The Sunday Afternoon ‘Finish On'

THE PRINCE ASCENDS TO THE THRONE

The unexpected win by Handsome Prince in the TAB Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park on Friday caught the nation's gaze.

The Tasmanian-bred son of SH Avatar had only been with trainer Peter Lagogiane for less than six weeks before his gritty offering yet it was with pride and not a semblance of regret that previous owner-trainer Pat Ryan spoke.

"We are so proud of the dog," Ryan blushed.

"He and his brother (Ava Wine) had always shown above average ability but it's more than a dream to think a dog bred in Tasmania can win the richest race in the world."

Ava Wine is also now in the care of Lagogiane and he, while in the shadow of his sibling for the moment, will turn heads.

"He's a strong sprinter and I'd like to think he can make into a handy stayer for Shakeel (Latimer)," Ryan added.

"Due to the downturn in flight availability due to COVID-19 restrictions, he only left here about 10 days back and has not raced for nearly six weeks."

Ava Wine has won on each of the Tasmanian tracks in smart times, his 25.32 effort at Devonport in June being particularly impressive.

Despite losing two future FFA performers, Ryan is looking ahead and intends mating Mrs Waters (a half sister to Handsome Prince – by Farbregas) to SH Avatar.

"See Blue's Girl (Handsome Prince's dam) is a daughter of Magic Sprite and was a little ‘hot' temperament-wise," the former Queenslander continued.

"Splotched is another ‘from the Handsome Prince litter and his win certainly added value to her as a brood bitch. That's upside for us!"

Interestingly, See Blue's Girl – a 2015  Hobart Thousand finalist – now lives in the lap of luxury with owner Michael Waters in Townsville and has had only two litters.

Her Fabregas litter was bred in Queensland by Pat Ryan and whelped at Townsville Rhonda Essery. Their friendship dates back to the ‘80s and her joy on Friday was aided by five winners for the Essery kennel at Townsville.

Essery has won the Townsville Trainers' Premiership for the past five years and the sixth look a assured. The Townsville card kicked off at 11am (Queensland time) and from Essery's 15 runners at the meetings, five wins, two seconds and three thirds were posted.

"The day kicked off really well for us but we were just hysterical when Handsome Prince won at Wenty Park," Essery said.

"I'd like to think, one day, we can whelp another litter and get down there … we've got a couple of girls here now earmarked for breeding. There's no harm in dreaming!"

THE END OF THE ROAD

With border crossing problematic, Team Dailly – in conjunction with Ross Davidson – hatched a plan to ensure their Sydney Cup and Million Dollar Chase contenders were not stymied by red tape.

From his base at Wallerawang – some 15 kilometres west of Lithgow – the erstwhile Davidson in 33 days covered more miles than the Leyland Brothers.

Heats of the MDC Bulli series kick started the back-and-forth journeys (to Albury for drop off and pick ups) with the conclusion Saturday's round trip with Faithy Bale, Rockstar Beav, Cool Bourbski and Sunset Bourbski aboard.

With time on his side, across 33 days, Ross covered 15,530 kilometres, boxed 18 runners for five wins, three seconds and four thirds.

A cool $43,450 was banked, with Sunset Bourbski's runner-up effort in the Sydney Cup the major financial contribution. That's not to overlook regional wins by Shima Shine (Bulli) and Faithy Bale (Bulli).

The travelling certainly did not faze the hounds with Shima Shine qualifying for the Geelong Cup in a slick 29.85s – only .02s slower than Tiggerlong Tonk's best-of-the meeting effort.

And while the step up the traditional 460m Cup distance was controversial and certainly restricted numbers, the $50,000 to-the-winner final on Friday loses nothing on comparison to a recent $1m contest – remember that?

The Geelong Cup final field is: 1 Gladioli Bale, 2 Shima Shine, 3 Bobby The Brute, 4 Tiggerlong Tonk, 5 Yozo Bale, 6 Catch The Thief, 7 Simon Told Helen, 8 Sweet As Em.

Trying sorting that out punters!

CONDITIONAL

The terms and conditions of the Million Dollar Chase carnival came into focus with Good Juan being omitted from the $100,000 to the winner Sydney Cup.

No doubt stewards made the correct decision to slap the black dog with a failing to pursue offence when third to Rockstar Beav in a cup heat on October 9.

The special conditions then allowed for Good Juan to be omitted from the draw for the final – with Brea Casey elevated to third (in theory).

‘Fourth placed' Brea Casey, despite running slower time than El Rapido, snared the first reserve position having been elevated' third. You with me?

Late in the week, there was much confusion regarding the reserves yet, from the T's & C's, the draw was correct.

That, however, failed to help El Rapido's connections when the dog was given permission to be withdrawn from a 600m contest at Dapto on Thursday – presumably with the prospect of a start in the Sydney Cup at hand.

That opportunity did not eventuate, and the rest is history.

The other interesting component of the Sydney Cup was Good Juan being unable to be ‘cleared' to contest the WP G1 decider.

On a usual week at the Glebe circuit, connections may have elected to trial (let's say over 520m) in order to be eligible for the $100,000 to-the-winner cup. With no Wednesday meeting on the calendar, there was no prospect of Good Juan being able to clean the slate.

He needed to be cleared at Wenty to race there and that's why, in essence, he was deleted from the box draw.

THE OTHER DERBY

As superstar Pestana recovers after suffering a leg fracture in the Irish Derby Final at Shelbourne Park on September 19, the northern hemisphere focus is on Nottingham with the semi finals of the £50,000 to-the-winner English Derby to be decided next Saturday.

Wolfe – a rising four year-old by 2010 Irish Derby winner Tyrur Big Mike – was the fastest quarter final winner (29.47s) and master trainer Graham Holland knows how to get the job done.

Despite the preferential draw used in the UK and Ireland, Wolfe had to contend with box five yet still accounted for race favourite Coolavanny Chick on Saturday.

He's drawn box three in the second of two semis and clashes with Smurfs Machine – a 29.49s quarter final winner.

Unbeaten at Nottingham in four starts, Southwood Jet has snared box one in the first semi and his high speed battle with Knocknaboul Syd (box four) will be stirring to say the least.

UPSIDE: Sublime Million Dollar Chase vision was broadcast nationwide on the Nine Network following the NRL on Friday. The big spend by GRNSW was worth its weight in gold. Let's hope the flow on effect is tangible.

DOWNSIDE: The lack of clarity and need for T's & C's for the Million Dollar Chase series is disappointing. Are the GAR rules we race under from day-to-day so poor that special conditions are required?