Why Tornado Tears CAN and CAN'T Win Thursday's Superstayers

TORNADO Tears has been installed a $2.10 favourite for Thursday's highly anticipated Superstayers Invitational on a cracking night of racing at Albion Park.

You can count on one hand the times Tornado Tears has gone around black odds throughout his glamorous staying career.

In fact, the last time the four-time Group 1 winner contested a race at better than even money was at The Meadows in February – annexing the Group 1 Zoom Top in typical Tornado Tears fashion – finding a way to win when winning seemed improbable.

It's worth noting that at the time it was the champ's first run for four months as well, an incredible effort by both dog and trainer Rob Britton to return in such style, against group 1 opposition.

But we've become accustomed to watching Tornado Tears do things other dogs could only dream of.

That trademark galloping action, one could say almost effortless, has been at it for 39 starts now, winning 24 of them.

But with that level of talent and performance comes heightened expectations as well – it just comes with the territory. He's not the first, nor will he be the last to carry that extra weight of public interest.

At Albion Park this Thursday night, Tornado Tears, or Batman as he's more affectionately known, has been installed a $2.10 favourite for the four-dog Superstayers Invitational, a race he won last year in a track record breaking 41.20.

Drawn box three for Thursday's gripping four-dog spectacle, he tackles Ella Enchanted (box one), Bago Bluff (box five) and last Thursday's Group 1 Gold Cup hero Bago Bye Bye (box seven).

As betting currently has it, Tornado Tears is at a $2.10 quote from Bago Bye Bye at $2.60 and Ella Enchanted at $3.80.

Bago Bluff is the $41.00 outsider and to be fair looks hopelessly outmatched, especially in this format.

The betting for Thursday's affair promises to be just as spirited as the race itself.

Is the market framed on reputation or recent form? Or a combination of both?

The TAB were first to go up but it will be interesting to see how other bookie's assess the race over the next 48 hours.

No matter which way you slice and dice it, Bago Bye Bye comprehensively beat Tornado Tears in last week's Group 1 Gold Cup decider.

The final margin between the pair, first and fifth respectively, was 9 ¼ lengths.

Before that, Tornado Tears was beaten 3 ¼ lengths into third in his Gold Cup heat behind fellow Superstayers rival Bago Bluff.


Adding further intrigue is the fact that the last time Tornado Tears and Ella Enchanted matched motors was in last month's Group 1 Sandown Cup Final.

Ella Enchanted finished a most unlucky second while an injured Tornado Tears wound up seventh.

So there you have it, each of Batman's three rivals this Thursday night have got the better of him the last time they've met.

Don't things move quickly?

It was just a little over two months ago that Tornado Tears turned in a mesmerising track record breaking display at Wentworth Park in a heat of the G1 Association Cup, running 41.38.

Four weeks before that he obliterated the Cannington track record in a heat of the Group 1 Galaxy – winning by 18 lengths.

There's no question the four dog format suits Tornado Tears down to the ground this Thursday night and Rob Britton is sure to have his champion ready and armed for his Superstayers title defence.

As they say – form is temporary but class is permanent.

If you're a believer of that old adage, then the $2.10 looks more than appealing this Thursday night.

_____________________________________________________________
1. ELLA ENCHANTED

CAN

Sometimes things just don't go to plan and that was certainly the case in her Gold Cup heat a fortnight ago when fifth behind Bago Bye Bye from this very draw. Before that her Sandown Cup performances were outstanding and she showed she's on song with a sizzling sub-34 second trial over the 595m on Sunday. If you need a nudge into backing her go and watch her Sandown Cup heat win – awesome – and she should have won the final too!

CAN'T

Can she hold out Bago Bye Bye early on his home track? And can she hold off Tornado Tears if she does happen to lead and he gets the cold sit? They're the questions her backers will be asking about her prospects come Thursday.

3. TORNADO TEARS

CAN

One of the best stayers of this generation and trained by one of the best trainers of this generation. Can run times and do things when at his top that other dogs' just can't and he's suited by the reduced field because he has been finding bother in the run recently. You never knock a champ and I won't be here – the one to beat – worth remembering it was only four weeks' back he ran 41.37 at Sandown.

CAN'T

No getting around the fact he's not racing at the lofty heights we've come to expect. But they're not machines and he's had his share of setbacks recently. At his last start, against each of his three opponents on Thursday, they've managed to beat him home. Important week for the champ.

5. BAGO BLUFF

CAN

Well he's here so he's a better chance than anything sitting at home in their kennel. Being serious though he's a really nice pup on the way up and he did win his Gold Cup heat at monster odds impressively. Anything can happen on a racetrack but he does have his work cut out for him.

CAN'T

Age, grade, experience and times all against him. He just looks over-matched. Some serious firepower here but he'll run an honest race whatever happens. Great grounding for what comes next.

7. BAGO BYE BYE

CAN

This dog has gears few have at their disposal. The job his trainer Darren Russell has done with him to keep him on the task at hand has been first rate. Absolutely loves Albion Park and if he's out in front running 41.40 odd then he's going to be awfully hard to beat. Racing at the top of his game.

CAN'T

Bold front running stayer so you can make an argument that the reduced format makes him vulnerable late? He won't be running down the one or the three so he'll need to lead, if he doesn't than there's obvious concerns for his backers.

Latest News Articles