Barak Beats Pearl In Million Dollar Chase Qualifier

SOUTHERN Stars winner Aston Barak has ended She's A Pearl's unbeaten winning streak when taking out the TAB Million Dollar Chase Regional Final at Goulburn on Friday.

She's A Pearl was having her second start since winning the postponed 2021 TAB Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park back in May and she was immediately in trouble, the last of the eight runners to leave the boxes.

While She's A Pearl was trying to navigate a clear passage past runners, Aston Barak fought off an early challenge from Lime Rock Park to take up the running and he was never headed.

Meanwhile, She's A Pearl was never out of trouble, first contacting Father Rick before also striking trouble with her kennelmate Doonan, she then switched to the outside of runners as the field swung for home.

Down the running, She's A Pearl made up some ground, but the placegetters were off and gone.

Aston Barak ($4.60), trained by Jason Fletcher, defeated Nordic Thunder ($61) by a length with four lengths back to Lime Rock Park ($71) in third. She's A Pearl jumped the $1.26 favourite and finished fourth.

Aston Barak covered the 440-metre trip in 24.53 seconds.

Aston Barak (3) the #SouthernStars winner has added the @goulburn_grc @tabcomau #MDC Regional Final to his list!

He won in 24.53, from Nordic Thunder (2) + Lime Rock Park (4) with hot fav She's A Pearl (1) missing the kick and running 4th in a major upset!

*NB: Replay is mute pic.twitter.com/jyomJre1M4

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) September 2, 2022

The $7000 winner's purse took Aston Barak's career haul to more than $140,000 with 22 wins from 48 starts with seven of those wins coming from nine starts at Goulburn.

"He's won 10 at Wentworth Park, he's broken 30 there a heap of times so wherever he draws well and gets a clear run, he goes very fast," Fletcher told thedogs.com.au.

The son of She's A Pearl's sire Aston Dee Bee has a Wentworth Park personal best of 29.60 and he along with the placegetters booked their place in the TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-finals at Wentworth Park on Friday, September 16.

The $1 million-to-the-winner final will be run at Wentworth Park on Saturday, September 24.

For She's A Pearl to progress through to the semi-finals she will need to contest the city qualifiers at Wentworth Park on Saturday week (September 10).

The champion bitch is $3.50 out to $6 with TAB Fixed Odds to land the final.