Tzouvelis’ message to Maroon mates: ‘You’ve got this’

By Pat McLeod

Red-hot trainer Tom Tzouvelis has a simple message to the local young hopes entering the ‘deep end’ of the 2024-25 Queensland Golden Greys Summer Racing Carnival – ‘You’ve got this.’

Tzouvelis has just been to the top of the mountain, guiding the massively underrated Daysea’s Rory into the third place in the world’s richest greyhound race, The Phoenix, last weekend in Melbourne.

After taking on the nation’s best sprinters, his focus is now back on the Queensland carnival and Friday night’s Group 2 Derby and Futurity heats at Albion Park.

And, he’s predicting the emergence of a new wave of elite talent within the Sunshine State sprint brigade.

“Daysea’s Rory has shown that he can match it with the best,” Tzouvelis said of his own top kennel hope leading into the summer riches.

“He will make his presence felt during this carnival.

“He just keeps improving. What he has achieved over the past month is unbelievable.

“And, hopefully there is more to come.”

However, Tzouvelis said he has no doubt there are a number of other young Queensland chasers who are timing their run to perfection and are set to ‘arrive’ on the carnival stage.

“I have a massive opinion of John McCarthy’s current litter," Tzouvelis said. 

“Fast Eddie (currently injured) took out the Ipswich Derby and Affluent won the recent (QGOLD) Emerging Sprinters, but another, Mossy Boots, has put in two enormous second-placed runs recently.

“I have no doubt one or two from that litter are going to really make a name for themselves during this carnival.

“They are developing really quickly as race dogs and, just like ‘Rory’, will be at a whole new level by the time the (Group 1) Gold Bullion comes around.”

Tzouvelis acknowledged that the carnival is about to be awash with interstate talent, but says he has no doubt the local talent pool will surprise plenty.

“I think greyhound followers from around Australia are about to take a lot more notice of our best during this carnival,” he said.

“That was certainly the case with Rory on Saturday night at The Meadows.

“He showed that he can rub shoulders with the best. Now, several of the best will no doubt be up here for our big race nights.

“It will be interesting because this is his track. They had the track knowledge in Melbourne, but the tables are turned up here.”

Tzouvelis said the four Derby and three Futurity heats would showcase many of the local young stars who are ready for ‘the next step’.

They include McCarthy’s Affluent and Mossy Boots, Pam Field’s More Than Money, John Corrigan’s Uno Nangar, Tzouvelis’ own Shaula, Daysea’s Chief and Prim And Precise, Darren Russell’s Wreck James, Golden Bear (trained by Adam McIntosh) and Grevillea (Denise Robinson).

WA Group-winning star Miss Envy (Krystal Shinners) will debut at Albion Park in the Futurity heats.

In an interesting move, Tzouvelis has switched his Ipswich Cup winner Autumn Storm out of the sprint lane and up to the 600 metres on Friday night, when she will contest the Christmas Stocking Final over the middle distance.

The eventual target is the Group 1 Golden Sands over 600 metres with the Final on January 9.

Following that same path is reigning Golden Sands Champion Fahey’s Magic (Tyson Barton).

Race one on Friday night will hold plenty of interest with Group stars Jay Is Jay (box one), Magistrate (box two), Cluster (box four) and Kia Kaha (box six) all flexing their muscles in a best eight race over 520 metres.