Do It’s owner Jarrod Sharp says experience will be key to his Million Dollar Chase chances
Do It's owner Jarrod Sharp was adamant when asked what a Million Dollar Chase (MDC) Final victory would mean to him.
“If I win I don't think I'd be working much longer. It would be life-changing because I would retire,” he told australianracinggreyhound ahead of Saturday night's $10,500 TAB Million Dollar Chase City Qualifier 1 (520m) at Wentworth Park.
The star three-year-old Victorian runner – who produced an impressive 29.59-second time over that distance at the same venue to win on January 15 – certainly won't be feeling any added pressure to win for his owner.
“He'll be driven up on the day again on Saturday morning,” Sharp said of the experienced Jeff Britton-trained dog who has 18 victories from 62 starts over an outstanding career, which has netted almost $300,000 in prizemoney.
“One of the other blokes who went up with Jeff last time, (trainer) Dustin Drew, said ‘I can't believe your dog – he just sleeps all the way'.
“He hardly moves. And that comes from all his travelling. He's been everywhere. He's been to Tassie, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide.
“He's raced his entire life in Group and Listed races. He hasn't really dropped back to his graded races.
“He's always been in feature races. So he knows what it's about – he's a professional dog.
“He's a settled dog and he knows what he's got to do when they start.”
And if Do It can get a good start from box two on Saturday night, Sharp believes the $5.50 winning chance with greyhound betting sites will be hard to run down.
“He's happy near the rails. So if he can get to the rail and get clear galloping I think he'll go well,” he said.
“That (29.59-second run) was his heat of the Paws Of Thunder.
“I think he has (got a run like that in him on Saturday night). If he gets a clean run he can. He's feeling well. He's got a good chance of getting into the 29.60s with a clear run.”
Sharp said a bit of luck got in the way of Do It performing well in the Golden Easter Egg and Ballarat Cup, not progressing to the final and finishing fourth, respectively.
They were before a sixth at Sandown last start in the $35,500 Easter Gift on April 14.
“He's mad for it (the inside). He drew well last start at Sandown and he got caught up behind dogs,” Sharp said.
“He was in a really good spot coming out of the straight and he's had a little bit of time off.
“After Horsham (second in his Horsham Cup heat on January 25) he had some time off. When he came up (to Sydney) last time for the heats of the Easter Egg he didn't trial, so he was underdone.
“But he's come back and was going to run a good race in the Easter (Gift, producing a 29.86-second effort) at Sandown. I think he's going OK.”
Sharp was quick to say Do It is the best dog he owns at the moment.
“In general, he's the shining light. He's been such a good dog for us. He's won 300k and we've been travelling all around with him,” he said.
“He's been a good fun dog. If he can get through (his heat on Saturday) he's always a chance with his weight of racing experience.
“Jeff reckons this week is the hardest week. Once you get through it, next week he could be racing a lot of dogs who don't have much experience at Wentworth Park, with a lot of dogs coming from the country.”