Tzouvelis' Shrewd Placement Cements Sprint Berth

TOM Tzouvelis strolled into the Northern Territory for the recent Group 3 Darwin Cup Series to the amazement of rival trainers wondering where was the classy Maurice Minor?

On his way to Sandown for a Group 1 final should have been Tom's reply.

Maurice Minor (Cosmic Rumble-Shabeky) stormed into the Group 1 National Sprint Final at Sandown Park on August 23 when he won the Queensland State Final at Albion Park last Thursday night.

He ran 29.71 to down Fabrique and Bubble Guppy.

Tzouvelis is a regular visitor to the Darwin Cup series and last year took Maurice Minor with him for that race, finishing unplaced behind kennelmate Off And On.

"As soon as I turned up in Darwin, the locals never missed me one bit about not bringing Maurice Minor with me," said Tom.

"I took the gamble that he would qualify for the National Sprint and it has worked out. Most times it does not."

The victory took Maurice Minor's career record to 51 starts for 18 wins and 18 placings and earnings of $87,000. But Tzouvelis is confident his dog will race well at Sandown despite drawing box five in the $75,000 to-the-winner final.

"He loves Sandown," said Tzouvelis of Maurice Minor.

"The track really suits him. He has already run 29.20 around there. He's got to be a chance in the race."

Tzouvelis said he would like to see his dog handy enough in the back straight to be able to use his finishing strength in the final.

"He has pulled up a treat," said Tom. "The morning after the Queensland final he was rearing to go again."

Maurice Minor is one of a handful of dogs to have sustained a severe shoulder injury and come back to racing.

That was in the SA Derby final late last year when the dog fell at the first turn and crashed into the outside rail.

"He sustained a shoulder injury that the on-track vet said he would most likely not overcome," said Tom.

"But, I'd had a couple to do the same injury in the past and I knew how to treat it. He's come back fine and it never gives him a worry.
"It was a very uncommon injury."

Of the rivals for the National Sprint, NSW winner Sky Wave impressed Tzouvelis and he claims she will be hard to toss.
"But, the Victorian winner Big Flood will go close as well," said Tom. "He is running on his track and his times have been great. Enough to win this."