The Valpolicella excitement express is now Sydney bound

By Pat McLeod

The Valpolicella excitement express gathered more momentum on Thursday night at Albion Park with most likely her farewell performance before taking on the Group 2 Sydney Cup challenge at Wentworth Park.

As the Tony Zammit-trained emerging distance star claimed another free for all 710 metre scalp at 'The Creek', caller Anthony Jeffress declared: “Look out Sydney, our numero uno is on her way.”

After the race Zammit confirmed that he is hoping to be racing Valpolicella at Wentworth Park next Saturday night (September 30) in preparation for the Sydney Cup heats on Friday, October 6.

The Shima Shine – Saldana sensation again came from well back to swoop around the field on the final corner to win by three-and-three-quarter-lengths to Gary Mackay’s Select Moment with Tony Short’s Hidden Agenda third.

The winning time was 41.98 seconds. 

“She had to really work hard to get around them,” Zammit said.

Valpolicella had increased her record to five from five over the Albion Park 710 metres. 

“Her style of racing is always going to be coming from behind. That is her pattern," the trainer said. 

“She hasn't got that acceleration early and it doesn't matter what you do in training, that is just going to be her pattern.

“But, of course, for a distance dog, it is more important to have that acceleration at the finish. The only thing she really lacks is that early zip, but you can't really have it at both ends.”

Zammit said he was now keen to confirm his young chaser’s Sydney Cup lead-in.

“The aim will be for a best eight race over 720 metres at Wentworth Park next Saturday night,” he said.

“I definitely want to give her another start at Wentworth Park. We have trialed there already, but I would love to see her in race conditions.

“If there is no race for her then I will see if they will let me trial her on the track again.

“Wentworth Park is a track that you need a couple of runs on to get the best out of your dog. I am very excited about what might happen with this dog over the next few weeks.

“She has had a good preparation with some really good best eight racing here at Albion Park in recent weeks. She will continue to improve with a bit more maturity. She is young as a stayer.”

Meanwhile, long-time industry owner, trainer and breeder Tom Tzouvelis signalled his continuing re-emergence on the training scene with a treble on Thursday night at Albion Park.

Tzouvelis had passed on much of his training responsibilities across the past two years to talented youngster Jedda Cutlack as he battled and then recuperated from a serious health scare.

Cutlack blossomed in that role and now with Tzouvelis back firing on all cylinders their very busy Park Ridge operation is consistently on the winner’s podium.

On Thursday night the kennel boss scored with Lightning Buzz, Ayrton and Caramel Queen.

While Tzouvelis is rapt with any win, there is a special satisfaction with his home-bred success stories, especially those litters from his grand performer Maurice Minor.

The Cosmic Rumble – Shabeky chaser had 81 starts for Tzouvelis for a prize money haul of $124,081.

“I was hoping that we would win a Group 1  with Maurice Minor and we were steering that way through the sprints and not over the 700 metres,” he recalls.

“Probably in hindsight that was a bad move.

“But, in saying that we had a lot of fun with him and now we are having a lot of fun with his pups.”

Maurice Minor has two litters racing so far and Lightning Buzz is one of those pups.

“It certainly gives you a great deal of satisfaction when you have a totally home-bred litter,” Tzouvelis said.

“With some of these I have not only trained the mothers, but have whelped their grandmothers.”

Also on Thursday night, trainer Ryan Ayre wasn’t surprised with Bogie Hurricane’s winning performance against a small, but classy field in a fifth grade race over 600 metres on Thursday night.

Ayre is based at Burpengary, north of Brisbane. 

Owned by Brisbane club president Les Bein, Bogie Hurricane had not stepped on to the top rung of the victory podium in his past 11 starts.

However, Ayre said that wasn’t from a lack of talent or trying.

“He has been threatening to do this in his past 10 starts,” Ayre said.

“It is just a matter of getting some luck. I don't really think he ran any better than he has over his recent starts. It is just the way he comes out of the boxes and tonight's five-dog field certainly helped him.

“He managed to get a little bit of clean air. I am just really happy for the dog because I think he really deserved tonight’s win. He has had a lot of racing, but just keeps putting in. He is just a good dog.”

Ayre said a likely target now was the $45,000 Ipswich Past Members Trophy over 630 metres with heats on October 26.