Cup Hero Everything He's Not Meant To Be

TOM Tzouvelis describes Valhalla as “unconventional” when looking at him as a Capalaba track star.

At 31.5kgs, he looks nothing like the typical long legged, big striding male that is so suited to racing up a straight.

But, Valhalla (Orson Allen-Femme Folle) is everything he's not meant to be.

As he proved in Sunday's Group 2 Capalaba Cup (366m) coming from behind to run a near track record 19.27 to win by two and three-quarter lengths over All Lies Ahead and Top Gun.

And, in the process, he landed the winner's cheque of $75,000 to take his record to 30 starts for 11 wins and nine placings for a career stakes earnings of $131,000.

Of his 14 starts up Capalaba, Valhalla has won eight.

“He's not your typical straight track type of dog,” said Tom.

“He's not leggy, and even blocky in fact.

VALHALLA storms away in the 2023 Capalaba Cup! ????

The Tom Tzouvelis-trained chaser hit another gear in the concluding stages to capture the prized @Capalabagreys Group 2 feature! ???? pic.twitter.com/aFphVGRAao

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) October 8, 2023

“But, he is fabulous up the straight.

“Actually, running beside Steve Keep's dog All Lies Ahead, who is 35.3 kilos, our bloke made Keepie's dog look like a giraffe.”

All Lies Ahead started favourite at $3.10 because of his suited draw in the eight, while Valhalla was $3.30 with many expecting him to find trouble from his box six.

But, Valhalla weaved his magic through the field and set out after the leaders coming from near last early to power away.

His 19.27 is the fourth fastest at the track behind joint record holders at 19.22 in Leeroy Rogue and Fernando Grand.

It added to his impressive Capalaba record having earlier this year won the Straight Track Championship and has won a Young Guns at the track as well.

He has also been a finalist in the National Straight Track Championship at Healesville and the Straight Of Origin.

“He has now won $131,000 in prizemoney,” said Tom. “That's not bad for a dog that has won two races on the circle. It says a lot about how good the prizemoney at Capalaba is these days.”

Valhalla is raced by the Temnick Syndicate, the Tzouvelis family and friends combination that have been racing classy gallopers for decades.

Tzouvelis bred the dam Femme Folle (Magic Sprite-Miss Lauryn) which won 10 races and $36,000 when racing for jockey and greyhound trainer Nathan Evans and his syndicate “The Jolly Jockeys Syndicate”.

The third dam is former champion Queen Lauryn.