He’s Australia’s most exciting chaser and many have him tabbed as potentially one of the sport’s greatest ever. But 20 starts into his career, how does Tornado Tears compare to recent champions?
Tornado Tears began his career at Wentworth Park in October 2017 under the care of his breeder Michael Ivers before moving to Robert Britton’s kennels in January this year and establishing himself as not only one of the sport’s most exciting, but also one of the most popular greyhound in the country.
From 20 career starts Tornado Tears has a 12-3-1 record and a phenomenal $336,320 in prize money. He is a metropolitan winner in three states, a winner over all three metropolitan distances and has also reached a group race final over each distance. Of the five group finals he’s contested, he’s won four and as well as two track records, he has set the second fastest 715m run ever at Sandown Park on his staying debut (41.20, half a length from Miata’s track record), and the fourth fastest gallop over 595m in the rain affected Speed Star event in May.
Ominously, he appears to be getting better. Since arriving in Victoria in January, he has won eight of 12 starts, his four defeats coming in the group 2 Launching Pad series over 515m (where he ran 4th, 2nd and 5th in his heat, semi and final respectively), and third in a heat of the Gold Cup at Albion Park. Under Robert Britton, he has eight wins and a third from nine starts over 595m or further. And the punters haven’t missed him over the longer trip – he’s started the clear favourite in all nine of those starts and in the red on six occasions.
How good is his record thus far? Let’s have a look at how he compares to our three million dollar greyhounds – Fanta Bale, Fernando Bale and Dyna Double One – after 20 starts.
Tornado Tears
Age: 28 months
Record: 12-3-1
Prize money: $336,320
Metropolitan wins: 8
Group race finals: Five – won group 1 RSN Sandown Cup, group 1 Gold Cup, group 3 Race callers, group 3 Super Stayers, 5th group 2 Launching Pad
Track records: Two
Started favourite: 14
Fanta Bale
Age: 27 months (retired at 43 months)
Record: 15-1-3 (career 63 starts 42-9-5)
Prize money: $148,925 (retired with $1,365,175 – most all time)
Metropolitan wins: 8
Group race finals: Two – won group 1 Hume Cup, 6th group 3 SA Oaks
Track records: 0
Started favourite: 17
Fernando Bale
Age: 25 months (retired at 33 months)
Record: 15-1-1 (career 44 starts 35-3-2)
Prize money: $410,000 (retired with $1,299,370 – second highest all time)
Metropolitan wins: 10
Group race finals: Two – won group 1 Golden Easter Egg, group 1 National Derby
Track records: 0
Started favourite: 16
Dyna Double One
Age: 26 months (retired at 36 months)
Record: 10-5-2 (career 54 starts 31-9-6)
Prize money: $148,925 (retired with $1,160,316 –third highest all time)
Metropolitan wins: 8
Group race finals: Four – won group 3 Perth Cup Consolation, 2nd group 2 WA Derby, 3rd group 1 Silver Chief, 5th group 1 Golden Easter Egg
Track records: 0
Started favourite: 12
Tornado Tears is engaged in a heat of the group 2 McKenna Memorial (595m), race four this Thursday night. Click here for your free form guide.
Tornado Tears has been installed the $1.35 favourite for his heat. Click here for the latest tab.com.au markets.
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Tornado Tears runs 41.20 – second fastest time ever – on his 715m debut, winning by 11 lengths
