Crudeli's High Praise For ‘The Miata' Hopeful

GRAHAM Crudeli has declared emerging stayer Barefoot Tycoon the fastest greyhound he's trained ahead of Saturday night's Group 3 The Miata Final (715m) at Cannington.

Crudeli, who trains in partnership with father Enzo, made the bold assessment after the son of Fernando Bale produced a powerhouse display to land his heat of the group 3 staying feature in a dashing 41.60, his first start since mid-November.

"He's the fastest dog we've trained but at the same time the hardest – he's taken plenty of work," Crudeli said.

"It's been a hard slog to teach him how to race and do things right but we've done a lot of work and ironed out some bad habits and hopefully we are seeing the best of him now.

"The times he runs – especially his run homes – leave you shaking your head. The further he goes the better he gets. I've never had a dog like him."

Winner at five of his 11 starts with a further four placings, Barefoot Tycoon, a son of Fernando Bale and Velucci, went into last Saturday's heats first up over 715 metres.

As much as $7.50 was offered in early markets before being "truck loaded" into $3.00.

And the money was spot on, scoring by 10 ½ lengths in 41.60, significantly faster than the 42.02 Zack Monelli recorded in winning his qualifier.

"I don't bet so it wasn't me but what he's been trialling hasn't been a big secret," Crudeli said.

"I gave him a 600 trial at Cannington and he ran home in 11.30. To give you an idea when Boom Down was flying for me the best he ran was 11.37.

"His run homes everywhere are free for all class. I think he holds the (run home) record at Cannington over the 500 as well."

Betting for Saturday's $25,000-to-the-winner final sees Zack Monelli (box four) the $1.70 favourite ahead of Barefoot Tycoon (box three) at $2.20.

Sitting on the next line of betting at $7 is Crudeli's Wicked Rhythm, the litter sister to Barefoot Tycoon winning her heat stylishly in 42.27.

Boasting 11 wins from 22 starts, Crudeli explains a remarkable backstory about the bitch which will exit box one in the final.

"She died when she was 10 weeks old," Crudeli stated.

"One of the other dogs in the litter got caught under her collar which stopped her breathing – no heartbeat, no pulse – nothing.

"But the old man and my brother started doing CPR and kept at it and somehow got her back breathing … I'd completely given up.

"So the fact she's even here is a bonus. Had they got to her a minute later she would have been gone for sure."

After incurring the wrath of the stewards early in her career Wicked Rhythm still sports blinkers but Crudeli has removed them from Barefoot Tycoon following a similar indiscretion early doors.

"They both did things wrong on the same night … it was a long drive home," Crudeli said.

"So I basically stopped with them and started all over and it seems to have worked.

"Wicked Rhythm will lead the final but Barefoot Tycoon has 10-15 lengths on her ability wise.

"Providing he gets into a good spot down the back he'll finish over the top of them.

"He loves competition and since the break he's come back a different dog."

In last year's The Miata, Crudeli finished second to Grace Ali with Inversion, a brother to Feral Franky and Good Odds Harada.

Grace Ali looks to defend her title on Saturday night after finishing second to Zack Monelli in her heat.