Tornado Tears Tops Magical Million Dollar Mark

TORNADO Tears has cemented his standing as one of the greatest stayers of the modern era with an epic victory in the TAB Topgun Stayers (725m) at The Meadows on Saturday night.

The rails hugging triumph catapulted the champion son of Fernando Bale past $1 million in prize money earnings, yet another major milestone in a remarkable career for trainer Robert Britton and owner-breeder Michael Ivers.

"The past few months he's been a whole new dog," said jubilant handler Peter Riley.

"He's not getting any younger but he tries all the time and showed tonight what he can do when the breaks go his way.

"What can you say; he's just a great dog and loves racing, and we love racing him."

Saturday night's Stayers Topgun success was Tornado Tears' sixth victory at group 1 level with seemingly no end to his remarkable career in sight.

Looking a forlorn chance in the run, the invitation event changed complexion in the latter stages where Tornado Tears, smoking his pipe on the fence, gained a saloon passage to rail through and win by 2 ½ lengths in 42.59.

Finishing second was Tornado Tears' younger half-brother Here's Tears, handing Britton the quinella, while Just Terms, runner-up to Blue Moon Rising in the race last year, filled third in another fantastic performance.

The win handed Tornado Tears a 35th career win from 67 starts and his ninth win from 13 starts over the 725m journey at The Meadows. He's now won his past three starts.

Prior to that winning sequence the greyhound known more affectionately as Batman had registered just one victory in 2020.

The son of Fernando Bale and Tears Siam turns five in February, his longevity and zest for racing a credit to Robert Britton who has guided the champion stayer with aplomb throughout his career.

The glamour half-miler will now move towards the heats of the lucrative Group 1 Bold Trease at Sandown Park on November 20, a race he won last year in typical Tornado Tears fashion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGzttEkDqrY