted wings in the latter stages to score by a whisker, landing the most unlikely of victories.


 

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