Aloisi's Golden Adelaide Goals

WHEN successful young South Australian owner Tim Aloisi suffered third-degree burns to 25 per cent of his body in a workplace accident in 2010 he found himself in some very dark places as he battled post-traumatic stress disorder.

But a new-found passion for greyhound racing and his footballing talent helped Aloisi, now 30, fight off his demons and courtesy of an astute eye for purchasing tried interstate dogs he's currently enjoying his most successful year in the sport.
In partnership with co-owner Matt Lehman and premier SA trainer Tony Rasmussen, Aloisi has dominated feature racing at Angle Park in the first half of 2018 and his Midas touch struck again last Thursday when former Victorian stayer Jeebus Bird careered away with the Shane McQueen Final over 600m.
"After my accident I was a bit down on life and greyhound racing helped get me through a pretty tough period," Aloisi explained.
"I knew absolutely nothing about greyhounds but my uncle had a couple of dogs and he was always really excited when they were racing so I decided to go and buy one.
"I went onto the Greyhound Data website and bought my first dog, Terminator Gunn. He was only a 400m dog but that got me started and when you get a taste of it you want better and faster."
Aloisi found a willing ally in Matt Lehman, who he met through their local football club, Brahma Lodge, and the pair haven't looked back since purchasing Grifter Bale and Allen Wake off Paul Wheeler in 2014.
"We've gone from one extreme to the other. It's really out of control!" Aloisi laughed.
"We're on track to have our best year. Three years ago we had about 90 winners and we've already had close to 60 winners this year. Prizemoney-wise, it's already the best year we've had but we're not in it for the prizemoney or the glory. We love the greyhounds and any money we win gets invested back into the industry.
"When the live-baiting happened it would have been very easy to quit but Matt and I wanted to help the industry, especially in South Australia, so we decided to get bigger.
"We haven't won a Group race yet but we ran second in the (Group 1) Sale Cup with Chrichton Bale, Porrentruy ran third in the (Group 2) Summer Distance Plate at Wentworth Park and Zipping Zeus ran third in the (Group 3) Darwin Cup.
"I think there's been six feature races in Adelaide this year and we've won four of them with Jeebus Bird winning the Shane McQueen and Ashom Monelli winning the John Gray, Easter Cup and SA Distance Championship. Any final is hard to win but Ashom Monelli has won finals over 515, 600 and 731 in five months.
"We do the easy part and buy the dogs and a lot of credit has to go to the trainers. Tony and Lisa Rasmussen are workaholics and they do a great job with our dogs."
After purchasing Jeebus Bird, Aloisi and Lehman initially sent him to Western Australian trainer David Hobby for a tilt at the Group 1 Galaxy and the February '15 son of Barcia Bale and Queen Bluebird ran seventh to Rippin' Sam in the final.
Jeebus Bird then returned to Victoria, where he was unplaced in a Group 1 Sandown Cup heat, after which he dropped back to 600m for the $6500 to-the-winner Shane McQueen series.
Jeebus Bird was first reserve for the Shane McQueen after a luckless third in his heat, but he secured a fateful late call-up after the scratching of kennelmate Nations, which had won two from three since relocating from NSW after being bought by a syndicate headed by – you guessed it – Aloisi and Lehman.
Drawn in box eight, Jeebus Bird started on the third line of betting at $5, with reigning SA Greyhound of the Year On Fire the $2.50 favourite.
The writing was on the wall when Jeebus Bird settled ominously in second place and after putting paid to Windmill Haze turning for home he powered clear, scoring by an ever-expanding four lengths in 35.12, his ninth win from 46 starts.
"Nations drew box eight, which is the box we wanted for him, and I thought he would go close but he pulled up a bit sore after a gallop," Aloisi said.
"Jeebus Bird's run the week before was massive and I thought he was a chance but he's not the best of beginners and he doesn't like box seven or eight at all. But he stayed out of trouble and got a clear run and when he lobbed behind the four (Windmill Haze) I thought he was home."
Jeebus Bird's runaway Shane McQueen triumph was the highlight of another memorable night for the potent Aloisi/Lehman/Rasmussen combination, as they won four of the 12 races.
Honcho Monelli, a December '14 son of Mogambo and Jackie Bale, clocked a best of night 29.55 over 515m, while Menzali, a March '16 Barcia Bale – Born Ali litter brother to Group 1 Albion Park Gold Cup finalist Benali, opened his SA account at his second attempt, posting 29.97.
Zudactyl Monelli was a runaway 34.61 winner over 600m, with Aloisi predicting a bright staying future for the June '15 son of Bekim Bale and Luba Monelli.
"I'm pretty level-headed about our dogs and don't make big statements but I think Zudactyl Monelli will be one of the best 700m dogs in Adelaide," Aloisi offered.