Chirnside Park resident Terry Solier has been a racing enthusiast all his life, but a greyhound owner for less than 12 months, and he now he finds himself involved in one of the most sought-after races in Australia – tonight’s TAB Melbourne Cup (515m) at Sandown Park.
She’s Gifted is the greyhound who made this dream a reality not only for Solier, but Lara based trainer Deborah Coleman and the six other TSol’s Syndicate members who are mostly first time greyhound owners.
“Our little girl is in the Melbourne Cup and I can tell you that not many of our Syndicate have slept this week and nor will they until the race has been run,” TSol’s Syndicate Manager, Terry Solier said.
She’s Gifted’s TAB Melbourne Cup heat win at Sandown Park last week saw emotions run free and tears a-plenty when ‘Soxy’ as she has more casually known, won her way into the $630,000 feature.
“We are over the moon. To make a Melbourne Cup so early on in our greyhound racing venture is unbelievable,” Solier said.
Soxy has taken the TSol’s Syndicate to places they have never been – and in some cases didn’t plan on going. From Perth, WA to Maitland, NSW – where the Syndicate’s plane was delayed resulting in them watching her heat win on their phones.
“I created this syndication because I wanted people to be engaged with the journey of each greyhound that we raced. We didn’t have champions before Soxy, but we still cared for them as we do her,” Solier said.
Admittedly, owning a greyhound wasn’t first on their bucket list but was the most affordable. After stepping up their purchasing game, the TSol’s Syndicate was able to make a sizable investment in a greyhound who they were hoping to compete on Australia’s elite greyhound tracks, and that is exactly what She’s Gifted has provided them.
In her 29th career start, She’s Gifted is set to tackle some of the hottest names in greyhound racing in the TAB Melbourne Cup.
“Poke The Bear (box six) is pretty much the best dog going around and his kennel mate Black Opium (box five) is one of the most exciting,” Solier said.
The TAB has rated She’s Gifted as a $7 chance in the Cup after drawing box two. A box she is unbeaten in from two attempts and has seen four of the past 10 Melbourne Cups win from.
Recent history also tells us that greyhounds that are two years of age, black in colour, male, have drawn an inside box – preferably box two – and are second, third or fourth in the market are historically the likely Melbourne Cup winners. She’s Gifted ticks all of those boxes bar one – she’s female.
“We are very happy with box two in the Melbourne Cup. She has great early speed and because she is drawn close to the rail it gives her a good chance of leading this field,” Solier said.
The TAB Melbourne Cup is race six on the card tonight and is set to jump at 8.51pm.
