Morton and Valpolicella dominate spotlight on emotional Group 1 night

By Pat McLeod

Two sizzling home stretch bursts by emerging superstars, Victorian sprinter Morton and hometown distance hero Valpolicella, have delivered both Group 1 glory on an emotional climax to the Queensland Golden Greys Summer Racing Carnival at Albion Park on Thursday night.

For Morton’s mentors, Jessica and Jason Sharp, their first Group 1 crown was a career dream come true.

“You dream to win a Group 1. You aspire to win a Group 1,” Jason said. 

“And, even with the family, you have to convince them that it isn't a fairytale, that one day we will do it. And finally, we have.”

For veteran Queensland trainer, and national Hall-of-Famer, Tony Zammit, Valpolicella’s decisive victory wasn’t his first top tier title, but is now among his most memorable.

“For me this is special because I love training stayers and it has been exciting for me to not only train her, but to watch her run,” Tony Zammit said.

“With that performance she is certainly up there with the best distance dog that I have trained, the great Trojan Tears.”

Both races were a fitting finale to an action-packed, two months of carnival racing at ‘The Creek’.

Thursday night’s program also showcased the broader spectrum of greyhound racing with three under-card features – Sandra Hunt’s Time Goes Bye winning the Queensland Short Course Final, Dixie Gambles (trained by Tom Tzouvelis) taking out the Golden Oldies Final and tearful Townsville trainer Danny Preh farewelling his training association with Plum Tuckered after she won the Country Cup Final.

However, the night’s spotlight shone brightest on Morton with his heart-stopping surge to nail Selena Zammit’s All Natural by a half head in the $375,000 Group 1 Gold Bullion Final over 520 metres.

That race was drama-filled even before the lids flew, with raging favourite, and track record holder, Jay Is Jay, scratched on race eve with a toe injury.

That brought recent Queensland Derby winner, Morton, and Jay Is Jay’s litter brother, All Natural, squarely into focus.

And, that is how the race panned, with All Natural being able to cross noted boxer flyers Bear’s Bullet (box one) and Magistrate (box two).

Selena Zammits’ cruel luck in having Jay Is Jay scratched appeared about to be reversed until Morton grabbed the lead for the first time in his final stride.

Greg Stella’s ever-consistent performer, Magistrate, was two-and-a-half lengths back in third. Winning time was 29.91 seconds. 

“I can't believe that he (Morton) has won that race,” Jason Sharp said after victory.

“It didn't look good going through that first turn because he was back in the ruck and had to work through dogs. I thought the four (All Natural) had too much of a break on him.

“When they crossed the line I wasn't sure who had won. We have been in about 10 Group 1 Finals, but this is our first win.

“They are just so hard to win. This is unbelievable, life-changing. He is such a good dog and tries so hard. We are lucky to have him. He is the best and fastest dog we have had.”

Jason said a routine of flying in on race day and out the following morning on each of his trips north for this carnival had worked well.

“We took advice from (fellow Victorians) Robert and Jeff Britton," Jason said.

“They said not to come the day before because the dog will try to acclimatise. It was better to fly in and fly out.”

Jason said he would probably be returning to Brisbane through the year for any age restricted races Morton qualified for and also for the winter carnival.

Meanwhile, Tony Zammit indicated that Valpolicella was a strong chance of heading to Melbourne for the Group 1 Zoom Top at The Meadows on Saturday, February 10, after Thursday night’s compelling performance in the $150,000 Gold Cup Final over 710 metres.

“I received a call from The Meadows inviting the dog into the Zoom Top,” Tony Zammit said after the Albion Park Group 1 win.

“I couldn’t commit. It depended on how she ran in the Gold Cup and how she pulled up. She has travelled a lot lately, but this is a nine-day turn-around.

“At this stage I am leaning towards contesting the race.”

After a disappointing second in her heat run, Valpolicella was back to her 'A Game' on Thursday night.

As predicted by Tony Zammit, Valpolicella appreciated the early speed, headed by Victorian Drill Sergeant (Shane Drummond), which strung the field out, allowing the gun Queenslander to slot mid-field on the fence.

From there she threaded her way through the field before blasting underneath Drill Sargeant mid-way down the home straight and jetted away to win by four-and-a-quarter lengths, in 41.91 seconds. 

Drill Sergeant was second and Tom Tzouvelis’ Scintillate claimed third.

“I didn't have any real concerns during the race,” Tony Zammit said. 

“The only concern was whether she would gallop onto the back of another dog.

“I knew that with a clear run and with her acceleration she would be OK. She has never been a dog that has shown early pace, except when drawn inside. The great thing about Albion Park is that she knows the track so well and can negotiate her way between dogs.

“Her finish, that shows her biggest asset - how strongly she finishes.”

Adding raw emotion to Thursday night’s highlights reel was Danny Preh and Plum Tuckered.

The Fernando Bale and Crazy Bonnie chaser began her career in South East Queensland, but after 23 starts across Albion Park and Ipswich was sent north to Preh’s kennels in late July last year.

The diet of North Queensland heat and Preh’s one-on-one attention obviously agreed with ‘Wendy’ and she blossomed.

During her NQ stint she broke the Townsville 380 and 498 metre track records amongst her 14 wins there.

Her final northern win qualified her for Thursday night’s Country Cup Final over 520 metres.

That allowed the dog’s owners the perfect opportunity to transition ‘Wendy’ to another stint at metropolitan racing, with top trainer Tony Apap.

In a bitter-sweet moment, Preh boxed a dog for the first time at Albion Park, but boxed Plum Tuckered for the final time.

Preh later talked through that moment: “I got behind the boxes and said to her, ‘Wendy girl, this is our last dance, ping out.’

“And, she did.”

In fact, Plum Tuckered had the race won moments after the lids rose.

She scooted to a commanding lead early before winning in 30.06 seconds by nine-and-a-half lengths.

Second was Hidden Fury (Mick Campbell) and third was Jay Schafer’s Balts Orson.

“I am so stoked with her. She has been a fantastic dog for us,” a tearful Preh said.

“I fly back to Townsville on Friday and Wendy will head back to Tony's place. It will be hard to say goodbye. I have this bond with all my dogs. No matter how good they are. It is always hard to say goodbye. This is the highlight of my career. First city class race that I've been in. Never raced in Brisbane before.

“It has been brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Wendy has got talent and I think with Tony he will get the best of her down here. As long as she is in that mood, she will produce good wins for him. We try our best to show all our dogs a lot of love. She is the best dog that I have trained and hopefully not the last at this level.”