Photo Man Lone Victorian In MDC Final

FIRST cousins, Dave MacKenzie and Gavin Clifton, were born four months apart 55 years ago and have been best of mates ever since.

They got their first greyhound together when they were 18.

These days, Dave and Gavin share the training of a small team of greyhounds which includes a son of Aston Dee Bee-Amlin Mystique by the name of Photo Man.

Next Saturday night, Photo Man will be the lone Victorian taking on the world with a million dollar payday the lure.

Photo Man gives Dave and Gavin their biggest chance in greyhound racing and they will both be at Wentworth Park on Saturday night to celebrate just being in with a chance at that million dollar payday.

"What a buzz!"

Photo Man is the 4th dog through to the TAB #MDC Final… and Gavin Clifton will be asking for some extra time off work, we think! Mick Cowley caught up with the trainer post-race.#thedogs #greyhoundracing @WatchDogRacing pic.twitter.com/eSkZLOhODd

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) April 29, 2022

Photo Man ran 29.96 to win his Million Dollar Chase semi-final (520m) holding off the late charge of Jebani to score by a length. It was his eighth win in 16 starts and took his stakes to $60,000.

“We could not be happier,” said Dave of the chance of a lifetime he and Gavin are facing.

“Gavin took him to Wenty. We are friends with Glen McKinley and he organised a place for us to stay in NSW in the past couple of weeks and that has been wonderful.

“But, I was jumping up and down and leapt off the couch when he won the semi.”

Dave and Gavin bought Photo Man at three months from breeders Gerri Sneyder and Pearl Terry.

“We dropped in at Gerri's one day and liked the look of the litter, so we bought a dog and a bitch,” said Dave. “We took them home and reared them, educated them and pre-trained them.

“Gavin and I share the training and all the dogs are kept at my property. When is Greyhound Racing Victoria going to give training partnerships the go ahead.”

Photo Man's dam Amlin Mystique (El Grand Senor-Brandeen Marny) won 12 races on provincial Victorian tracks and her littermate El Marny won 25 races.

Photo Man instantly showed ability but it was only after he won the Launching Pad Consolation at Sandown in 29.44 that Dave and Gavin decided the Million Dollar Chase would be his target.

“He ran as first section of 5.05 in the Consolation of the Launching Pad and convinced us he had the early pace that is needed at Wenty.

“He's a bit special this dog. He has a great temperament, very professional.”

Dave and Gavin were happy with his first-up third to Coast Model at Wenty.

“He didn't get a lot of luck,” said Dave. “We were not that happy with the six in the semi but you take what you get. He's a real competitor. He likes to chase down other dogs.”

Dave is a real fan of MDC hotpot She's A Pearl.

“She's an unbelievable animal,” he said.

“But, we are in the final, drawn a good box in three and all unplaced will get $10,000 just for turning up. We believe he is boxed to go well.”

Plans for Photo Man after the Chase final centre on the Group 1 Harrison Dawson.

“We'll do our best, but just to be in it is fantastic,” said Dave.

Jodie Lord will take three into the final including raging hot favourite She's A Pearl who ran 29.30 last night to lower her own record run for a female at Wenty. Jodie's other hopes are Coast Model and Doonan.

Frank Hurst gets his chance to join Peter Lagogiane as a twice MDC winning trainer when Good Odds Cash lines up for the final.

And, rank outsider Zambidis will give Christos Arietos his chance at million dollar glory after an $81 upset in the semis on Friday night.

Zambidis, having only her sixth race start, rattled home to win over Victorian star Plaintiff. Zambidis had previously won a maiden up the straight at Richmond and ran 30.40 to win at Wenty three starts back.

Million Dollar Chase (box draw): 1 Coast Model, 2 Ritza Donna, 3 Photo Man, 4 She's A Pearl, 5 Good Odds Cash, 6 Irinka Riley, 7 Zambidis, 8 Doonan. Res: 9 Zipping Maserati, 10 Modern Talking.