Riordon's ‘Spirited' Vince Curry Showing

TRAINER Chris Riordon will be searching for a second Vince Curry Memorial title this weekend when he lines up littermates Moby Go and Tienne Tea for the $40,000 to-the-winner finale.

CHRIS Riordon knows exactly what it takes to claim victory in the time-honoured Vince Curry Memorial at Ipswich.

Back in 2017, the former harness racing trainer/driver celebrated his biggest thrill in a decade of greyhound training when he guided home first, second and fourth in the world's richest maiden event, courtesy of Fire To Rain, Roll So Deep and Fabrique, sons of Fabregas and his outstanding producer Spirited Flame.

"It should have been the trifecta," declared the Bribie Island-based trainer, citing the luckless run of Fabrique in transit.

Fast forward to 2019 and Riordon will take a two-pronged attack into Saturday night's $40,000 to-the-winner showpiece after littermates Moby Go and Tienne Tea negotiated their way through the semi-final stage at the weekend.

On a night of terrific racing, Moby Go finished a strong second to Blue Diva in 30.60, while Tienne Tea outlasted Shorino to score in 30.87. The opening qualifier was won by Spotted Wolf in 30.59, with the remaining semi-final providing a boil-over result, after Hollow Words won at odds upwards of 66/1.

Riordon says he's more hopeful than optimistic about his prospects at the weekend, rather despondent about his fortunes at the box draw, his pairing by import sire Kinloch Brae and Spirited Flame drawing the "carpark" in six (Moby Go) and seven (Tienne Tea).

"Would you believe when I went up to draw their boxes one and two were still available as well as six and seven – I grabbed six and then I grabbed seven," bemoaned Riordon.

"Had the bitch (Tienne Tea) drawn inside I'd have given her a really good chance, she rails like a bird – there wouldn't be a cigarette paper between her and the rail. With Moby Go, I've been having problems getting him down in the boxes and Saturday night was the first time he did. It was good to see, I've been trying everything with him.

"If he happens to get the start right on Saturday, he's not without a chance either."

Set to turn three years of age in June, Riordon's duo are by far the oldest to go around in Saturday night's finale, with another from the litter, Bitter Delight, third in the 2018 finale behind Christina Harman's Rose Honey.

"I was getting them all ready for last year's series but it's been one thing after another with them; injuries, seasonal spells, you name it, I've had it. It's been so dry at home the ground is so hard, it's made conditioning them difficult – I can't remember the last time we had rain," added Riordon.

"There was actually a bitch from the Fabregas litter I almost had ready for this series as well. Her name is Dreams Denied, she's had two starts for two seconds, that litter has just turned four!

"A few people have told me that Kinloch Brae's can need a bit of time so I've been taking them along slow, I know it might look like I saved them back for the Vince Curry but it wasn't really the case, the race was just on when they were working their way back.

"The best one of the litter is Double Chip, he's still the fastest maiden winner at Albion Park. He went 29.77 last May but broke down in the run at Ipswich last August. As I said it's just been one thing after another, hopefully I can get a decent run at things now with a few on the way back."

And with a host of smart youngsters set to line-up in the final on Saturday night, Riordon sees the race playing out a few different ways, placing plenty of emphasis on what Shorino does early from box two.

"Spotted Wolf is definitely the dog to beat but he's had box one for his heat and semi wins so it will be tougher this week from three, especially if Shorino takes a left hand turn at the start, he still looks very green," pointed out Riordon.

"If that happens early then Tony's dog in the pink (Exciting Times) might get the run around them and be off and gone. I'm just hoping my girl can run a bit of cover for the dog and they both get their chance. I'll need a bit of luck but if the cards fall their way they're not out of it."

Trainers engaged in Saturday night's Vince Curry Memorial have enjoyed their share of success in the race over the years.

As well as Riordon's victory in 2017 with Fire To Rain, Spotted Wolf's trainer John Clancy claimed victory with Awesome Attack in 2001, while Amber and Mick Boody, who line-up Hollow Words, landed the race in 2008 with Red Aces.

While Tony Apap, trainer of Shorino, is yet to win the race as a trainer, his daughter Christina has claimed two Vince Curry Finals, namely Brook Lee in 2012 and last year's winner Rose Honey.

Capping off the previous winning trainers is Tony Brett, the leading conditioner dead-heating with Split Image and Paua To Avoid back in 2016.

Of the trainers engaged in Saturday night's final, only Ray Burman and John Mccarthy are yet to win the race, a set of circumstances that may well change this weekend in what looms as a most interesting spectacle.

 

 

 

 

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