John Finn trained dogs score impressive Million Dollar Chase city qualifying double
Zipping Caleb took out his heat of the Million Dollar Chase (MDC) city qualifiers at Wentworth Park in the fastest time on Saturday night, with his trainer recording a winning qualifying double when Zipping Orlando put his best paw forward later.
Trained by John Finn, young up-and-coming chaser Zipping Caleb was sent to the boxes as a +130 race favourite in the second MDC city qualifying heat on greyhound betting apps.
At box rise, Country Roy used the rails run to gain the lead from the inside alley, while Zipping Caleb had a relatively slow start, landing in fifth place in the seven-dog field.
Around the first corner, Zipping Caleb drove the rail to come underneath Country Roy and hit the lead.
Into the home straight, Zipping Caleb broke away to beat home Loose Zeus (+2200) by a thumping 7.25 lengths in the best-of-night time of 29.56.
2023 MDC City Qualifier 2 – Zipping Caleb (29.56) T: John Finn
The winning time improved on his previous best over the track and trip, clocking 29.88 in his last start on September 23.
The Flying Ricciardo and Zipping Lilly dog has recorded four wins and three placings from ten career starts while earning $46,400 for winning connections.
Zipping Caleb is from the October 2021 litter out of Zipping Lilly, which included three dogs and three bitches, and has produced four individual winners of which Zipping Caleb has been the most successful littermate.
His dam Zipping Lilly has produced some very classy chasers, with three-time Group company winner Zipping Kyrgios by Aussie Infrared earning $589,730 in prize money; along with last year's Group 3 Brother Fox Final winner Zipping Maserati by Zipping Garth.
Zipping Caleb will now head to the 2023 Million Dollar Chase semi-finals at Wentworth Park on October 6 and will be joined by kennelmate Zipping Orlando, who qualified by taking out his qualifier on Saturday night in 29.69 as a -125 race favourite, beating home Cumbria Days by six lengths.
2023 MDC City Qualifier 4 – Zipping Orlando (29.69) T: John Finn
Zipping Orlando is the most successful of his littermates; whelped in January 2021, by Zipping Garth out of the Zipping Dharma litter that includes two bitches and two dogs who have all saluted.
The talented John Finn-trained dog has 20 wins and ten minor placings from 43 career starts and has amassed $805,000 in prize money, mostly through his The 715m win at The Gardens.
Zipping Orlando has also recorded wins in this year's Group 1 Association Cup Final at Wentworth Park, and the Group 3 Carnival Chase at Albion Park.
Just 64 greyhounds remain in contention to win the 2023 Million Dollar Chase final and score $1,000,000 in prizemoney.