It was a night of surprises at Dawson Park on Sunday but after the running of two Million Dollar Chase heats the stage is set for a sensational regional final next weekend.
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All the hype leading into Sunday's heats was around Midnight Dare, the David Pringle-trained star who won her first five starts before returning from a stint in Victoria to contest the rich Million Dollar Chase series.
She got through to the regional final but it was far from convincing as she finished fourth in the second heat of the night.
The winner of that event was hometown hope Annabel Keeping, trained by Charmaine Roberts, and she joined Mark Swift's Midnight Joyce as the heat winners.
Midnight Joyce saluted in the first heat and while she may have been a $30.20 outsider the result came as no great shock to Lithgow trainer Swift.
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Swift saw Midnight Joyce fail to find a run in the recent heats at Bathurst and was delighted to see things go her way on Sunday night.
Nangar Gift ($4.80) took control of the race early and led by five lengths at one point but Midnight Joyce, who was again slow out of the boxes, got across to the rails from box three and moved up to second in the bacl straighht.
She then produced a huge run home to overhaul Nangar Gift late on.
"She's a slow beginner and if she's not near the rails she finds trouble," Swift said post-race.
"As you saw tonight she got the run right through and I knew she'd be strong at the end. I just didn't know if she'd catch the leader.
"I thought she'd get through either way so it's good and I've just been waiting for her to do it.
"Tonight was the night but really next week is the one."
Nangar Gift, Jimmy Casey and Cliff Keeping all qualified for the final out of the first heat.
Cliff Keeping's kennelmate Annabel Keepiung then took out the second heat to ensure Roberts is the only trainer with more than one hope in next weekend's regional final.
The win was a surprise for Roberts, not only because her young bitch was up against Midnight Dare, but also because the field was far more experienced that Annabel Keeping.
It mattered little though as Annabel Keeping ($7.70) led from start to finish to make it four wins from five career starts.
While it was joy for Roberts, it was a nervy race for Pringle.
Midnight Dare endured early contact and was last by some way when the field entered the back straight.
But through her own sheer pace, and an unfortunate injury to the Brett Bravo-trained Lillard, Midnight Dare ($2) was able to rattle home and sneak into fourth spot.
Buck's Future and Connie's Boy were the other two to qualify for the final from the second heat.
The box draw for Saturday's regional final was conducted after the heats and Midnight Dare drew box three for Pringle.
Heat winners Midnight Joyce and Annabel Keeping drew boxes five and seven respectively while Buck's Future will go from box four for trainer Sydney Swain.
Connie's Boy (box one), Cliff Keeping (box two), Jimmy Casey (box six), and Nangar Gift (box eight) round out the field.
"There's some good dogs," Swift said, before looking at his hope.
"She can go the times they can go but I'm not sure about Midnight Dare. It's a very, very good dog and they're all good dogs but if you're in it, you're a chance."
The first two past the post in the regional final move through to the semi-finals at Wentworth Park.
The winners of the eight semis then contest the $1 million final on October 18.