Tzouvelis’ hot run continues as Saanvi cashes in with Golden Chase win

By Pat McLeod

Revered dog man Tom Tzouvelis’ third Ipswich auction victory was almost shot down by friendly fire when two of his kennel’s aces – Duffman and Saanvi – prepared to duel for $100,000 in Saturday night’s Golden Chase Final at Ipswich.

Tzouvelis rates the two dogs highly.

Both are trained out of his busy Park Ridge kennels.

Saanvi, race favourite and winner of this series’ heat and semi-final, is trained by Tzouvelis and owned by long-time clients, Sonia and Peter Davis.

Duffman, this year’s winner of the prestigious Vince Curry Maiden, is bred by Tzouvelis, but trained and part-owned by his kennel lieutenant, Jedda Cutlack.

By midway down the back straight on Saturday night it was clear that these two young tyros would stand on the top two rungs of the presentation dais.

But, at that stage, even Tzouvelis didn’t know what the order would be.

“I wasn't quite sure if Saanvi could run him (Duffman) down,” Tzouvelis said.

“I wasn’t sure if she would win.

“Saanvi strained a hock, not too badly, in a heat of the Golden Chase Sprint (in late February) and missed the rest of that series and also last month's Rising Stars (both at Ipswich).

"She came into this series underdone, but I thought she'd improve the longer she stayed in the series. She got better with each run. In fact, she went through the series unbeaten.”

As the two dogs rounded the final corner, Saanvi exerted her dominance, racing to a three-length win over Duffman with Jeff Crawford’s Bootin’ Boodie a further three and a quarter lengths back in third.

Saanvi’s run was impressive, underscored by the time.

The 30.00 seconds for that 520 metre journey is the third fastest at track and distance behind Blue Hornet (29.83 seconds), Champagne Sally and Fernando Blaster (29.97 seconds) and equal with Oh Mickey.

While rapt in the win, Tzouvelis said he also ‘felt’ for his workaholic off-sider, Jedda Cutlack.

“Duffman ran an amazing 30.22 seconds,” he said.

“To run that time and to still be beaten, well that is really unlucky.”

Saturday night’s win was the third for Tzouvelis in the Ipswich Auction Series, which began in 1989 and this year has been rebranded, the Golden Chase.

He won in 2001 with Pacific Flash and in 2011 with Pedro’s Thunder.

Tzouvelis said that as long as Saanvi pulled up well after Saturday night’s ’s run, her next target would be this Friday night’s Rockhampton Cup heats and then the Brisbane winter carnival features.

He also had Saanvi’s litter sister, Scarlatti in the Final.

She finished sixth.

“We’ve always thought Saanvi had the makings of a Group performer,” he said.

"Scarlatti might be a bit quicker of the two, but she's not as consistent. She's a bit hit and miss at the boxes.

"Saanvi is more reliable out of the boxes and I fancied her of the two in the Final."

Tzouvelis also took out the Keith Sternberg Memorial Final over 630 metres on Saturday night with one of his distance stars, Scintillate, in 37.13 seconds. 

Second was Leanne Hall’s Ringbark Razor with Jewel Bee (trained by Ray Burman) third.

The Golden Chase Consolation was won by Another Level (Gerard Bowe) in 30.59 seconds with Sapphire King (Paul Graham) second and Chris Brydon’s Billie Cash Kid third.

And, the Past Members Trophy Final was won by Greg Stella’s Our Opals in 30.36 seconds, with Grant Franklin’s Get Carter second and Patricia Carrington’s Glen’s Wish third.

Meanwhile, Queensland greyhound racing royalty, the Zammits, remain in the spotlight with major wins at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

Selina and Mick Zammit are through to the final of the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg at ‘Wenty’ next Saturday night after All Natural’s win in the semi-final stage.

And, Mick’s brother Tony will contest the final of the Group 1 Association Cup at the same venue after Valpolicella convincingly won her heat.