Britton's Bold Tornado Warning

CHAMPION trainer Robert Britton says he couldn't be happier with his superstar galloper Tornado Tears for his return to racing in Saturday night's Group 1 Zoom Top invitation (725m) at The Meadows.

Off the scene since last September, 147 days in fact, his last appearance victory in the G3 Topcat Video Cup (725m) at The Meadows, the son of Fernando Bale capped off his Zoom Top preparations with a powerhouse 29.23 trial at Sandown Park (515m) on Sunday afternoon, a performance that triggered bookmakers to move swiftly on the three-time group 1 winner, installed a $2.25 favourite from box eight for the $75,000 to-the-winner invitation.

"I've been really pleased with his past two trials in particular, I think it's been a combination of getting some confidence back and weight off, but he looks to be right on track now," said Britton, who will be chasing a third Zoom Top success at the weekend, his previous winners Space Star (2015) and of course Fanta Bale (2018).

"The good thing is there's been no soreness in the hock he injured and he's ready for 700 now but the run will do him the world of good.

“He's had a few 600 trials which have pleased me and he'd be right to go this week whether this race was on or not. To be honest he probably could have come back a bit earlier but my rule with hock injuries is whatever the vet says, double it. If you don't, you generally end up starting all over again."

Winner at 19 of his 28 starts and over half-a-million in prizemoney, Tornado Tears will be eyeing an eighth group race triumph at the weekend, his fourth at Group 1 level, and given the circumstances around his return from such a lengthy injury enforced break, victory would only further validate the superstar's status among the great stayers of the modern era.

"It probably would have been better to return in heats where the opposition may have been a little softer than straight into an invitation but that's how it's played out," added Britton.

"Box eight isn't ideal, at The Meadows and Sandown it's a very short run to the first bend from the back and the track is that wide it's like a four lane highway so it's not easy to get across. He does generally show a lot of track sense and is pretty clever in the run so whilst I'd rather him inside he's proven he can handle wide draws in the past, good dogs find a way."

And whilst Tornado Tears heads into Saturday night's distance invitation as undoubtedly the greyhound to beat, Britton's quest for back-to-back Zoom Tops (Fanta Bale, 2018) doesn't rest there, complimented by third favourite Barcali ($4.40), the Group 1 Bold Trease winner drawn suitably in box three.

"I haven't been that happy with his past couple of trials so I've freshened him right up heading into Saturday night," stated Britton.

"He ripped his pads off and was in a real mess after the final (Group 2 Distance Plate) in Sydney last month and I'm just hoping that easing up on him turns him around this week because he's fit and healthy in himself, there's no injuries. Hopefully he can bounce back."

In what promises to be an absorbing contest in the Zoom Top, given that the top four in betting are returning from some form of injury or fitness cloud, betting leading into the weekend should prove more than interesting.

Second in the market behind Tornado Tears is NSW star Poco Dorado for trainer John Finn – quoted a $3.60 chance from box one – while Rippin' Sam, runner-up in last year's Zoom Top, rounds out the runners under double figure odds at $7.50.

The Group 1 Galaxy hero returns to the track after failing to finish in the Stayers Cup (680m) at Warragul last month, his only outing since winning the Speed Star Stayers (715m) at Sandown Park in mid-September.

Interestingly, Poco Dorado – who had her colours lowered for the first time in 12 appearances at the Wentworth Park 720m on Saturday night – will venture to The Meadows for just the second time at the weekend, her previous performance at the circuit runner-up to Champagne Sally, who has been scratched from Saturday night's feature, in the Group 1 Stayers Topgun (725m) last October.

With the scratching of Champagne Sally, last start Group 2 Summer Distance Plate winner Double Gee will fly the flag for Queensland, the son of Dyna Double One set to take his place from box six, continuing what's been a horror run with box draws for the Selena Zammit-trained chaser.