TAB Million Dollar Chase Semi-Final Preview

The Greyhound Recorder’s Adam Dobbin and Sky's Tim Newbold take a look at Friday night’s Million Dollar Chase semi-finals at Wentworth Park.

The Greyhound Recorder's Adam Dobbin and Sky Racing's Tim Newbold take a look at Friday night's TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-finals at Wentworth Park.

R1: TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-final 1 – 6.57pm

AD: Tim, it's a sensational program of racing and in the first at each-way odds I'm with former Tassie sprinter HANDSOME PRINCE. His win here to qualify for the semis last week was very good and he's ideally drawn in two. WHITFIELD oozes ability and is well drawn out in eight. Giving CANYA STAR place hopes as well – haven't minded her efforts lately.

Tips; 2,8,4

TN: Champagne racing in the Harbour City and can't wait to get trackside on Friday night. Great to see we're butting heads in the opener, I'm super-confident SEEN AROUND will run a bottler. Fast beginner with good burn and I love a middle draw at Wenty Park for a dog with his traits. Thought he could pinch it. Agree that HANDSOME PRINCE is a major player from a gun alley while WHITFIELD gives away plenty in experience but he's got a massive engine and well placed in the pink.

Tips; 5,2,8

R2: TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-final 2 – 7.20pm

AD: How about this for a wide open semi-final with seven of the eight under double figure odds. I'm really bullish with XERRI. Airborne in trials and well boxed in two. ALL HANDS OFF trialled sensational in preparation for this and if she brings here A-game can win. Expect we'll see CAWBOURNE FOOTROT charging home, just concerned he might be giving away a decent start.

TIPS: 2,7,1

TN: Could make a genuine case for the majority of the field but in the corner of Northern Rivers sprinter ALL HANDS OFF. She's clocked some sizzling figures up North and as you mentioned, trialled the ‘house down' at Wenty last week. Boxed to get a clear run with a speedy railer on her inner which I think makes the race for her. XERRI has the X-factor about him. Explosive youngster capable of running mind-boggling times. STARDOM was great in the Bulli qualifier and the value chance.

TIPS: 7,2,3

R3: TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-final 3 – 7.38pm

AD: Granted he's short odds but I can't go past TOMMY SHELBY, one of the big guns from the series. His performances at Wenty during the Vic Peters were sublime and I can't find a reason to shy away from the WA star. If the race was won on pure talent WOW would be top pick but I just need to see him shape up more in town in races. One for value players is RITZA DONALD, Tim don't be surprised if he shocks a few with a forward run.

TIPS: 2,6,7

TN: Was gobsmacked to see TOMMY SHELBY go up so short in betting but like you, I'm sticking solid. Expect he'll get out in the market a bit closer to the race when punters look to bet around him due to the short quote. As you touched on, his Vic Peters performances were nothing short of astonishing. EBBY INFRARED is a great roughie. Fair to say he's racing a bit below his best, but back to headquarters which he adores might just spark him up. WOW is perfectly drawn wide-out and trialled sensational last Saturday.

TIPS: 3,8,6

R4: TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-final 4 – 7.57pm

AD: The second SHIMA SHINE drew box one he all but had one paw in the final. Runner-up in the race last year and the way this semi has panned out expect him to be in the big dance looking to go one better next week. EBBY JET POWER is well drawn and is the logical danger while for some value WALLBANGER is boxed to figure in the minors. Firmly in SHIMA SHINE'S corner, can you believe they bet $2?

TIPS: 1,8,2

TN: In a nutshell, no! Thought he'd be $1.50. His preparation has been timed to-the-minute. Posted near track-record times in unbeaten romps through the Bulli qualifiers, in what I believe was the strongest of all the regionals. Trialled flying time at Wenty last week to top him off nicely for this. As you suggest, EBBY JET POWER is the main threat but will need to come out running to pour on the pressure. Agree with WALLBANGER, drawn for a lovely run and a must for the multiples.

Tips: 1,8,2

R5: TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-final 5 – 8.20pm

AD: Will more than likely be wiping egg off my face but I'm tipping ASTON LEE at the odds to defeat FLYING RICCIARDO which I am told broke the Richmond 330m track record in a trial Tuesday. I've seen Aston Lee spear out in town and if he does tonight can give a sight. The fav is obviously the one to beat, he's as good a young dog we've seen in NSW for years. RITZA COEN is second elect but box seven is kryptonite to his chances. FAITHY BALE another at odds not without a show.

TIPS: 4,5,3

TN: First caught a glimpse of Flying Ricciardo when he broke the track record on debut at Bulli and knew immediately he was talented but in the ensuing months he's proven to me he's the most exciting dog I've seen in this State for a decade…. and I'm not jumping off the bandwagon. He's one right out of the box! POPPY JACK is drawn for an amazing run with slow beginners underneath. Could get the ‘fly' if the inside 4 or 5 dogs jostle. Agree that FAITHY BALE is a chance, could lead and pinch it. Fantastic roughie. RITZA COEN needs a minor miracle from a horror draw.

