The chase is on

Keysborough-trained greyhound Outa There stormed to victory in the first of two Great Chase semi-finals at Cranbourne on Tuesday. 24754 Picture: Stewart Chambers

By Marc McGowan
CRANBOURNE North-trained greyhound Serbo Delight will fly the flag for the locals in next Wednesday’s Group 2 Great Chase grand final.
John Delaroche’s two-year-old dog made a typically strong start from box two before posting a four-length victory over Dr Rex and Dizzy Rascal in race six.
Serbo Delight’s success followed that of Keysborough-trained chaser Outa There in the first of the two semi-finals.
Both greyhounds will take their place in the eight-strong field at The Meadows next week.
Serbo Delight’s and Outa There’s opponents were decided at Warragul, Warrnambool and Shepparton this week.
Devon Meadows’ Paul Anderton, Cranbourne’s Darren McDonald and Pearcedale’s Kel Greenough and David Crawford also enjoyed success on the 10-race card.
The three-week Great Chase series, which is in its sixth year, involved 12 greyhound racing clubs from around the state.
Around 300 greyhounds and 140 community groups catering for adults with disabilities were originally involved in the event.
Officials at each venue assigned greyhounds to each of the community groups.
The group assigned to the Great Chase grand final victor receives $5000, with the runner-up and third-placed organisations picking up $2000 and $1000 respectively.
The successful group will also receive 10 per cent of its greyhound’s prize money for the next 12 months.
Cranbourne Greyhound Racing Club chief executive Tony Wright was thrilled to see Serbo Delight book a spot in the Great Chase grand final.
“John Delaroche is one of the smaller trainers, so it was good to see him get through with a chance to pick up some prize money for his dog,” he said.
“When Serbo Delight won, the group from Kalimna Training and Community Support Services for Adults (which was assigned to the dog) gave one of the loudest roars I’ve heard at Cranbourne – they were all up in arms.”
And Wright believes Serbo Delight is a strong contender for next week’s top prize.
“Serbo Delight begins quickly, which he did last week when he led all the way. So, if he can draw inside at The Meadows – in box one, two or three – he’ll be a big chance,” he said.
“He had good dogs chasing him yesterday and he won quite easily.”