Million-dollar glory can wait for our rising star

THE connections of Tasmania’s rising superstar greyhound Peco Can have resisted the temptation of aiming their pup at the new Million Dollar Chase that was announced last week.

The Million Dollar Chase is a new event that culminates in a $1.2 million final with $1 million to the winner. It begins on September 3 and will carry total series prizemoney of $1.7 million, making it the richest greyhound race in the world.

The Million Dollar Chase final will be run at Wentworth Park, Sydney, on October 20 following a series of qualifying events at both regional and metropolitan tracks.

When corporate bookmakers framed a market for the event, Peco Can was installed at $18 on the third line of betting, which is testament to her reputation.

Her St Leonards-based trainer Robin Grubb has said he won’t be travelling his kennel star this year but instead would aim her at the Group 1 Hobart Thousand in Hobart in December and think about races outside Tasmania next year.

“We might consider chasing that race next year but we are content to stay at home until the dog is more mature,” Grubb said.

Peco Can notched the seventh win of her career in Hobart on Monday night in a heat of the Young Star Classic, which she won easily to maintain her unbeaten record.

The well-bred bitch went within two-hundredths of a second of the 461m record at her first start on the Hobart track. Peco Can has had only one defeat from eight starts.

The introduction of the Million Dollar Chase comes two years after then-NSW Premier Mike Baird moved to ban greyhound racing in the state but who soon after backflipped on his stance.