‘Love for Tom’ turned Rory into one of the best

By Josh Spasaro

Queensland greyhound racing stalwart Claude Dacey has revealed why Daysea’s Rory has transitioned from a slow break-in to a runner in the Melbourne Cup at Sandown on Saturday night.

According to the dog’s Yatala-based owner, the difference between when he started compared to now – currently as one of the best chasers in Australia – is chalk and cheese.

He says the key ingredient is Australian trainer-of-the-moment, and Dacey’s close friend, Tom Tzouvelis.

“Tom is doing a real good job with him,” Dacey said.

“That whole litter are really spoilt dogs and they won’t go if they’re not happy. They get stubborn. But, they all love him (Tzouvelis) and that’s the most important thing.”

Daysea’s Rory qualified for the $500,000-to-the-winner Melbourne Cup with the fifth-fastest time of 29.25 seconds over 515 metres.

The dog showed good strength to hold his line in third place from the four box at the first turn.

He then showed excellent smarts to get around Sharapova Star at the turn for home and go on to salute by just under one-and-a-quarter lengths over Zelda Covilha for Thomas Dailly.

It also meant Daysea’s Rory could add qualifying for the Melbourne Cup Final alongside making the deciders of The Phoenix, Brisbane Cup and Million Dollar Chase in an outstanding 2025.

And, it has all been a part of a past 14 months where the fawn dog has been happy to chase without signalling to Park Ridge trainer Tzouvelis that he needs a break.

“Rory has been up for 14 months and he hasn’t had a let-up. He’s getting better all the time,” Dacey said.

After his Melbourne Cup heat win, Tzouvelis said Daysea’s Rory loved competing against the best dogs in the nation and he was ready to claim his first Group 1 feature on greyhound racing’s biggest stage.

“He’s made The Phoenix, he made the Brisbane Cup, the Million Dollar Chase and now the Melbourne Cup,” Tzouvelis said.

“I don’t think many other dogs have made all those races. Let’s hope it’s fourth time lucky and we knock one of them off.”

Indeed, Tzouvelis has Daysea’s Rory in prime physical and mental condition going into the biggest race of both their careers.

"I’m quite confident we’ll be there with them (the rest of the Melbourne Cup Final field)," Dacey said. 

What is also noteworthy about Daysea’s Rory is how much he has improved since Dacey was his conditioner in the early stages of his career.

The Sennachie and Nikki Nettle dog registered one win from his first 12 starts.

“When I took the whole litter, every dog nearly ran the same time,” Dacey said.

“When I first had them, at Ipswich I couldn’t break 26 seconds over 431 metres there.

“I couldn’t break 14 seconds for the first mark and they were the slowest dogs I’ve had for so long. And, then they just kept getting better and better.”

Dacey said his retired broodbitch and the dam of Daysea’s Rory, Nikki Nettle, also had a modest on-track career.

“She wasn’t anything exceptional, but she could go any distance. She was more a stayer than anything,” he said of his now nine-year-old who won 15 races from 93 starts.

“She would’ve been a lot better with a lot better trainer.”

Despite drawing the eight box, Dacey said Daysea’s Rory was in with a massive chance in the Melbourne Cup Final on Saturday night.

“I give him an excellent chance. I think he’s drawn not where he wants to be, but I think it might help what’s inside him,” he said.

“The seven (Intrepidus) is pretty quick out. If it goes straight to the inside and the others want to come to the outside, we could be in a good position. Let’s hope so.”

The 91-year-old Dacey said still being involved with greyhounds gave his life meaning and purpose.

“I cannot sit still. I’ve got to be doing something all the time. I get bored inside,” he said.

“They tried to put me in hospital a couple of times and I just walked out. I’ve got a little problem with the heart. It’s not something that many people know about, it’s called amyloidosis.

“It’s very hard to pick up. It took them a long while to pick it up.”

Despite his recent health issue, Dacey said just having a dog line up in a Melbourne Cup Final was a huge thrill.

“It means a lot to get in those big races anyway, doesn’t it?” he said.

“For that sort of money, that’s just unheard of. Having a dog good enough to run for that is just unbelievable.”