As if the G2 Warragul Cup final wasn’t ‘hot’ enough!

The meeting has been ‘spiced up’ with an intriguing $10,000 winner-take-all Cup Night Match Race (460m) between Faithy Bale and Tiggerlong Tonk on Saturday night.

Here’s the dynamic duo’s 2020 ‘tale of the tape’ – and their connections’ thoughts on the titanic two-dog tussle.

BOX 1 – FAITHY BALE
(Nov ’17 Fernando Bale x Quiz Bale)

Trainer: Andrea Dailly
55 starts: 20-8-7
Stakes: $124,615
Warragul 460m – 1 start: 0-0-1
Finalist: G2 Warrnambool Cup (4^th); G3 Cup Night Sprint (5^th); G3 Silver Bullet (6^th)

“The match-race format appeals to her racing style and if she lobs in front, it could be interesting… She’s a pretty handy type and is as good as gold… We’re just hoping she shows her usual early dash.” – ‘Team Dailly’

BOX 3 – TIGGERLONG TONK
(Feb ’18 Dyna Double One x Tiggerlong Dot)

Trainer: Correy Grenfell
65 starts: 33-11-6
Stakes: $360,805
Warragul 460m – 1 start: 0-0-0
Winner: G2 Horsham Cup; G3 Shootout; G3 Easter Gift
Runner-up: G1 Hobart Thousand; G2 Bendigo Cup
Finalist: G1 Silver Chief (3^rd); G1 Maturity Classic (3^rd), G1 Harrison-Dawson (3^rd); G1 Melbourne Cup (4^th); G1 Topgun (6^th); G2 Geelong Gold Cup (6^th); G3 Healesville Cup (6^th).

In 2019, Tiggerlong Tonk was also a finalist in the G1 Hobart Thousand (5^th).

“The match-race conditions suit him, as he won’t be finding trouble early… He’ll be able to do what he needs to on his own terms… However, Faithy Bale’s pretty much the same; it will suit her down to the ground… But I’d still expect him to get her late if she leads.” – Correy Grenfell

Pawnote: Tiggerlong Tonk is already match-race proven at the ‘highest level’, winning last year’s four-dog G3 Shootout (515m) at Sandown. He ‘shot the lights out’ defeating Shima Shine, Christo Bale and Hard Style Rico in a new race record (29.03sec).

The Cup Night Match Race is Race 9 at 9.25pm.