Why Tiggerlong Tonk Is Set For A Big Stud Future

THE greyhound stud dog world is filled with star racetrack performers, Group winners, record breakers, bluebloods, all with the necessary credentials to attract broodbitch owners.

Then there is Tiggerlong Tonk who is something quite apart from almost all of them.

The one thing that makes Tiggerlong Tonk stand apart from them all is that he has NEVER been a “cotton wool” champ.

His 89 career starts are proof of that and his 42 wins and 31 placings  at a huge variety of tracks proves just that.

Take for instance the tracks at which he has won … Sandown, Warrnambool, Cannington, The Meadows, Hobart, Geelong, Healesville, Bendigo, Shepparton, Horsham and Ballarat.

Along the way, the son of Dyna Double One and Tiggerlong Dot by Spring Gun has picked up $721,000 in stakes for his trouble.

Not for him a few fast wins, a feature race, and then off to stud after just a handful of starts. He's done it tough, never asked any quarter, never gave any, never shirked the issue of taking on and beating the very best.

Trainer Correy Grenfell never protected his dog, he never felt the need to. It has proved to all just what a great dog he is.

Wagga breeder Michael Finn should rightly be proud of what he bred.

Tiggerlong Tonk's Group 1 glory had to wait, and wait, and wait, but it finally came in a rush with victories in the Perth Cup and Harrison-Dawson.

What should be just as pleasing for Michael is the fact Tiggerlong Tonk's litter included nine named offspring and all have been winners.

Those now two G1 victories add to Tonk's wins in the G2 Horsham Cup and G3 Shootout and G3 Easter Gift.

But, he's also been placed in the G1 Hobart 1000, Silver Chief, Harrison Dawson, Maturity, Temlee and a finalist at G1 level in the Melbourne Cup, Hobart 1000, Topgun and Australian Cup.

To make just one of those finals is a crowning achievement for any dog let alone being a finalist in 11 of them.

Tiggerlong Tonk, from all accounts, has a fantastic temperament which will endear himself to breeders.

The pedigree Michael Finn put together to produce his lifetime superstar is based on the proven Hallucinate/Pure Octane cross that was G1 successful via Mepunga Hayley and many others.

Tonk is from a damline already proven for Michael Finn.

Dam Tiggerlong Dot (Spring Gun-Tiggerlong Petal by Pure Octane) was a finalist in the Dapto Oaks and a Wenty winner. She is bred on the hugely successful Bombastic Shiraz/Big Daddy Cool/Bearability/Token Prince found in G1 stars like No Donuts.

Big Daddy Cool and Bearability are virtual brothers so close is their pedigree match. They come into Dot's pedigree 3×3 and intensely positioned to impact.

Dot is a litter sister to Tiggerlong Cruz a finalist at G2 level in the Ballarat and Bendigo Cups.

Dot's half brother Tiggerlong Await (by Fabregas) was second in the G1 Perth Cup and the G1 Harrison Dawson, while another half brother Tiggerlong Amigo (by Cosmic Chief) won the G2 WA Derby and was multiple Group placed.

Correy Grenfell and Michael Finn have to be congratulated.

They are not like most rushing to put Tiggerlong Tonk to stud to reap the benefits of Group 1 success.

While Tonk will continue to race for now, his stud career is now assured.

His pedigree lends itself to mating even to daughters of Barcia Bale, bitches with Where's Pedro, any by Fernando Bale, bitches from the famed Spanish Dance family and even those by Fabregas (proven with the damline).

Having Spring Gun as his damsire, Tonk will be ideal for bitches by Zulu Zeus (to recreate Zipping Garth) and especially daughters of Buck Fever to reinforce the Ready To Rain family.

Group stars Sunset Bourbski and her mother Bourbski Fever are examples of this.

The Spring Gun/Bombastic Influence in Tonk's damline will also suit daughters of Aston Dee Bee. Yes, it will double Barcia Bale 3×2 but this is a theme already a proven cross in many great race dogs and sires (check out New Tears, Ginger, Amerigo Man).

Tonk is also crying out for bitches with an up-close cross of Brett Lee to link with his half brother Big Daddy Cool. This can be picked up strongly via Oaks Road, Cosmic Rumble, Lochinvar Marlow etc.

Cosmic Rumble, in particular, has done exceptionally well when linked to Tonk's direct damline.

Cosmic Rumble's close relation Collision, too, will suit a link with Tonk.

Other stud options for Tonk include daughters of Zambora Brockie.

And, daughters of Magic Sprite, too, have worked well with both Barcia Bale and Dyna Double One.

Outcross matings for Tonk will also have great appeal. Bitches with Kinloch Brae especially.

Correy Grenfell is constantly amazed at the will to win and chase shown throughout his career by Tonk.

He is as proud as punch that Sandown recently showed Tonk and Fernando Bale are the only dogs to have five times won under 29.17 around Sandown. Tonk's career best of 29.03 is sensational.

Stud career?

Yes, Tiggerlong Tonk is on his way. But, he's got a few more Group 1s to target yet!