The Ben Talbot-trained greyhound had been knocking on the door of its first win since taking out the New Year's Eve Cup, but surprised the Wagga trainer after settling well back in the first heat of the Ladbrokes Wagga To Temora series (400m).

However as Soustaille ($1.60 fav) ran off the track, We Gotta Million hugged the rail to take out a thrilling finish.

Getting the bob in to down Lara's Double ($4.60) by a head, Talbot was pleased to go one better after a string of recent placings.

"His last three runs have been good - second, third second - so I've been pretty happy with that," Talbot said.

After giving his rivals plenty of start, Talbot was worried We Gotta Million ($9.50) had left his run too late but was impressed by his finishing burst.

"When he got a check on the first turn and gave them five (lengths) down the back I thought we were in trouble and might run a place but he's battled home and won," he said.

We Gotta Million is the second fastest for the final on Temora Cup night, March 8.

Jeremy Osborne's Miss Vanuatu clocked the fastest time, scoring by more than eight lengths after clocking 22.92 seconds.

Meanwhile track record holder Tanami Express suffered his first defeat at start five.

Unbeaten over the shorter trip, Brian Smith extended his promising greyhound in the Graeme Hull Stakes Repairs Stakes (400m) and he couldn't overcome a moderate start.

Finding traffic from the four box early, Tanami Express ($1.55 fav) loomed dangerously coming around the final bend but couldn't rein in Sunlit Quealy ($15) to go down by two lengths.

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