Umberto overcomes traffic to win Dapto Megastar
Victorian-trained greyhound Umberto had to deal with more traffic problems on the way to the Dapto greyhound race track, than he had to contend with on the way to winning the $75,000 to-the-winner 2023 Group 1 Dapto Megastar on Thursday night.
The Jason Thompson-trained greyhound was being looked after in New South Wales (NSW) for the Dapto Megastar series by Peter Lagogiane but had to contend with traffic delays caused by a Hume Highway truck accident that almost saw the eventual winner miss kennelling time.
Lagogiane quipped after the race that he had successfully pulled off “mission impossible”, getting Umberto, and fellow kennelmate Stealth, to the track in time.
While Stealth had no luck in running in the Group 1 final, Umberto set up race winning first and second sections of 5.30, and 16.97, from box one on the way to his first group race win.
2023 Group 1 Dapto Megastar – Umberto (29.80) T: Jason Thompson
Caretaker trainer Lagogiane was full of praise for Umberto after the race saying “On the bunny, this dog…”
“Jase (Thompson) said he could run, and he just proved it again tonight.”
Although beaten in last week's heat, Umberto was sent to the boxes as the +130 favourite with greyhound betting apps.
The son of Bernardo and Triscay scored his first group race win in the Group 1 Dapto Megastar, after previously running second behind Dundee Rebel in the 2023 Group 2 Flying Amy Classic at Albion Park, and finishing unplaced in his only other group race final appearance in the 2023 Group 3 Vic Bred Maiden final at The Meadows.
Lagogiane expressed his gratitude towards the connections of Umberto and Victorian trainer Thompson saying, “Jason sent him up here with a plan, and we're happy to be a part of it.
“Thanks for trusting him with us.
“Let's hope we can do it again for you.”
Lagogiane was referring to the Million Dollar Chase (MDC) which Umberto qualified for direct entry to the semi-finals by winning Thursday night's race.
Umberto, who has now had 25 starts for 12 wins and 10 placings, earning $178,945 in prizemoney; qualified for the 2023 MDC semi finals at Wentworth Park in October along with runner-up Mortified, and third-placed Remember This.
Lagogiane is unsure if Umberto will stay in NSW with him, or return to Victoria between now and the MDC series at Wentworth Park.
“We'll work out what the plan is now for the dog.
“Tonight was what the plan was.
“We'll have a chat (with Thompson) tomorrow and see where they (Stealth and Umberto) are going”, said Lagogiane.
Umberto is Jason Thompson's second greyhound qualified to the Million Dollar Chase Wentworth Park series, after qualifying Postman Pat through the National Sprint Championship final.
With four Million Dollar Chase qualifying races concluded, almost half of the semi-finalists are trained outside NSW.
The MDC semi-finals will be held at Wentworth Park on October 6, with the $1,000,000 to-the-winner final run a week later.
The MDC race series now moves on to regional finals at Dubbo on Saturday and Broken Hill on Sunday, where another six greyhounds will qualify for direct entry to the Wentworth Park Million Dollar Chase semi-finals.
You can read the full Million Dollar Chase series schedule here: 2023 Million Dollar Chase Schedule
2023 Million Dollar Chase Semi Finalists
- Saige Tenniele T: Kody Charles (WA)
- Aussie Rocks T: Geoff Mitchell (VIC)
- Tinker Norm T: Craig Burns (VIC)
- Postman Pat T: Jason Thompson (VIC/NZ)
2023 National Sprint Championship
- Fire Hose T: Dave Geall (VIC)
- Time Chariot T: Glen Summerfield (NSW)
- Taw Commander T: Andrew Rhodes (NSW)
Goulburn Regional MDC Final
- Nora's Boy T: Shaun Guthrie (NSW)
- Sunshine Lily T: Mitchell Jobson (NSW)
- Weffalee Shield T: Tony Forbes (NSW)
Taree Regional MDC Final
- Umberto T: Jason Thompson (VIC)
- Mortified T: Chris O'Brien (NSW)
- Remember This T: Vic Sultana (NSW)
Group 1 Dapto Megastar
2023 Group 1 Dapto Megastar
2023 Dapto Megastar Results Dapto 520m Group 1 $75,000 to-the-winner Thursday, September 7, 2023 29.60
|
|
| 1st |
8 Umberto
T: Jason Thompson 29.60 – $75,000 +130
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| 2nd |
2 Mortified
T: Chris O'Brien 29.75 2 lengths $15,000 +230
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| 3rd |
7 Remember This
T: Vic Sultana 29.96 5.25 lengths $10,000 +1750
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| 4th |
1 Return Mac
T: Shayne Stiff 30.28 9.75 lengths +4070
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| 5th |
3 Bailey Bear
T: Sam Sultana 30.42 11.75 lengths +1180
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| 6th |
5 Quantifiable
T: Chris O'Brien 30.44 12 lengths +1330
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| 7th |
6 Afire
T: Jason Sharp 30.55 13.5 lengths +1210
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| 8th |
4 Stealth
T: Jason Thompson 30.57 13.75 lengths +640
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