Tzouvelis' ‘Knock' On Publicans' Cup Favourite

INTERROGATE and not raging hot favourite, kennelmate Indictment, is the hardest to beat in Thursday night's Publicans' Cup Final (520m) at Albion Park.

That's the opinion of rival trainer Tom Tzouvelis who takes on the Tony Brett-trained pair with the in-form Sleuth.

“I'm leaning more towards the red as the one to beat,” Tzouvelis said. “He is drawn perfectly, has a huge motor, and with a couple of looks at the track he could be ready to run a 29.80.

“You don't win at Sandown in 29.40 without being a good dog.”

Interrogate (Barcia Bale-Speculate) is a litter brother to the Brett-trained multiple feature race winner Orchestrate. Interrogate was previously trained in Victoria by Jason Thompson.

Orchestrate tore a pin muscle at Albion Park on Monday night.

Tzouvelis pointed to the fact Indictment (Jury-Velocity Onyx) has poor first sections and came from last early before weaving his way through the field to win his Cup heat last week in a fabulous 29.69.

“When he first starting racing, I was happy to lay Indictment because of his lack of early pace,” Tom said.

“But, like all great race dogs they are fast enough to find the gaps. Slow dogs don't take gaps.”

Indictment's first sections at Albion Park are near the worst of all the Publicans' Cup finalists.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY

“Don't get me wrong,” said Tzouvelis. “I'm not putting the dog down, I just think he will need a lot of luck on Thursday night.

“To me he is already looking like he wants to get over more distance.”

Tzouvelis has Sleuth (Allen Deed-Dokmai) in the three alley.

“He was starting to miss the start and I gave him a few weeks off to freshen him up,” Tom said. “It has worked. His first step is his only hang up.”

Tzouvelis was in praise of the progeny of Allen Deed.

“He's a much underestimated stud dog and I've noticed they just keep getting better and better with age.”

He also trains Sleuth's litter brother Strategise, a recent 29.79 winner at Albion Park.

“I trialled them together when they came back from the short break and Sleuth beat Strategise by a half-length,” said Tom. “And when Strategise came out and won on a Wednesday in 29.79, I reasoned Sleuth should have run much the same last week.

“He went 29.91. But, I put that down to Wednesday afternoon racing being a tenth quicker than any other meeting run at Albion Park.”