Caption: The presentation after the Group 2 Capalaba Cup (366m) on Sunday with Simply Express (Tom Tzouvelis) first, Bad Boy Wilson (Dyllan Heddles) second and Man Of Zeal (Glen Goodwin) third. (Photo: Toby Coutts)  

By Pat McLeod

The Tom Tzouvelis training juggernaut has continued its relentless charge, with the Park Ridge trainer claiming the Group 2 Capalaba Cup (366m) on Sunday with his ‘second choice’, Simply Express.

However, it was a bitter/sweet victory, with kennel superstar, and short-priced straight track Cup favourite, Valhalla suffering a potentially career-ending injury in the race.

“Everyone talked about Valhalla all week and he was the best chance from the kennel,” Tzouvelis said.

“But you have to give every dog a chance because you don’t know how the race is going to unfold, how the luck is going to be.

“We have had some really good luck and some really bad luck in the same race today.

“That is racing unfortunately, and you roll with the punches.”

Tzouvelis said Valhalla had torn a hip support, which would take about three months to heal and a decision would then be made on his racing future.

Although obviously disappointed by the injury, the in-form conditioner was not surprised with Simply Express’ win by a length and a half over Bad Boy Wilson (Dyllan Heddles), with Man Of Zeal (Glen Goodwin) a further length away third.

The winning time was a brisk 19.47, a new PB for the winner.

“Simply Express won his first five at this track and I thought, ‘Wow, we have another one that is going really well’,” Tzouvelis said.

“Then he lost his way a little bit and just wasn’t going to the next level like we thought he would.

“Then he had a surgery, a testicle removed, about two months ago.

“After the surgery, it has been the making of him. He has just gone better and better each week.

“That was clearly his best time today.

“Hopefully he is ready to go back to some circle racing and we will see what his limit is there.”

Sunday’s win was back-to-back Capalaba Cups for Tzouvelis, who won the $75,000-to-the-winner race last year with Valhalla.

“You are always ecstatic with a group win, but to win one two years in a row with different dogs is special,” he said.

Caption: Stephen Keep and One More Beer are the centre of attention after the running of the Capalaba Cup Consolation Final (366m). (Photo: Toby Coutts)

Another trainer to taste the polar opposites of the racing gods at Capalaba on Sunday was Northern NSW’s Stephen Keep, who took out the Capalaba Cup Consolation Final (366m) with One More Beer.

“He is a good dog. I’ve only had him six weeks and he just keeps improving,” Keep said after the one-and-a-quarter-length win over Red Ranger (Greg Stella) and Rushforth Ally (Des Winters) in 19.48.

“He does everything right and today was good.”

Keep then added: “A win like this helps. It has been a tough week.”

The previous Sunday at Capalaba, Keep was on Cloud Nine after his All Lies Ahead won through to the Capalaba Cup final with a heat win in 19.41.

However, that joy turned to tears on Wednesday when a training run ended in injury and his early exit from the Cup finale.

“That was tough,” Keep said.

“I thought he was a big chance in the final.

“He ran second to Valhalla in the Cup last year and is such a strong dog.”

Caption: Bailey Dargusch and Hook Me at the presentation for the Bob Vernon Memorial Maiden Final (366m) at Capalaba on Sunday. (Photo: Toby Coutts)

There were certainly no signs of tears on the face of popular young industry figure Bailey Dargusch after the running of the third feature at Capalaba, the Bob Vernon Memorial Maiden Final (366m).

That race was taken out by Dargusch’s mum, Casey, with Hook Me.

Bailey was the handler and revealed post-race that he turns 18 on Wednesday and so will almost immediately become a licensed trainer.

“I just have to get some administrative stuff done and then hopefully I will be a qualified trainer in a couple of weeks,” he said.

“I have already done the course and have passed that.”

And as far as Hook Me’s run in the feature final: “I thought he went super today and I was very happy with the run.

“That is two runs for two wins. I think he has massive potential because he has got a massive motor.

“He has only done it up the straight so far, so now he has to go and do it around the circle.”

Second place went to Judith Gordon’s Salvatore and third was Haggler (Michael Lalicz).