Capalaba feature is about more than winning for Tzouvelis

By Pat McLeod

Tom Tzouvelis would love to keep winning when he returns to the Capalaba straight track on Sunday to contest yet another feature event.

However, winning won’t necessarily be front of mind when the successful Brisbane conditioner unleashes a three-pronged assault on the Dr John Murray Appreciation Final.

“John Murray was a very special person to our family and especially to me,” Tzouvelis said.

“I was just 13 years of age when our family moved to Queensland.

“Dad used to go to John for all of his veterinarian needs. Back then I wanted to become a vet. John knew that and so whenever I was at his place with Dad, he would take me through step-by-step the treatment he was giving those dogs.

“He would go into great detail, even write things down for me. Over the years I started writing things down myself and still have those books stored away."

Dr John Murray played a major role with the first-ever dog Tzouvelis trained – Foolish Pleasure.

“I had stepped that dog up in distance without the right preparation. It was touch and go, but John did everything he could to save that dog. And, he did," Tzouvelis said. 

“He told me that he didn’t know if the dog would be any good after that as a race dog. But, at least he was alive.

“As it turned out, Foolish Pleasure became my first city feature winner. He went on to win the President’s Cup at Albion Park over 700 metres. 

“John taught me a lot, not just about how to treat injuries, but also how to train dogs. He was a great vet, a very good trainer and an even better person.”

On Sunday, Tzouvelis has Zipping Urban (box one), Zipping Sweeny (box four) and Sheriff (box seven) in the race.

“Sweeny is an established dog. A Townsville Cup-winner,” Tzouvelis said.

“He lost a little bit of confidence after the Townsville Cup and is starting to get back to his old form.

“Sheriff and Urban are two exciting pups. When Sheriff goes back to the Q2 I think people will start to realise how good he is. He will run really good time.

“He has got a big motor, but at this stage he is still a bit clumsy and the purpose of Capalaba is just teaching him how to race.

“He is still very green. Urban has gone to Capalaba purely because he goes very well up the straight.

“He is a bit more straightforward, a bit more foolproof as far as a race dog goes at this stage. They are both not two until February.”

To say Tzouvelis goes into Sunday’s racing at Capalaba with winning form is a slight understatement.

On Wednesday this week his kennel had six dogs in at the straight track. 

The result was five wins and a second.