Batman Brilliant In Upset Top Cat Cup Success

CHAMPION stayer Tornado Tears secured his second Top Cat Video Cup (725m) title with an upset victory over Houdini Boy at The Meadows on Saturday night. 

The $25,000 to-the-winner event was meant to be a two-dog clash between star on the rise Houdini Boy and Tornado Tears' in-form younger half-brother Here's Tears.

It was a position reflected in betting with Houdini Boy quoted $1.60 for his 725 metre debut with Here's Tears the only other runner under double figure odds at $3.30.

But someone forgot to tell a wily old Tornado Tears he was only there to make up the numbers, the son of Fernando Bale securing his 12th group race triumph at the monster odds of 16/1.

Tornado Tears has now won 33 races throughout his glorious career with Saturday night's success the first time he has saluted at over double figure odds.

Winner of the event back in 2018, Tornado Tears tackled last year's Top Cat Video Cup as a raging hot $1.30 favourite from box six.

He finished fifth, continuing a horrific run of performances when wearing the green rug, which before Saturday night's group 3 win, read just one third placing from six attempts.

Yet it was a very different story in 2020, the rising five-year-old making the most of some early trouble to land on the back of the speed at a track he's enjoyed immense success at during his stellar career.

The $25,000 winner's purse took his career earnings to $925,000 which sees him within range of becoming the sixth greyhound to crack the magical Million Dollar mark.

Only a few month's shy of turning five, trainer Rob Britton has done a remarkable job with the Hall of Fame chaser in waiting, Saturday's win his first since January when successful in a heat of the Group 1 Galaxy in Perth.

And while all the plaudits deservedly go with Tornado Tears, the performance of Houdini Boy to finish second was equally commendable.

After finding significant trouble in transit, the son of Zambora Brockie had no business even being considered a winning chance turning for home.

Yet he somehow managed to get himself into the picture from a forlorn position with it ultimately taking a champion like Tornado Tears to deny him victory.

Everything points towards the Kel Greenough-trained charge being the next big thing of the staying ranks.

But old Batman showed on Saturday night he isn't ready to completely relinquish the reins just yet.

And if you didn't know any better you'd be excused for thinking he almost knew the sense of occasion on Saturday night.

You can never count out a champ!