Talgi's Dreams Realised With Cup Golden Ticket

VICTORIAN owner-trainer Joe Talgi admits if his superstar youngster Schillaci did not win Thursday night's Match Race series at Angle Park with automatic entry to the final of the Group 1 Adelaide Cup, he would not have been back for that race.

He did not have to worry.

Schillaci (Hard Style Rico-Flying Hareeba) started $1.80 favourite for the Match Race and reeled off a 30.04 win. It was a length and a half quicker than Jackie Greenough's Big Energy with Jason Thompson's Transponder in third.

“He's two years and three months,” said Joe of Schillaci. “I would not have wanted to take him on a 10-hour trip to Angle Park five weeks in a row.”

Joe will take the dog back to Victoria, freshen him up, and go back to Angle Park with the Group 1 final the target.

“My advice to everyone is, never believe when people say dreams don't come true,” said Joe.

“This dog is a dream come true. I've been waiting 20 years for a dog like this.”

Schillaci, named after Joe's second favourite racehorse the Lee Freedman-trained form champion sprinter, has now raced 14 times for 10 wins and earned $60,000.

“He went super,” was how Joe described the performance.

“The trips have not been affecting him because his weight has been the same the past couple of weeks.”

Schillaci went 30.00 winning the G3 SA Derby two weeks ago.

“My very favourite horse was Hareeba and this dog's mum's name if Flying Hareeba,” said Joe.

“I had to name the dog Schillaci.”

Joe admits the phone calls have stopped coming trying to buy Schillaci.

“They know he is not for sale,” he said.

Joe has no qualms about missing the Million Dollar Chase series in NSW with Schillaci.

“He's only young and I purposely didn't want to take on those older and more experienced sprinters,” he said.

“But, let's hope he is still going as great this time next year when he can go for the Million Dollar Chase.”