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  • Tuesday, 11 Oct, 2022,
  • by Peter Quilty

‘Chase’ for a ‘Great’ dream

Darriman-based trainer William McMahon is ‘daring to dream’ of a Group 3 Great Chase three-peat.

McMahon won the event – which has supported the disability sector since 2003 – with Dr. Tucker (2020) and Ridge (2021).

His ‘great white hope’ in this year’s series is Garrett (Box 4), which will contest a semi-final (525m) at The Meadows on Wednesday.

A win – or even finishing as one of two fastest second placegetters – would secure Garrett (Jan ’20 Walk Hard x Blue Surfonic) a spot in the $47,000 to-the-winner final on October 19.

Garrett, a winner of five races (with four seconds and one third) from 23 starts, progressed to the semi-finals courtesy of a second placing in a heat at Traralgon on September 30.

He hit a purple patch from August 17 to September 9, winning four successive races – all at Traralgon.

But he faces a tough assignment as a $10 chance in Semi-final 2 (Race 6, 1.09pm), which is headed by Madigan ($2.40) and Solace ($3.40).

However, a ‘family bonus’ would be if his daughter (Kimberley) qualifies for the final with Dr. Renzo (Box 8) which contests Semi-final 4 (Race 8, 1.52pm).

WATCH: DR. TUCKER (B5) staves off EARN THE ANSWERS (B6) in the 2020 Great Chase final.

Dr. Renzo – a litter brother of Garrett – has won five races (with six seconds and seven thirds) from 50 starts. He’s quoted at $51, behind Collinda Chips ($2.60) and Cardigan Girl ($4.40).

He progressed to the semi-finals after finishing second in a heat at Sale on October 2.

Here are the fixed odds favourites for the other semi-finals: Semi-final 1 (Race 5, 12.53pm) – Incineration ($3.40); Semi-final 3 (Race 7, 1.27pm) – All Spritzed Up ($2.40); Semi-final 5 (Race 9, 2.13pm) – Commander Tommy ($2.30); Semi-final 6 (Race 10, 2.37pm) – Elite Alex ($3.40).

WATCH: RIDGE (B7) overhauls HAMILLSON (B2), with HUSHING DUSK (B3 flashing home, in last year’s Great Chase final.

Peter QuiltyPeter Quilty

Peter Quilty

Peter Quilty has more than three decades of experience as assistant editor of Victorian Greyhound Weekly. He was editor of GRV monthly magazine The Adviser (2001-09) and owner/publisher of Australian Greyhound Monthly. He also served on the selection panel for the inaugural GRV ‘Hall of Fame’ inductees and for several years was an adjudicator on the Victorian GOTY. He’s also published greyhound racing yearbooks and wrote the ‘Bold Trease’ video script.

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