Schillaci Eyes Golden SA Derby Goal

Boom sprinter Schillaci can take a huge step towards repaying Jihad Talgi's unwavering faith on Thursday night when he ventures to Adelaide for the heats of the Group 3 SA Derby (530m) at Angle Park.

Talgi bravely turned down not one, but two $100,000 offers for Schillaci, before and after his homegrown June '21 son of 2020 Melbourne Cup winner Hard Style Rico was a flying debut winner at Warragul (25.58sec) back in February.

Devon Meadows-based Talgi, who only has one greyhound in work, was left questioning the wisdom of that decision when Schillaci sustained an Achilles tendon injury at his second start.

"I had two offers of $100,000, but the way I look at it, $100,000 doesn't change your life," Talgi said.

"It isn't life-changing; $200,000 is a different story!

"After he won his maiden at Warragul, he nicked his Achilles in the final. He didn't tear it and I followed Des Fegan's (vet) advice to get him back. He missed four months, but he's going better than ever.

"In his first run back he went 25.11sec (BON) at Shepparton and then he went 29.59sec at Warragul. He ran 29.46sec at Sandown when he was underdone."

Sprinting away from rivals

SCHILLACI (HARD STYLE RICO x FLYING HAREEBA) dashed out of the boxes and eventually recorded a five-length victory on debut at Warragul.

Don't forget to add SCHILLACI to your Watchdog Blackbook after this performance ????#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/3b8uY1hKgE

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) February 19, 2023

Named after the champion grey thoroughbred sprinter of the early '90s, who was in turn named after an Italian soccer star, Schillaci has won five of his eight starts since resuming, boosting his overall record to six from 10.

Schillaci steps up to Group company for the first time when he exits box six in the first of two heats of the SA Derby on Thursday night (race 5, 8.28pm), where he's joint $2.60 favourite with fellow Victorian Weblec Wolf (box 3).

"His preparation for this race has been faultless," Talgi said.

"I took him over to Angle Park to trial two weeks ago and he went nice. 

"He got a bit lost and actually hit the rail going through the first turn and still ran 30.53sec, which I was happy with.

"Then I took him to Shepparton last week and unfortunately he ran into Kelsey Bale and Mackenna. It was more like a cup race! He just couldn't get to the fence, but he ran third and it was a good hit-out for him.

"I'd like to be drawn closer to the fence on Thursday. The locals reckon the outside boxes at Angle Park make it tough.

"The seven (In The Bug) is a stayer and five is a vacant box, which helps, but the eight (Who Knows Darren) is a 400m dog, so we need to miss it and beat the dogs on our inside out.

FIELDS AND FORM ANGLE PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

"All things being equal, I think I'm a good chance."

While Schillaci won in smart time at his 515m debut at Sandown, Talgi says the 530m Derby distance is at the upper end of his stamina range.

"I think 450m is probably ideal," he said.

"He can get ‘500' but he's not going to be a strong 500m dog.

"The beauty of this dog is that from out of the boxes to the second mark he's electric. His first two sections are his strength and I'd rather be in front with them trying to run me down than the other way around."

Talgi is travelling to Adelaide with Glenn Rounds, who with partner Vicki Wisener, has two Derby aspirants in Simply Stylish (heat 1, box 2) and Aston Costello (heat 2, box 4).

"Glenn can do the driving and I'll sleep!" Talgi laughed.

Jeff Britton is targeting both the Derby and Oaks in numbers, with three contenders in each series.

Britton has the $1.60 favourite for the second Derby heat in Mepunga Smokey (box 3), a beautifully-bred son of Barcia Bale and Group winner Mepunga Isla that's won his past four starts in brilliant fashion, clocking 29.29sec at Sandown and 29.67sec at The Meadows at his last two.

Britton's other Derby hopefuls, Weblec Wolf and Departed (box 4), will clash with Schillaci in the opening heat, while his Oaks trio are Weblec Jewel (heat 1, box 1), Mepunga Surprise (heat 2, box 7), a litter sister to Mepunga Smokey, and Purified (heat 2, box 8).