Brisbane Cup Looming Large For Tiggerlong Tonk

CORREY Grenfell admits he opened the purse strings for only the second time in Tiggerlong Tonk's illustrious career when he won the Group 1 Harrison-Dawson (515m) at Sandown on Thursday night.

“It was only the second time I've backed him in his entire race career,” said Correy. “I thought he would win for sure last night.

“The other time was as a very young dog in a heat of the Hobart Thousand and he won that as well.”

Tiggerlong Tonk (Dyna Double One-Tiggerlong Dot by Spring Gun) came off the eight box, copped a bump going around the first turn, but his desperate will to win was on show for all to see when he wore down leader Catch The Thief to win by a length and a half in 29.23.

Carry On Angel was gallant in third.

It took Tiggerlong Tonk's remarkable record to 79 starts for 39 wins and 24 placings with stakes earnings of $676,000.

“I really thought the seven (Fernando Bluey) would give us a good cart across the field early and that's why I backed him,” said Corey.

Tiggerlong Tonk's Harrison-Dawson triumph comes on the back of his recent Group 1 Perth Cup success, a double Grenfell also secured in 2019 with his Australian Greyhound of the Year Orson Allen.

Grenfell will now give the son of Dyna Double One a brief rest and send him to Albion Park for the upcoming Group 1 Brisbane Cup (520m).

“There is a best 8 on the week before the heats so he will go in that to get a look at the track,” said Corey. “He has not been to Albion Park before.”

Thoughts of a future stud career for Tiggerlong Tonk are just that … in the future.

“While he is going so well, why go to stud,” said Correy.

Tiggerlong Tonk, who had waited so long to win a Group 1 before his victory in last month's Perth Cup, has suddenly become a name broodbitch owners want to be associated with.

“He is really starting to get a huge public following,” said Correy.

“Now I am getting people coming up and asking for a straw when he goes to stud.”

Grenfell believes the dog's incredible will to win is his greatest asset and he rates him at least the equal of his previous Harrison-Dawson winner, Orson Allen.

“Those stats about he and Fernando Bale being the only two dogs to break 29.17 at Sandown five times is something to boast about,” he said.

Breeder and owner Michael Finn was understandably “over the moon” with the victory of his pride and joy.