Autumn Storm delivers 150,000 reasons to stay at sprint distance

By Pat McLeod

Blossoming youngster Autumn Storm has handed connections 150,000 reasons to keep her racing at the marquee 520 metre sprint distance.

The Tom Tzouvelis-trained bitch was ear-marked for a transition up to 600 metres, but that is likely to be put on hold after her win in the Group 1 Ipswich Cup  on Thursday night.

“I had always hoped that she would go on to run 600 metres and thought her best chance of winning a Group race was at that distance,” Tzouvelis said.

Autumn Storm recorded a win over classy visitor Smooth Plane (trained by Tom Dailly) and Warren Nicholls’ Kia Kaha in 30.16 seconds for the $150,000 collect.

“She hasn't always jumped well, but the last couple of weeks she has and I think that may have made all the difference and I will have to re-think the 600 metre plan, just for now," Tzouvelis said. 

“Her next target could possibly be the Queensland Futurity (heats on December 27 before the Final on January 2).

“We might just freshen her up and put her in that.”

Autumn Storm ($15) jumped beautifully from box seven and led by the first turn with favourite Smooth Plane and Kia Kaha threatening.

Smooth Plane pressured Autumn Storm for the entire journey, but the youngster prevailed by one and a half lengths.

The victory, the last Ipswich Cup to be held at the Showgrounds track before racing moves to the nearby The Q early next year, was Tzouvelis’ second success in the race with Freedom Bale winning in 2003.

“I always try to look at what positives I can draw out of a situation and just the other day I was recalling the fact that we had box seven when we won this race with Freedom Bale," Tzouvelis said. 

“We also won an Ipswich Auction Final out of box seven a number of years ago. So, this track and box seven have been lucky box for us.”

Tzouvelis said the Aston Rupee and Look Fancy Nancy chaser had experienced fluctuating fortunes in recent weeks.

“It does show how luck is a fleeting thing,” Tzouvelis said of Autumn Storm’s recent track experiences.

“A couple of weeks ago in the (Ipswich) Futurity Final, I thought that Autumn Storm was close to a very good thing. 

“To her credit she backed up the following week, in a small field out of box six.

“With a little bit of room it gave her more confidence and her first section last week was equal to Kia Kaha (5.22 seconds).

“The way she has jumped the last two weeks is what the difference has been.

“So, from being down in the dumps after the Futurity Final, because everything went pear-shaped, to the next two weeks when she has put it all together.

“She has always been just a good little dog who knuckles down in her races, but now she has learnt how to race.”

Tzouvelis also paid tribute to his support team at his Park Ridge base – wife Beata, son Nick, co-trainer Jedda Cutlack and long-time kennel assistant Wayne Dunsmore.

Queensland Greyhound Racing Club CEO Peter Gleeson said Thursday night’s Ipswich Cup finale was a fitting farewell to that race at the Showgrounds track.

“The Ipswich Cup is a marquee event and it lived up to its rich history,” Gleeson said.

“This will be the final running of this race at the Ipswich Showgrounds with the move soon to The Q.

“So, while it is a sad farewell for this race at the Showgrounds, I have already sensed the energy from owners, trainers and breeders with the transition to the new track, early next year.

“This is a great race, a proud history and it has an amazing future.”

Evergreen sprinter Magistrate (Greg Stella) won his second consecutive Ipswich Cup Consolation on Thursday night.

Second was Selena Zammit’s Cluster, with Mossy Boots (John McCarthy) storming into third place.

The winning time was 30.14 seconds. 

Jemma Daley’s Hara’s Luna saluted in the $30,000-to-the-winner Past Members Trophy over 630 metres with a six-length win over I’m Old School (Tom Tzouvelis) with Ninetymile Venom third, in 36.91 seconds. 

Casey Dargusch’s Pink Summer took out the Ipswich Sprint Final over 431 metres with a two-and-a-half length victory over My Holiday Fund (Garry Gilbert) with Digital Sea (Jemma Daley) third, in 24.91 seconds.