In-form sprinter Plaintiff shapes as Victoria’s best chance in Friday night’s Million Dollar Chase semi-finals (520m), to be held at Wentworth Park.
Eight ‘must win’ semi-finals will be conducted, with the winners advancing to Saturday week’s (September 24) second MDC Final for 2022, where a $1,000,000 purse awaits the victor.
Victorians will be engaged in six semis, with a sense of timing about champion trainer Jason Thompson’s preparation with Plaintiff, which is chasing a sixth straight win in the fourth run-off – Race 7 at 8.57pm.
While Plaintiff hasn’t competed over ‘500’ since running fifth to superstar Wow She’s Fast in the Group 1 Maturity Classic on July 23, the G3 Vic Bred Maiden winner has been airborne at provincial venues.
After winning heat and final of the MDC Regional series at Temora, the July ’20 son of Zambora Brockie has won his past three in Best Of Day time at Shepparton (24.67sec), Sale (24.50sec) and Horsham (26.87sec).
“It’s been a perfect preparation. He’s ticked every box I’ve wanted him to,” Jason Thompson said.
“Every run was planned five or six weeks ago to get him to where he is now.
“He’s been going really well and importantly he’s been running quick early splits, which is what you want if you’re going to win a race like this. He’s not going to win a Million Dollar Chase coming from behind.
“He has had good draws in his last two (Box 1), but it’s debatable whether he needed them because he’s going so well.
WATCH: MDC contender PLAINTIFF (1) extended his winning streak to five with a runaway victory at Horsham on September 6, clocking a flying Best Of Day 26.87sec.
“He doesn’t need to be running over ‘500’. It’s no worry whatsoever.
“We know he can get it and the only option would have been to be running in FFAs at Sandown and The Meadows and he doesn’t need to be doing that.”
Drawn in Box 8, Plaintiff is joint $2.70 favourite for Heat 4, with local French Martini (Box 1), prepared by two-time MDC winner Peter Lagogiane.
Plaintiff hasn’t won in three appearances at Wentworth Park, with his best effort a close second in a semi-final of this year’s first MDC series in April.
“He just got beaten on the line, but he was a lot younger then and he’s certainly going a lot better now,” Thompson said.
“He’d obviously be better served drawing inside. Ideally, if I had my choice, I would’ve taken Box 1, but Box 8 wouldn’t have been my last choice, that’s for sure.
“He has a good record off wide draws – he’s won three from eight from Box 8 and hasn’t missed a place – and if he gets beaten on Friday, I won’t be blaming the box.”
The Victorian-trained sprinters ‘chasing’ a berth in the MDC Final are:
SF 1 – Kelsey Bale (Box 7 – $11) – Daniel Gibbons, SF 2 – Zara’s Ivan (Box 2 – $4.80) – Tom Dailly, SF 4 – Plaintiff (Box 8 – $2.70) – Jason Thompson, SF 5 – Who Told Shorty (Reserve Box TBC – $31) – Brendan Pursell, SF 6 – Zippy Tesla (Box 6 – $4.60) – Andrea Dailly, and SF 8 – McInerney (Box 2 – $4.80) – Brendan Pursell and Red Reactor (Box 6 – $10) – Daniel Pell.
Powerhouse Amron Boy is first reserve for SF 4 and in the market at $5.
Friday night’s meeting will also feature three heats of the G2 Sydney Cup (720m) for the stayers.
Victorian boasts strong representation; last Saturday’s G3 Top Cat Video Cup winner First Picked, Drako Bale and Boom Lateral (Heat 1), Gypsy Wyong, Mepunga Warrior, and Ariarne Bale (Heat 2) and Moraine Suzie, Osprey Storm, Emani Bale and Play Nice (Heat 3).
