Since its introduction in 2003, the community-focused Group 3 Great Chase, which continues with six semi-finals at The Meadows on Wednesday night, has contributed upwards of $750,000 towards Victoria’s disability sector.

Throughout the Great Chase’s history, it’s unlikely there has been a more fitting contender than Matt Loch – or deserving winner than Avalon trainer Michelle Mallia.

The big-hearted Mallia generously donated a 25 per cent share in Matt Loch to well-known greyhound racing enthusiast Matthew Field and Lachie Barsby, both of whom hail from the Geelong region and are living with cerebral palsy.

Matt Loch – named after his extremely proud part-owners – has shown great promise in winning four of his 11 starts and has drawn box two for Wednesday’s fourth semi-final (race 7, 8.51pm).

“It would be an honour to have a Great Chase finalist. It’s a beautiful concept and I just love supporting the kids. I’m a softie!”

Matt Loch faces a daunting task against rising stars Explicit (box 1) and Morton (box 6), with the Watchdog rating the December ’21 son of Aussie Infrared and Stepping at $10.

“The boys (Matt and Lachie) are really excited, and I would love to get him over the line for them,” Mallia said.

“Whether he’s fit enough for the 500m is my concern. He could be one run short and he’s in a pretty hot field, but we’ll give it a crack.

“Unfortunately, he had a setback when he cut his foot at Warrnambool. We got him back for the heats at Warrnambool last week and he ran a fantastic race. He led and just got run down by a fitter dog (Mepunga Ollie).

“He has trialled sensationally at The Meadows, but I would’ve loved to have one more run in his legs.

WATCH: “Matt Loch gives them an absolute trouncing!” MATT LOCH (B8) romped to the first leg of a winning hat-trick with a 25.30sec victory at Warrnambool on August 3.

“Matt and Lachie, who’s only eight, were given a raw deal in life, so it’s great to see them get so much enjoyment out of greyhound racing.

“It would be an honour to have a Great Chase finalist. It’s a beautiful concept and I just love supporting the kids. I’m a softie!”

If any greyhound has the background to overcome adversity, it’s Matt Loch.

Matt Loch isn’t the first time Matthew Field has been the beneficiary of Mallia’s kindness, having also been gifted 25 per cent in the aptly-named Group placegetter Matt’s Hope, winner of 31 races and just a tick under $130,000 in prizemoney.

Mallia is more upbeat about the prospects of her second Great Chase semi-finalist, the lightly-raced Fernando Phil (box 1), which will contest the last of six run-offs.

Fernando Phil, a January ’22 son of Fernando Bale and Zoom Out, has won three of his five starts, most recently an all-the-way 30.27sec success at The Meadows.

Matt Loch winning his maiden at Ballarat in July 📷 Peter Morganti

“He’s primed and ready to go,” Mallia offered.

“He’s drawn the perfect box and is probably in the weakest heat, so I give him a really good chance.

“He’s a ripper pup and he has that early speed out of the box, which is half the battle, especially around The Meadows.

“There’s a special story behind his name too, because he’s named after my late father-in-law (Phil Magri). We lost him last year and my dad, Charlie, also passed away last year. We lost both dads in eight months.”

Mallia rated Stomping, a litter brother to Matt Loch and winner of five from 14, including a blistering 29.74sec victory at The Meadows, as her leading Great Chase contender, but she was “shattered” when the $2.80 favourite was a luckless sixth in his heat at The Meadows.

Fernando Phil (B1) winning at The Meadows 📷 Jason McKeown