TIPS: 5,8,3

R6: TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-final 6 – 8.38pm

AD: What a clash – reigning MDC winner GOOD ODDS HARADA and four-time group 1 winning champ SIMON TOLD HELEN. I'm sticking solid with Harada for the romance of it as much as anything. SIMON TOLD HELEN ran dazzling sections in a trial Saturday and will find the line better this week. Struggling to see the winner coming away from that pair but AWESOME CATCH I expect to see working home hard into the money. Where do you sit, Tim?

TIPS: 2,4,3

TN: Seeing it very similar Adam, but I'm swapping around the top 2.  Bit shocked at what SIMON TOLD HELEN ran overall in his trial last week but certain he'll be stronger at the back end and take a stack of benefit out of it. That devastating turn of speed was still there and I think that's what gets him home. Would love to see the champ GOH get to another final, he's the obvious danger and yes AWESOME CATCH might be a great place bet for punters.

TIPS: 4,2,3

R7: TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-final 7 – 8.58pm

AD: One of the quieter semi-finals and to be fair most of those would be monster odds in the other qualifiers. But something has to win and from the red WINLOCK ON TOP will get his chance. Professional little dog which gets an inside draw which for him is gold. KOORINGA LUCY is a lid pinger that has shaped up with a win and a second at her two city outings. SA star SHADOW MIST another major player – just not sure where he lands from box six.

TIPS: 1,4,6

TN: If SHADOW MIST steps cleanly, I can envisage he'll get a clear run early with steady beginners without a lot of pace on either side so he's the one to beat. In saying that, I've really been taken with the performances of KOORINGA LUCY (4) over the past month. She's faultless at box-rise and has a great turn of speed and I'm leaning her way to pinch it on the lure. WINLOCK ON TOP is airborne and a real chance of progressing.

TIPS: 4,6,1

R8: TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-final 8 – 9.15pm

AD: Spoke to Jason Mackay about STINGER NOIR'S chances a few days ago and liked what I heard. He was praying for box one which he's got and he's very happy with the former Queenslander. CUMBRIA BELLE is good odds for mine as she can look the winner for a long way. TIGGERLONG TONK is the class runner but he's not well drawn inside VAMOS PENNY which is right in the mix as well. FIRE LEGEND the other key chance but will need luck from four.

TIPS: 1,3,8

TN: We're seeing this race very similar Adam with the best roughie of the night CUMBRIA BELLE. She nails the jump and has the speed to lead and run fast early and mid-race splits. Confident she'll be in the finish. STINGER NOIR gets his alley, won 5 of 8 from the cherry and being with Mackay he'll be ready to go. Risking the favourite TIGGERLONG TONK after a disappointing trial at Wenty last Saturday.

Tips: 3,1,4

R9: Sydney Cup heat 1 – 9.38pm

AD: Tim, there's one danger to GOOD JUAN here. Himself. If he aims up he just wins. If there is a blowout then expect it's from BLAZING CARTIER. She's a proven top class performer ideally drawn. LET'S SEE is a stayer on the up but this is a big class rise. Actually make it a massive class rise.

TIPS: 4,8,7

TN: We've landed on the same page and my numbers are identical. It's times and margins if the real GOOD JUAN turns up. You'll have your heart in your mouth when he's out the back early minding his own business but has a devastating back half of the race. BLAZING CARTIER is the value runner and looks a nice place bet, bearing in mind only two place dividends. LET'S SEE is progressive but isn't in their class.

TIPS: 4,8,7

R10: Sydney Cup heat 2 – 9.57pm

AD: SUNSET BOURBSKI has won eight of her last 10 in Victoria and I'm with her to continue that winning run tonight. Arguably the best stayer in the country and the small field suits her down to the ground. HERE'S TEARS well boxed in eight and he'll be all the better for last week's second to Good Juan. MOTOR CITY TIGER the interesting runner, stayer on the up, but runs into a couple of seasoned stayers here.

TIPS: 7,8,4

TN: Impossible to go past SUNSET BOURBSKI. Arrives with a picket fence next to her name and I can't find any reasons as to why another paling won't be added. She's a winner her only start this trip in Sydney in fast time. HERE'S TEARS looked home last start and as you've suggested, will be better for the run. Anyone looking away from the favourites, EL RAPIDO can improve on her last start and run a race at some value.

TIPS: 7,8,5

R11: Sydney Cup heat 3 – 10.20pm

AD: Hopefully we're well in front coming into the last because I'm tipping the champ TORNADO TEARS but when you've won one race since January you need to tread warily. Great to see him back to winning form last start, and in his heyday would have been $1.20 in this field. HIGHLY EFFECTIVE the logical danger as he looks the leader and is proven at the trip, WHAT ABOUT IT the other chance. Tim, as they say, there's no substitute for class. That's what I'm banking on in the last.

TIPS: 8,5,1

TN: Tricky betting race to say the least. In his prime, the $1.20 about TORNADO TEARS in a race of this nature would have been overs. He's too hot and cold for me these days to dive into the shorts and I've gone looking elsewhere and settled on WHAT ABOUT IT. Loves drawing the inside and should drive up and settle on speed. The champ could easily blow them away, and of course, we can't forget he's the track record holder over 720m at Wenty. HIGHLY EFFECTIVE is the only other winning hope.

TIPS: 1,8,5

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