Caption: A flashback to Trooper Tears’ win in the Launching Pad with Martina Kirillidis as handler at Sandown, in April last year. On Thursday night the pair combine again, for the Group 1 Ipswich Gold Cup with Martina as trainer. (Photo: BlueStream Pictures)

Pat McLeod

Group racing debutante Martina Kirillidis is living her dream in the days leading into the Ipswich Gold Cup Final (520m) on Thursday night.

“There are a lot of nerves, so many,” she said as her mind keeps racing ahead to the Group 1 finale at the Ipswich Showgrounds and how her chaser, Trooper Tears, will perform.

“I am trying to stay level-headed.

“I don’t want to get my hopes up too high.

“But I also know he is a decent contender in this race.

“When they are racing to the line, I know he will be in it.

“I am dreaming about it and I am thinking, ‘Wouldn’t it be crazy if he won’.”

Trooper Tears may have been the only second-placed dog through from the seven heats, but his time, 30.24, shows that he is far from second-best.

In fact, that was the equal second fastest heat time, with Duffman (Jedda Cutlack), and behind Tom Dailly’s Smooth Plane (30.13).

“It was always going to be tough winning his heat against Smooth Plane,” Kirillidis said.

“But I was really happy with Trooper Tears’ run. He is not the best beginner and he got to where he needed to be.

“He was the fastest ‘second’ of the first five heats and so I had a nervous wait to see if any second-placed dogs were quicker in the next two heats.

“He got through, although I would have been happy to make the consolation.”

Kirillidis has been a trainer for just four years and moved north from Victoria with partner Tim Britton late last year to be part of the Britton family’s expansion into Queensland with a 40-acre satellite kennel at Churchable.

She is still gob-smacked at how much she is learning and experiencing in the sport.

Just recently she commented how delighted she was to initially train her first winner, and then her first city winner.

She said then that her next goal was to be part of a Group race final.

That box will be ticked on Thursday night.

And she still can’t shake that ‘dare to dream’ feeling around the result.

“Trooper Tears is a good race dog who is probably underrated, but that is more his own doing,” Kirillidis explains.

“At the start of his career (in Victoria) he won the Launching Pad and probably hasn’t been at his best up here.

“However now he is again showing his true potential.”

Kirillidis said Thursday night’s final will be a tough race to win, ‘as it should be’.

“I am happy with Trooper Tears’ box draw (6),” she said.

“He prefers to be off a bit and I am also happy with all the pace being on the inside.

“His strengths are, how well he can navigate through a field and also his powerful finish.

“It would be great to be leading at the first corner, but he doesn’t have to be.”

Kirillidis says Trooper Tears’ race preparation included plenty of hugs.

“He is a big softie and loves his cuddles,” she said.

“Before his heat last week he had to give me a big hug.”

In early betting for the Ipswich Gold Cup final Smooth Plane is favourite at $2.70, with Duffman 3.50, Kia Kaha $4.40 and Trooper Tears on $9 with Golden Bear and Autumn Storm.

The $30,000-to-the-winner Past Members Trophy Final (630) is also part of Thursday night’s program.