Trainer Darryl Thomas was rapt with the fighting effort of Xerri to storm home late and grab second place and $100,000 for connections in the Million Dollar Chase Grand Final (520 metres) on Friday night at Wentworth Park.
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Handsome Prince gave trainer Peter Lagogiane a second win in the richest race for greyhounds after taking the lead from box seven and sprinting clear to claim the $1 million first prize.
Prepared at Sawyers Gully, Xerri missed the start and was midfield at the first turn. He then rode a check from Shadow Mist, accelerated between dogs and moved to third behind Tommy Shelby down the back straight.
He then gradually took ground off the West Australian and moved up on his outside at the home turn before finishing the better by half a length, and another 1.75 lengths behind the winner.
It capped a brilliant series for Thomas, who also had Whitfield, a litter brother to Xerri, in semi-finals a week earlier.
"We were rapt with his run," Thomas' mother, Darrallene, said.
"He's missed the start. We couldn't believe how bad he came out of the boxes.
"Then in going through the bullpen, Shadow Mist smashed him, so for him to run them down to a length and three quarters, we thought that was just phenomenal."
With seven wins in just 13 starts before the race, Xerri's stakes climbed to $126,350 with a fourth second-place finish.
Also running a place in the big night was Hunter-trained Charlie Cockatoo and Aston Zodiac.
The Michelle Shambler-trained Charlie Cockatoo was third in the Masters Meteor Final and Geoff Grimwood's Aston Zodiac was second in the Million Dollar Chase Consolation.