Saanvi runs hot and it's win No.3 for Tzouvelis

Saanvi runs hot and it’s win No.3 for Tzouvelis

April 19, 2024

Caption: Tom Tzouvelis with daughters Lacey, left, and Jasmine and wife Beata and Saanvi after victory in last Saturday night’s Golden Chase Final (520m) at Ipswich. (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos)

MIKE HILL’S weekly wrap of greyhound racing at Ipswich

SAANVI’S stunning victory in last Saturday’s $145,750 Golden Chase Final (520m) at Ipswich kicked off a hectic few days for master trainer Tom Tzouvelis.

The talented daughter of Superior Panama and Sherbini ran a sizzling 30s flat – the third fastest time recorded at Ipswich – only Blue Hornet (29.83s) and Champagne Sally and Fernando Blaster (both with 29.97s) have gone faster.

The victory also gave the trainer a hat-trick of wins in the rich feature.

“It’s the third time we’re won the race,” said Tzouvelis proudly.

“I don’t think anyone else has done that.”

Tzouvelis had previously won the race with Pacific Flash in 2001 and then a decade later with Pedro’s Thunder (2011) when it was known as the Auction Series before its recent rebranding.

The victory was the beginning of a hectic week for the Park Ridge-based trainer, who has had a great start to the 2024 season with 75 winners so far.

Within 24 hours, Tzouvelis was down at Grafton with his super sprinter Valhalla qualifying for this week’s $50,000-to-the-winner Jack Sommerville Northern Rivers Cup (450m).

Then earlier this week he travelled to Newcastle to trial several of his promising young stayers – Scintillate, Sanisha and Pursuer – for the upcoming $500,000-to-the-winner The 715 series at the Gardens before heading to Central Queensland with a team including Saanvi for Friday’s heats of the $112,500 Rockhampton Cup (510m).

The trainer also had runners at Thursday night’s meeting at Albion Park.

“They all deserve to have their chance,” Tzouvelis said.

“You don’t know how you’ll go unless you try.

“This is the strongest team we’ve ever had depth-wise.

“I’ve never had so many good dogs at the same time.”

In claiming the $100,000 Golden Chase winner’s cheque Saanvi, a model of consistency, ran down ‘kennelmate’ Duffman, trained by Tzouvelis’ lieutenant Jedda Cutlack, with Jeff Crawford’s Bootin’ Bootie third.

Tzouvelis also had littermate Scarlatti in the final, but said he always fancied Saanvi over her sister.

“She’s consistent and more reliable out of the boxes,” he said.

“Scarlatti can be a bit hit and miss at the start.”

The trainer said Saanvi had been good from ‘day dot’.

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

Tzouvelis said Saanvi had gone into the three-race Golden Chase series underdone.

He said she had strained a hock, not too badly, when second in a heat of the Golden Chase Sprint (431m) at Ipswich in late February and missed the rest of that series as well as last month’s Rising Stars.

“She came into this series underdone, but I thought she’d improve the longer she stayed in it,” the trainer said.

And his assessment was spot on.

Saanvi built into the series, going through unbeaten with runs of 30.28s, 30.36s and 30.00s.

Her impressive record now stands at 14 wins and 13 placings from 36 starts with earnings topping $187,000.

*****

MEANWHILE, Tzouvelis praised the performance of runner-up Duffman, who was attempting the rare Vince Curry-Golden Chase (Auction Series) double.

Only one sprinter has completed the double – Slick Myth for owner-trainer John Dillion in 1991.

Tzouvelis said Duffman ran an amazing 30.22s – a PB.

“To run that time and still get beaten, I felt for Jedda and her syndicate partners,” he said.

“I wasn’t quite sure if Saanvi could run him down approaching the top turn.

“Jedda (Cutlack) has worked for us for four or five years and she works with all our dogs.

“I told her good times come in threes and this is our third win in the race.”

IT was a big night for Tzouvelis and his team.

Earlier talented stayer Scintillate (Konomi-Sherbini) had been victorious in the $11,600 Keith Sternberg Memorial Final (630m).

