Tzouvelis’ purple patch continues with Albion Park treble

By Pat McLeod

Tom Tzouvelis’ purple patch with the collar and lead continues with the Brisbane trainer claiming a treble at Albion Park on Thursday night, including both heats of a 600 metre fifth grade series.

In the past several weeks his Park Ridge kennel has been the centre of an incredibly successful ‘numbers game’.

The includes having six runners across the two Group 1 events on Gold Bullion night at Albion Park on February 1, claiming five wins at the Capalaba straight track on February 4 and collecting four wins at Capalaba’s February 11 meeting.

And, of course, there have been numerous one-off highlights over the past year, including the Group exploits of straight-track hero Valhalla, and the Vince Curry Memorial Maiden win at Ipswich to kennel lieutenant Jedda Cutlack’s Duffman.

On Thursday night Tzouvelis took out the opening 600 metre heat with promising middle-distance chaser Pursuer, after a pitched battle with Col Graham’s Seven Sinners, in a slick 34.85 seconds. 

He then scored in the second heat with veteran country champion Dixie Gambles, who held off the blinding finish of Mick Patterson’s Doing Fine, in 35.04 seconds. 

To top off the night, Tzouvelis ‘climbed the podium’ a third time, with another class country performer, Ring Me, finding the line ahead of Tony Apap’s Baccarat Boy in a fifth grade 520 metre event.

While rapt with the performances of his ‘country connections’ Tzouvelis was especially pleased with Pursuer’s run back into form.

“I was really happy with Pursuer because I was disappointed with her run over the 660 metres on Sunday night at Grafton (last in a six-dog field),” Tzouvelis said.

“But, she is a young dog and the 660 metres at Grafton is tough, like a 700 metre run.

“I couldn't find anything wrong with her after Grafton, so I put her in after a quick backup. It was a good result because Col Graham has Seven Sinners really flying at the moment.

“What made the win even more pleasing was that I had no answer for the owner for her Grafton performance, but she is young and still learning how to race.”

Veteran Dixie Gambles continues to surprise the experienced conditioner.

“I didn't really think Dixie Gambles was a 600 metre dog, but to give her credit she has improved with every run and she is three and a half years old,” Tzouvelis said.

“She wasn't an initial success in our kennel, however she has just got better and better each week.

“I thought she was at best a 35.20 second dog over 600 metres. So, tonight’s 35.04 seconds has exceeded expectations.”

Tzouvelis said Dixie Gambles would most likely continue to add to her 600 metre ‘resume’ before returning to her long-time trainer Ken Boody in Rockhampton for her track ‘farewell’.

“That has always been the owners’ aim, for her to return to Ken, who has done such a great job with her,” Tzouvelis said.

“A Rockhampton Cup campaign (Cup Final on April 26) will be her swansong.”

Ipswich trainer Greg Deering celebrated a treble on Thursday across two tracks.

Early in the day at Ipswich he won the seventh of 10 heats of the Golden Chase Sprint over 431 metres with Annihilating before backing up at ‘The Creek’ with victories to Where’s Johnson and also to Courageous Carol. 

Another trainer to do almost as well was Somerset Region’s Renald Attard, who also tasted success in the heats of the Golden Chase Sprint, with Mighty River, in the ninth heat.

He then trekked to Albion Park and completed a long, but successful day by taking out race twelve, a masters event over 520 metres, with Blazing Smoke.

Also of interest on Thursday night’s Albion Park results card, was the performance of Selena Zammit’s All Natural.

The full brother to sprint champion Jay Is Jay, confirmed his edge-of-the-seat second to Morton in the recent Group 1 Gold Bullion wasn’t a one-off when he posted a 29.65 personal best to win a best eight race over 520 metres.

Two-and-a-quarter lengths away in second was another Zammit chaser, Inevitable, who posted a solid 29.82 seconds.