Shining's Glorious Staying Debut

VINCE Tullio was fully aware that debuting his promising galloper Shining in a 725-metre event at The Meadows on Wednesday was going to raise some eyebrows, but he was supremely confident that even more would be raised after the daughter of Barcia Bale went about her business.

And he was right.

Stepping out for her debut in the 725 metre 0-4 win event, Shining, a fashionably bred daughter of Barcia Bale and Sticka Size, was a runaway 43.03 winner, scoring by an ever widening 5 ¾ lengths.

"I would have put her in a 1400m race if I could have, she wouldn't have blown a candle out after the race, she's something else," said Tullio on Thursday.

"I knew people would have been thinking what's this bloke doing but it's about knowing your dog and she's shown me right from the start she was going to be a stayer. She went very quick over the 725m on trial morning a week earlier so I went into Wednesday very confident, and if she hadn't have ran into some trouble in the run, she would have won by a lot further."

Debuting at 26 months of age, Tullio said he's been quite happy to take the slow and steady approach with Shining, considered just as much a family pet as she is a prospective staying star for the kennel.

"My daughter Indiana loves her – she basically lives in the house, she's so gentle and just really thrives in this environment, I don't think she'd settle into a bigger kennel at all, I doubt she'll be going anywhere," added Tullio.

"When I flew up to Sydney to pick out my pups from the litter my usual rule is three dogs and one bitch, but when I saw her I knew there was something about her, so I went for the two dogs and two bitches this time.

"She only broke in fair and I remember her first trial at Geelong over the 460m she went 7.12 early and 27 seconds something which is walking. I took her back a week later and she gave a half-field trial 10 lengths before winning it in 26 seconds. Afterwards you wouldn't have even known she'd been around, that's when you know they have a motor, she's got serious gears."

With just the one start under her belt, Tullio plans to target some lower grade distance events for now, eyeing an upcoming 650m event at Sale for 0-3 wins.

"Stayers usually take 20 odd starts to hit their straps and she's only had one so I'm in no rush," added Tullio.

"It was a great start and she did the job which is all you can ask. Honestly, the 650m at Sale will even probably be too short for her but at the moment it's really all about experience.

I'm not really fussed where she finishes in her races for now, I'll just take her along slow."