Valpolicella’s sensational victory in Past Members Trophy Heat at Ipswich
Valpolicella saluted in the fastest time of the three heats of the Past Members Trophy at Ipswich on Thursday night, with a card highlighted by controversy.
The Tony Zammit-chaser jumped as a -250 race favourite with top online greyhound bookmakers in her heat of the 630m feature.
Jumping from box two, she got out to lead with Titanium Gunn (+230) running through on the rails in the second before taking the lead off the favourite.
Turning into the straight, Valpolicella stormed over the top to beat Titanium Gunn by 1.25 lengths in a time of 37.12.
Ipswich – Past Members Trophy Heat 1 2023 replay – Valpolicella (37.12) – T: Tony Zammit
The win was the first for Valpolicella, who had run the trip twice before, finishing runner-up on both occasions.
Trainer Zammit said those two runs helped her in terms of experience.
“She ran those two runs in fifth grade; the experience definitely would have helped her,” he said.
“Racing over 700 at Albion just shows that she has a little bit more track sense.
“I was very happy with how she started; she doesn't have that natural acceleration, and that's why she dropped back like that.
“Her best work is always at the finish; from the 600 to 630m mark is where she does her best work.
“Hopefully she can go even better in the final next week.”
The Shima Shine x Saldana bitch has 15 wins and 11 placings from 28 career starts and has banked $120,250 for owner Sandro Bechini.
Zammit told Australian Racing Greyhound that she had received an invitation to the Stayers Topgun, and he had confirmed her nomination had been submitted. It would all be a waiting game to see if she was selected in the final group of chasers.
In the final of the Past Member's Trophy to be run on October 2, Valpolicella has drawn box six, with Zammit saying the draw is not that big of an issue.
“I don't mind where she draws,” he said.
“She isn't what you call a mad railer; she will go straight and then just have to work out where to place herself in the next 100m.
“A lot depends on what happens going around the straight, but as I have said, she always does her best work late.”
The second of the three heats of the $30,000-to-the-winner contest was marred with controversy after it was run and won by classy chaser Bogie Hurricane before being called a no-race.
Zammit commented on the events of the heat and the subsequent outcome.
“It was unfortunate that happened in race three,” the master trainer said.
“Bogie Hurricane, the dog that won the race, beat us last week at Albion Park.
“Bogie went faster than Valpolicella did in that heat.
“It is a bit disappointing that this happened with the boxes.
“It's sad because that could have happened in our race.
“It's going to be interesting to see how people react to the whole situation; from a trainer's point of view, I really feel for Ryan (Ayre, trainer of Bogie Hurricane).
“It's a tricky situation for stewards also because you cannot rerun the heat because we are so close to the final, being on Thursday.”
This morning, following the confirmation of a no-race, Queensland Racing and Integrity Commission (QRIC) stewards conducted a ballot for the $30,000-to-the-winner finale, with both Bogie Hurricane and Gin Shelf—winner and runner-up, respectively—missing a spot in the final.
The result of that ballot drew runners Tiny Encounter and Tarawi Lola as the names to join Valpolicella, Titanium Gunn, Scintillate, Amendola, Springtime Gold, and Jewel Bee in the final.
The result has left the industry in Queensland shaken, with many commenting throughout the day on the fallout following the heat.