Tiggerlong Tonk Stars In Geelong Cup Audition

TOP trainer Correy Grenfell believes ideally boxed rail runner Gladiola Bale is the hardest to beat in Friday night's Group 2 Geelong Cup Final (520m).

Grenfell will have two finalists in the Cup, fastest heat winner Tiggerlong Tonk and Yozo Bale.

And he believes the stars drawn wide in the Cup final, like Catch The Thief and Simon Told Helen, could have their work cut out getting across the field.

“Whatever leads going around that first turn will more than likely win the race,” he said.

“Geelong is that sort of track and the way the draw is, there could be big trouble.

“The four drawn inside all have much the same first sections.”

Of kennel star Tiggerlong Tonk, Correy is hoping ge can eventually win a major group 1 “as he fully deserves”.

The son of Dyna Double One-Tiggerlong Dot has won the Horsham Cup and Easter Cup at Group level, and been three times placed third at Group 1 level.

However, he has been concerned his normally faultless beginner has not been jumping as well as he can.

“We sent him up for the Million Dollar Chase but he just did not settle away from home,” he said.

“He's much better since he got home, but his box manners have me worried at the moment.”

Grenfell is amazed at the standard of the Geelong Cup final.

“If you had to sit down before the heats and come up with eight names, the best dogs in the series, then this would just about be them,” he said.

Tiggerlong Tonk ran 29.83 to down Gladiola Bale in his heat victory.

Shima Shine ran 29.84 to down Bobby The Brute to stylishly win his heat using his rails box draw to great advantage.

Catch The Thief came from back in the field out of the boxes to eventually wear his way to the front and then go on to a stylish win in his heat over Halberd Bale in 29.90 a time he can obviously improve on with a cleaner getaway.

Simon Told Helen led throughout and stormed away to win by eight lengths over Lucy's Milo in 29.86 in his heat to make yet another Group final.

And Sweet As Emm stormed home late to win her heat narrowly over Yozo Bale in 30.15.

Geelong Cup Final (box draw): 1 Gladiola Bale, 2 Shima Shine, 3 Bobby The Brute, 4 Tiggerlong Tonk, 5 Yozo Bale, 6 Catch The Thief, 7 Simon Told Helen, 8 Sweet As Emm.