Tzouvelis: Black Comanche Best Since Surf Lorian

TOM Tzouvelis believes Black Comanche is the best young greyhound he has seen in Queensland since the record-breaking Surf Lorian way back in 2004.

Which is a statement considering Tzouvelis' Temnick Syndicate races She's Sweet which looms as Black Comanche's toughest opponent for Saturday night's final of the rich Group 3 Vince Curry Maiden (520m) at Ipswich.

Black Comanche ran a scorching 30.17, just .01 outside the maiden class record help by Pop The Cork, when winning his Vince Curry semi-final last Saturday night.

But She's Sweet threw down the challenge to him instantly by winning her semi-final in 30.18.

Jedda Cutlack trains She's Sweet for the Temnick Syndicate and she comes up against Black Comanche, the Peter Hare-owned boom youngster trained by Greg Stella.

“In my time in greyhound racing, Surf Lorian is easily the best young dog I have ever seen in Queensland,” said Tom. “But Black Comanche is as good.”

Ipswich Sat Jan 29 2022
Vince Curry Memorial Semi Final 2. 520m
1st – Box 5 Black Comanche – Greg Stella
2nd – Box 2 Hara's Herbie – Jemma Daley
30.17 (5.36 – 12.96 – 11.85) 7 3/4 x 3
King Cole – 30.93 (3rd) Mohawk Mindy – 31.43 (4th) pic.twitter.com/bUcde7zPvp

— John Brasch (@Bunny_Brasch) January 29, 2022

Surf Lorian smashed track records at Ipswich and the Gold Coast and twice equalled legend Flying Amy's track record at Albion Park within four days.

“I believe Black Comanche could break the Ipswich track record,” said Tom.

“He's that good, he's special.”

The record is shared by Champagne Sally and Fernando Blaster at 29.97.

“I have not seen a natural like him since Surf Lorian,” said Tom.

“But at the moment he is all legs. He needs to learn to control his natural speed. He showed that on Saturday night when he speared off at the first turn.

“He was simply going too fast.”

But therein lies the Tzouvelis hopes that She's Sweet can win Saturday night's Vince Curry.

“I think Greg (Stella) would have liked Black Comanche to have drawn the eight in the final,” said Tom.

“I know we are not as happy to be drawn directly outside him. I worry that if they are going to the first turn together, they might wipe each other out.

“And, the four dog (King Cole) absolutely crashes to the fence at the start, so he could wipe us both out early.”

Ipswich Sat Jan 29 2022
Vince Curry Memorial Semi Final 3. 520m
1st – Box 2 She's Sweet – Jedda Cutlack
2nd – Box 5 Shipwreck – Ned Snow
30.18 (5.32 – 13.08 – 11.78) 13 3/4 x Neck
Hara's Skye – 31.17 (3rd) Timely Mover – 31.19 (4th) pic.twitter.com/nAyUg3NJjr

— John Brasch (@Bunny_Brasch) January 29, 2022

The Tzouvelis-Cutlack kennel is relieved She's Sweet is racing as well as she is.

“She was fought badly in her race debut (at Albion Park in November) and fell,” said Tom. “It did her confidence no good at all. It took Jedda a long time to get her confidence back.

“And in fact she was ready to race again a month before the Vince Curry but Racing Queensland has stopped running maiden heats and finals, so we decided to keep her for this race … luckily.”

Tzouvelis says She's Sweet has enough early pace to clear Black Comanche to the first turn.

“She is a cleaner beginner than him,” he said. “But, in the semis, he speared off at the first turn and I would be amazed at what he would have run to the next mark if he had stayed on the track.”

Interestingly, the two Vince Curry final hotpots are both by Zambora Brockie.

Both are in-bred to Bombastic Shiraz 3×3, and both carry a cross of Hallucinate in their dam.

Black Comanche is from the famed Highland Bride damline established by Bob Thompson, while She's Sweet traces back to Brad Northfield's Group 1 winner Bralyn Maisie.