Valhalla’s Capalaba Cup success puts straight track racing up in lights

By Pat McLeod

Tom Tzouvelis’s home-bred star Valhalla not only secured a Group 2 crown and $75,000 for Sunday’s Capalaba Cup win, but is now the perfect poster boy for the burgeoning popularity of straight track racing.

In his 30-race career to date, Valhalla has raced 16 times on a straight track and 14 times ‘around the circle’.

With just two wins and four placings from his circle outings, by far the majority of this chaser’s $130,715 in prize money has come from straight track success.

“This shows just how good prize money in this form of racing is, especially in Queensland,” Tzouvelis said. 

Tzouvelis is one of the state’s most respected greyhound mentors.

“There is a lot to like about racing at Capalaba," Tzouvelis said. 

“Capalaba does hold a special place for me. I won my first Group race here back when I had just turned 21 and had just got my trainer’s licence.

“Any Group win is special, no matter where you win it, but to win a Group race here really holds pride of place.

“Yes, the money is always nice, but it is the atmosphere that you get from these races that makes it special. And, you really have to take your hat off to the people here at Capalaba.

“This track has never looked better and considering the high volume of racing and trials here, it’s a real credit to them.”

Valhalla (from a Orson Allen and Femme Folle litter) has an excellent record of nine wins and four placings from 14 starts at Capalaba.

But, Sunday’s two-and-a-half-length win was far from an all-the-way certainly.

He wasn’t the quickest away and had to navigate past some very quick dogs to post a victory in 19.27 seconds, the fourth fastest-ever time at Capalaba.

Second was $3.10 race favourite, All Lies Ahead (trained by Stephen Keep) with Darren Russell’s Top Gun third.

“That was a terrific win and it is extra nice when it comes via a home-bred dog,” Tzouvelis said. 

“He is only a baby and is still learning.

“I thought that was one of his best runs, not because it was such a big race, but because of the way he handled himself in the field. He didn't jump and was crossed early and he had to work.

“He is a determined dog. The recent trip to Melbourne, for the Nationals and the Healesville Cup, even though we did not have great success there, I think the trip did him the world of good.

“The dog came back a better dog. We started him off on the circle when he first started racing before bringing him to Capalaba for the Young Guns here.

“We knew that he was very good up the straight, but we didn't realise exactly how good he was."

Tzouvelis knew the dog could run smart times from early on. 

“He was breaking 20 on trial day here before he had won his maiden. We knew that he would run decent times, but we never envisaged what he was capable of up the straight," the trainer said. 

“He is now consistent around the 19.40, 19.50 marks.

“It is not a fluke that he has been running fast times here. So, we haven't really planned past this race. This race has been the target. We will definitely head back to the circle, but we haven't got anything in mind.”

In the aftermath of Sunday’s Cup Final, Tzouvelis made special mention of Gary Mackay and his scratched pre-race favourite Fernando Grand, who was injured in winning his heat.

“I spoke to Gary on Saturday night,” Tzouvelis said. 

“He said his dog was now feeling good and I know that he will always have the best interests of his dog at heart.

“He said that although the dog was feeling OK, he just didn't want to risk him. I certainly felt for Gary. He has been a family friend for many years.

“When we first moved to Queensland in 1987, when my whole family came up, Gary (a real estate agent) sold my parents their first property at Ormeau (south of Brisbane).

“He also sold us other real estate over the years and we have become good friends.”

The Capalaba Cup Consolation was won by Jamie Mchugh’s Bye Bye Raider in 19.66 seconds with Jay Mac (Jemma Daley) second and Star Sirius (Shane Staples) third.

Trainer Jason Schmidt was over the moon when his Rio Will Rock won the prestigious Bob Vernon Memorial Maiden on Cup day.

He beat Badger’s Beast (David Grundy) with Argyle Blaze (Michael Brauer) third.

“We have been trying to win this race for the past three years,” Schmidt said. 

“We have had a dog in it and have almost always made the Final in those years, but have always been knocked off.

“So, it is great to win one. I was very happy with the run, especially with the fact that he is a home-bred dog.

“He has been trialling really well for a couple of months, but he plays up a little bit in the boxes. We brought him to Capalaba to try to improve his box manners.

“He has always shown a lot of promise. There are a few races coming up at Albion Park that we are interested in for him, so we might try to stretch him out to 520 metres. I think he will run that.”