A slashing first-look trial at Wentworth Park has setup a plunge in 2023 Million Dollar Chase (MDC) all-in winner betting.
Victorian youngster Mackenna was the subject of a concerted move in 2023 MDC betting after a flying 29.32 trail at Wentworth Park on Tuesday.
MacKenna won her way through to the MDC semi-finals on October 6 with a brilliant win in the Temora MDC regional final, going within a half length of the track record.
Trained outside Bendigo by Lee Moore and Michelle Carruthers, MacKenna surprised connections with the speed of her trial at her first look at the Glebe circuit.
“She's gone a lot faster than we thought she would.
“We were hoping she could trial around 29.80 at her first look at Wentworth Park, especially after the long trip from where we live,” said Carruthers.
Following the trial, MacKenna was crunched in betting to be become +800 second favourite to win the MDC final behind fellow Victorian and ex-Kiwi greyhound Postman Pat, who is unchanged at +600 on greyhound betting apps.
As much as +2500 was bet about MacKenna in early ‘all-in' pre-post betting on the MDC final.
Mackenna has now had 10 starts for eight wins and a second, banking $40,665 for connections.
She comes from a hot litter that includes talented youngsters Imani, Keisha, and Zadie, and are all trained jointly by Michelle Carruthers and Lee Moore.
Although only training a small team, trainers Lee Moore and Michelle Carruthers are no strangers to greyhound racing success, having trained Orlando to a Group 1 Australian Cup final in 2022 at The Meadows.
The Million Dollar Chase series moves to Wentworth park this Saturday night for city qualifying heats.
Greyhounds who qualify through the Wentworth Park city qualifying heats will join the 2023 Million Dollar Chase semi-finalists back at Wentworth Park on October 6, including MacKenna.
You can read the full Million Dollar Chase series schedule here: 2023 Million Dollar Chase Schedule
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Victorian-trained greyhound Mackenna proved her class as a rising star, taking out the second of two heats of the Million Dollar Chase (MDC) regional series at Temora on Monday afternoon.
Trained at Bagshot by Michelle Carruthers, Mackenna lined up in the 457m heat as a +180 second favourite with greyhound betting sites and rewarded backers with a winning display.
At box rise, +320 third-elect Baby Jaycee got out to the lead early before Mackenna took control of the race, and went on to win by 6 lengths in 25.53.
Baby Jaycee held on for second, while +160 favourite, Mr. Yellowstone finished third.
Temora MDC Regional Heat 2 – Mackenna (25.53) T: Michelle Carruthers
It was the first look at the Temora greyhound track for Mackenna; having raced at Shepparton, Horsham, and The Meadows over her nine career starts.
Trainer Michelle Carruthers said she was impressed with the performance.
“I thought it was a great win,” she said.
“Box 1 was certainly an advantage.
“We have drawn box 5 for the final, so she will need to begin well next week.”
Mackenna began her career on July 5, with a 5.75 length win over the 525m at The Meadows in a maiden heat, before backing up ten days later and winning the maiden final.
A further four straight wins followed, which included another two heat and finals series wins at The Meadows and Horsham; to have the daughter Whiskey Riot x Alcyone unbeaten after her first six starts.
A close second to ‘Country Cups Queen' Kelsey Bale followed at Shepparton, before an unlucky fourth at the same track.
Mackenna comes from a hot litter that includes talented youngsters Imani, Keisha, and Zadie who are trained jointly by Michelle Carruthers and Lee Moore.
Although only training a small team, trainers Lee Moore and Michelle Carruthers are no strangers to greyhound racing success, having trained Orlando to a Group 1 Australian Cup final in 2022 at The Meadows.
Mackenna has now had nine starts for seven wins and a second, banking $33,665 for connections.
Heidi McGraw pulled off a remarkable recovery in the run to take out the first Million Dollar Chase heat in 25.59.
The Dennis Barnes-trained chaser started as a +400 second favourite with greyhound betting apps, behind hot favourite Nangar Larry who was -181.82.
Jumping from box four, Peter Taro took the early lead before Heidi McGraw stormed over the top of the leader on the final bend.
She beat home Nangar Larry by 1.75 lengths, with Peter Taro fading for third.
Temora MDC Regional Heat 1 – Heidi McGraw (25.59) T: Dennis Barnes
Having kicked off her career on July 2, Heidi McGraw saluted on debut, beating home Kenzie Baskin by 3.5 lengths over the Grafton 450m in a maiden heat.
She returned on July 12, taking out the maiden final, beating Kenzie Baskin again by 0.25 lengths.
The Aston Dee Bee x Nangar Silk bitch has now recorded five wins and two placings from eight starts, earning $30,850 in prizemoney.
The top four from each heat now qualify for the Temora MDC regional final at Temora on September 18.
On the road to the Million Dollar Chase, sixteen regional venues across NSW will host qualifying events in the world's richest greyhound series.
The series began with heats at Taree on August 30 and will culminate with the $1 million-to-the-winner final at Wentworth Park on October 13.
In ‘all in' markets for the 2023 MDC Final with greyhound bookmakers, Postman Pat is currently the +500 favourite as the only runner paying single-digit odds, then out to Kelsey Bale and Mortified at +1100 odds.
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Bendigo, Victoria greyhound trainers Lee Moore and Michelle Carruthers unveiled a potential rising star on the Victorian provincial greyhound racing scene at Shepparton on Tuesday, when Imani won on debut over the 385m trip in 21.77 best-of-day.
Facing the starter for the first time in Race 1 at Shepparton on Tuesday, Imani was paying as much as +250 with greyhound bookmakers when betting opened on the maiden race; but was smashed in to start as a -500 odds-on favourite by start time.
Starting from box eight, the daughter of Whiskey Riot and Alcyone, missed the start but still had the class to race around the field and dominate the race.
Imani hit the line suggesting that 385m is just the beginning, winning by a widening 10.6 lengths in the best of the day (21.77).
Shepparton Maiden June 27 2023 (385m) – Imani (21.77) T: Lee Moore
While Imani's winning time is someway off the 21.20 Shepparton 385m track record set by Blue Tungsten in January 2023, there was a lot to like about the way the black bitch made amends for a poor getaway to surge to the lead early.
Bred by Daniel and Beverley Pell, Imani is out of seven-time winning Victorian middle distance dam Alcyone, who is a daughter of Barcia Bale.
While Alcyone's first two litters to Cosmic Prince and Over Limit produced winners, it would be fair to say that her current Whiskey Riot litter has thus far produced the most exciting progeny.
From the Whiskey Riot litter of three dogs and six bitches, three of the girls have so far raced and all have won.
Imani's kennelmate and litter sister, Keisha, has been to the races twice for a maiden debut win (22.27), and a second in the subsequent maiden final at Shepparton over 385m.
Zadie, who races in Michelle Carruthers' name, was another from the litter to debut at Shepparton on Tuesday, and was an easy maiden winner over the 450m journey in a brilliant 25.06.
Shepparton Maiden June 27 2023 (450m) – Zadie (25.06) T: Michelle Carruthers
The run was just over a length outside the best-of-the-day for the 450m distance, stamping Zadie as another from the litter who might be as talented as Imani.
While Zadie did everything right and began quickly, the run from Imani looks to be the one with the most upside, especially if she can fix her starts.
Although only training a small team, trainers Lee Moore and Michelle Carruthers, are no strangers to greyhound racing success; having trained Orlando to a Group 1 Australian Cup final in 2022 at The Meadows.
All three of the Alcyone litter under their care – Imani, Zadie, and Keisha; will be worth watching as they progress through the grades in the coming months.
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