Million Dollar Chase Champ To Make Sandown Return

BRENDAN Pursell is looking forward to finally celebrating his Million Dollar Chase triumph, but not before he returns to Sandown on Thursday.

BRENDAN Pursell is looking forward to finally celebrating his Million Dollar Chase triumph this weekend, but not before his million dollar dog returns to Sandown Park this Thursday night.

McInerney won the fifth running of the lucrative series in late September, but commitments in Victoria meant that the Lara-based trainer is yet to properly celebrate the biggest win of his career.

"It was very exciting, amazing that it happened," said Pursell.

FIELDS AND FORM SANDOWN PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

"But I didn't get to have a drink or do anything – I had to drive home.

"We went out for tea on Monday night, but I was pretty tired. We drove there (Wentworth Park) five weeks in a row, and then went to Adelaide (last week) so we really haven't stopped for the last few weeks.

"You've got another 28 dogs to worry about too, so you can't sort of just sit back and think about things too much."

McInerney entered the Million Dollar Chase series as one of the most improved sprinters in the country.

Beginning his career in Victoria, the son of Fernando Bale had won just four of 20 career starts before being sent Brendan's son, Blake, in Tasmania.

He quickly regained his confidence in the Apple Isle, stringing together 10 wins over a stretch of 12 starts to earn a trip back to the mainland. He was still racing in grade 5 company in July but has progressed to win seven of his 10 starts this season and been placed in three others, including a third place representing Tasmania in the National Sprint Championship.

Brendan attributed part of McInerney's rise to national prominence to the time spent in Blake's care in Tasmania and split his share of the Million Dollar Chase purse with his son.

"It's more for him," Pursell said in discussing the impact of the Million Dollar Chase victory.

"It'll help to set him up a lot. He said he might invest a couple of grand, buy his girlfriend a car, and build some more dog yards – it takes a lot of pressure off, doesn't it?"

Having a bank as protection for lean times is important, as Pursell found out to start 2022 where winners were few and far between.

"From January to April it was shocking – I went through that much money and just wasn't getting any in. I was lucky I had money in the bank – and you need to have $30,000 to $40,000 in the bank just sitting there just in case.

McInerney wins the TAB Million Dollar Chase

"When things don't go right for three or four months – or even just a couple of months – all you're doing is paying out and there's nothing coming in, it's not good."

In contrast, Pursell enjoyed a success September, winning 11 of 34 races and is now keen to continue that success through spring with his eye on all of the majors, including the Topgun, Melbourne Cup and The Phoenix.

With a Topgun berth all but certain, McInerney begins his Melbourne Cup campaign this Thursday night at Sandown Park in the $15,000 Melbourne Cup launch.

"It's 40 something days from the time he ran until the Topgun, so you have to race him. I'm not into trialling him every week, that's when things can go wrong,” he added.

"I think he's alright drawn (on Thursday night), the vacant box on his outside will be good for him and if he can keep El Dorado out – you probably don't want him out in front – he'll be motoring down the back like he does."

And as for those delayed Million Dollar Chase celebrations?

"We might go up to the casino this weekend, try and organise something, have a few beers and a muck around. We'll see what happens."

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