‘Better Than Trojan': Huge Praise For Tootsie Tears

BREEDING great Michael Ivers has paid emerging middle distance star Tootsie Tears the ultimate accolade, saying she could be better than champion stayer Trojan Tears.

A Racing Queensland Hall Of Fame inductee, Trojan Tears carved a unique slice of racing history in 1993, when claiming both the NSW and Queensland Greyhound of the Year titles.

So when Central Coast-based Michael Ivers mentions the lightly-raced Tootsie Tears in the same breath, it's best to sit up and take notice.

A superbly-related daughter of Hooked On Scotch and Freaky Tears, Tootsie Tears continued on her winning way at The Gardens last Saturday night.

Leading all-the-way in an 11.5 length, 34.32sec Best Of Night romp over 600m, Tootsie Tears made it nine wins from ten starts, eight in a row and two from two over middle distances.

"She's a really good animal," said 76-year-old Ivers.

"She's a future brood. So to win nine out of ten and with her great dam-line, you couldn't hope for a better brood bitch on the planet.

"If she keeps going on, she could even be better than Trojan Tears.

"Trojan Tears was 30 years ago, but I'd say this bitch is very close to her.

"Trojan Tears would be the best we've had, although Space Star was an absolute freak, he was a great, great stayer."

Tootsie Tears' only defeat to date came in the Million Dollar Chase Maiden Final at Wentworth Park last October.

Celebrating her second birthday next Tuesday (March 5), Tootsie Tears has been ultra-impressive in runaway wins in her two middle distance assignments to date, also scoring over 603m at Gosford by 8.5 lengths in 34.57sec.

However, Ivers opted not to throw the blueblood youngster in the deep end in the rich Country Classic series, with his sights set on the even more lucrative The 715m at The Gardens in May.

"She's too young (for the Country Classic)," said Ivers.

"She's not mature enough. 

"I could've put her in it and she could have won it, but I'm looking at racing her for the next couple of years.

"She's really coming into her own. She's so fast early, but she's still got to find a bit over the last half of her races.

"I'm hoping she gets up to 700m and the race at The Gardens (The 715) is worth $500,000. That's a lot of money! 

"It's too much money not to have a crack at."

While Ivers is extremely bullish about what the future holds for Tootsie Tears, he can't mask his disappointment that her older half-brother Like Wildfire hasn't reached the heights he appeared destined for.

Ivers guided Like Wildfire, a son of Goodesy and Freaky Tears, to seven wins from his first nine starts, smashing track records at Gosford (603m) and The Gardens (600m).

After relocating to Victoria, Like Wildfire won the 715m Speed Star at Sandown Park but met with mixed results, with Ivers recently selling the once boom prospect to prominent SA owner/trainer Tim Aloisi.

"I've never been so disappointed; I just thought he would go down to Victoria and win everything," Ivers said.

"I also sold his brothers Trooper Tears (G3 Launching Pad winner) and Trapper Tears. I have people from all over the country chasing my dogs.

"I still have Like Wildfire's sister, Pearly Tears, in Victoria. She'll go over to Perth for the (G1) Galaxy and then come back home."