Correy Grenfell is eyeing greyhound racing’s richest prize after Tiggerlong Tonk won his third Free For All at Sandown Park last night.
While Shima Shine – fresh off his scintillating 28.949 win a week prior – was sent to the boxes the odds on favourite, Grenfell was confident in Tiggerlong Tonk’s chances after drawing box 1. And that confidence proved well founded as ‘Tonk’ jumped straight to the front to lead Jax Bale by a length past the post the first time before powering to a 1¾ length victory in 29.38, maintaining his undefeated record in the red vest.
“He’s suited to the rails,” said Grenfell.
“He’s normally desperate for it but he often draws badly. When he draws the rail though he’s on the rail and only bad luck is going to beat him. He’s just a ripper dog – he started so young and has already had 46 starts but he’s incredibly sound and to be up for as long as he has is a credit to the dog. Hopefully he can keep going through to the Melbourne Cup.”
Tiggerlong Tonk has been one of the most consistent greyhounds in 2020. From 29 starts this year, Tiggerlong Tonk has won 15 times and been placed on 11 other occasions. All but two of those starts have been in top grade, including seven group finals in which he has three wins and four placings. He’s won on all five tracks on which he’s raced on in 2020, and while he excels from an inside draw, he has won from all eight boxes this year.
His next assignment will be the heats of the Victorian National Sprint series at Sandown Park next Thursday. While there will be no National Championship final in 2020, a lucrative carrot awaits the winner of each state final with a berth in the TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-finals at Wentworth Park on 9 October assured with a win.
“With no National Sprint final I wasn’t going to put him in, but considering the winner now gets a path through to the Million Dollar Chase we’ll have a go. At this stage of his career we have to attack the big races. We won’t shy away from the best with him, he can match the best of them on his day.”
Earlier in the night, Houdini Boy put on another magic show, coming from last to score a devastating victory on his 595m debut.
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