The black chaser romped home by seven lengths beating the Leanne Hall-trained Ringbark Razor with Ray Burman’s Jewel Bee another five lengths away third.

The victory lifted Scintillate’s record to 15 wins and 15 placings from 47 starts with prizemoney totalling $158,490.

Greg Stella produced Our Opals to claim the $11,600 Past Members Trophy (520m) with an impressive three-and-a-half lengths win over Grant Franklin’s Get Carter.

The Patricia Carrington-prepared Glen’s Wish finished third.

Super consistent Another Level gave his connections a mini bonus by winning the $10,500 Golden Chase Consolation (520m).

The Gerard Bowe-trained sprinter narrowly beat Sapphire King (Paul Graham) with the Chris Brydon-prepared Billie Cash Kid third.

Another Level (Shima Shine-Jo Jo) has only been out of the money twice in his past 14 starts, including seven wins, and was runner-up to Kia Kaha in last month’s $21,000 Golden Chase Sprint (431m).

*****

PUNTERS, too, had a big night out at Ipswich on Saturday with nine favourites winning on the 12-race program.

Another two equal favourites were successful, while a second fancy won the remaining event, while top trainers Jemma Daley, Tom Tzouvelis and Greg Stella picked up winning doubles.

*****

SMART sprinter Minter Formula gets his chance to turn the tables on Spring Cedar in a Best 8 Sprint (431m) at Ipswich on Saturday night.

The pair clashed in a similar event last Tuesday week with the Pauline Byers-prepared Spring Cedar, aided by box one, prevailing.

But Minter Formula looked a bit unlucky after copping a check while on a forward move approaching the top turn before finishing third.

The Cynthia Suttle-trained sprinter showed he’ll be hard to beat with a slick 19.57s victory over 366m at Capalaba on Sunday.

“He’s a good dog, I only wish he could run a bit further,” Suttle said during the week.

“He leads but tires over 500 but he likes the 431.

“He’s one of the best chasers I have ever had.”

Minter Formula has an impressive 11 wins and seven placings from 25 starts over the Ipswich 431m trip.

And box seven shouldn’t be a worry for him.

He’s won twice and been placed at his only three starts over the trip from that box, while Spring Cedar is drawn next to him in six.

IPSWICH will stage five highly intriguing heats of the $60,000 QGOLD Fifth Grade Series (431m) today (Friday).

Race 8 (Heat 1): It looks a battle between Jedda Cutlack’s That’s Hot (box 1), having its first run over the trip, and the Greg Stella-trained Rylee’s River (box 8), while the Ian Hoggan-prepared Wild Dash Zip (box 6) is not without a chance.

Race 9 (Heat 2): The Shane Ellis-trained Gold Sequani (box 6), having her first outing over the shorter trip, is quick early, while Greg Stella’s Red Ranger (box 2) has good recent form and Whiskey Sour (Nathan Evans) likes the inside.

Race 10 (Heat 3): The Darren Russell-trained Game Of Patience (box 6) has three wins from seven outings, including a slick 24.92s over the trip. Mo’at (box 1) is from the strong Tom Tzouvelis kennels and Darren Johnstone’s Sirius Todd is showing good early form.

Race 11 (Heat 4): Gerald Corrigan’s Kilkenny Blue (box 4) is stepping up in distance but has three wins and a second from only four runs to date – all over 288m. Jason Schmidt’s Bon Flame (box 2) looks a strong place chance as does Darren Johnstone’s Sirius Lizzie (box 6).

Race 12 (Heat 5): Last-start winner Murgon Mustang (Greg Stella) looks the hardest to beat although he’s jumping from box 6 for the first time. Craig Cassidy’s Morse Code (box 8) has been around the money in recent starts and the Kerri-Lyn Harkness-prepared Fancy A Scotch could manage a place.

*****

OWNERS and trainers are advised that the Ipswich club will be closed between May 10 and May 23 inclusive due to the Ipswich Show.

RQ advises that Ipswich meetings during this time have been transferred to the following venues: