A little known Gippsland greyhound will fly the flag for Victoria when he chases a mind-blowing one million dollar first prize in Sydney next Saturday night (7 May).

Surprise packet Photo Man, trained at Tynong North by Gavin Clifton, stormed his way into the TAB Million Dollar Chase final (520m) after upstaging a field including Victorian superstar Wow She’s Fast in one of eight ‘must-win’ semi-finals at Wentworth Park last night.   Watch

This will be Photo Man’s first appearance in a group final after winning eight of his first 16 starts, and he’ll now prepare to take on seven NSW greyhounds in the world’s richest greyhound race.

“Oh boy, what a buzz to be a chance at a million bucks!” Clifton, who trains Photo Man in partnership with his cousin David McKenzie, told Michael Cowley from thedogs.com.au.

“I’m just so happy. It’s ‘ten grand’ to run last next week!”

On a tough night for the Vics, Jason Thompson’s Plaintiff raced clear in the final semi before being run down in the shadows of the post.   Watch

Andrea Dailly’s duo Zippy Tesla and Fabriola Ximenez were Victoria’s only other minor placegetters.

NSW greyhounds have captured the first three editions of the Millions Dollar Chase – Mystic Riot (2018), Goods Odds Harada (2019) and Handsome Prince (2020) – before the event was postponed in 2021 due to COVID, with GRNSW deciding to conduct two MDC series in 2022.

Golden Easter Egg winner She’s A Pearl looms as the greyhound to beat in the final, where she’ll be chasing 12 straight wins.

Semi-final winners
(Fastest to slowest):
29.30sec She’s A Pearl
29.67sec Good Odds Cash
29.69sec Coast Model
29.84sec Irinka Riley
29.96sec Photo Man
29.97sec Doonan
30.02sec Zambidis
30.29sec Ritza Donna

Photo Man with (from left) Pearl Terry, David McKenzie (part-owner), Gavin Clifton (owner/trainer) and Gerrie Sneyders (breeder).