In a testament to both Here’s Tears and master distance conditioner Robert Britton, the veteran stayer will remarkably make his third appearance in the Group 1 TAB Zoom Top (725m) at The Meadows on Saturday night.
A younger full brother to former champion Tornado Tears, Here’s Tears, which has won 23 of his 80 starts, ran second to Just Terms in the 2020 Zoom Top and fifth to Houdini Boy last year.
Britton has a great affinity with the invitational feature, having been successful on four occasions, with Cheetah Zorro (2014), Space Star (2015), Fanta Bale (2018) and Tornado Tears (2019).
Here’s Tears, which turns five in September, will have to defy the odds, having won only one of his last 18 starts, with TAB marking the superbly related son of Fernando Bale and Tears Siam a $23 outsider.
“He’s had an interrupted career,” Britton explained.
“He’s had an ongoing issue with soreness in a back muscle. He has a couple of trials and then you have to back off him again.
“He’s still going well – there’s nothing wrong with his trials over the ‘shorts’ – it’s just a matter of fitness.
“The line, with the three litters we’ve had, has been incredibly sound. Tornado Tears was four-and-a-half when he won his last Group 1.
WATCH: HERE’S TEARS (6) ran second to JUST TERMS (4) in the 2020 G1 Zoom Top in his first appearance in the event.
“I didn’t expect him to make the (Zoom Top) field. You throw in an entry and hope for the best but I was surprised.
“To be quite honest, I think it reflects on a lack of depth in the staying ranks at the moment. There are two or three good stayers but not the depth there’s been in previous years.”
With an eye on the Australian Cup Carnival, Here’s Tears had his first start since December 12 at The Meadows last Saturday, when fourth to kennelmate and younger brother Torpedo Tears.
“We threw him in the deep end over ‘700’ last week and it looked as if he was going to run into the race but then he got a bit tired,” Britton said.
G1 TAB ZOOM TOP (725m)
The Meadows, Saturday 7.50PM – First prize $75,000
1 HERE’S TEARS (Robert Britton, Lara VIC)
2 MEPUNGA RUBY (Jeff Britton, Anakie VIC)
3 HANK THE HUSTLER (Jeff Britton, Anakie VIC)
4 LINE OF QUALITY (Darryl Thomas, Sawyers Gully NSW)
5 MICKS RECALL (Jamie Hosking, Churchable QLD)
6 STANLEY ROAD (Mark Gatt, Thirlmere NSW)
7 GYPSY WYONG (Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC)
8 UNTAPPED (Dustin Drew, Dennington VIC)
Reserves
9 FRANKIE BOY (Clint Trengove, Lewiston SA)
10 DRAKO BALE (Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC)
“There was probably a good reason for that and with the run under his belt, hopefully he’ll be better on Saturday and then better again the following week for the (G1) Super Stayers heats.
“I’m just hopeful, not confident at all.
“I’m hoping he’ll improve off last week’s run and we know he will stay all day.”
The lightly-raced Torpedo Tears, winner of 10 from 24, is also heading towards next weekend’s Super Stayers heats and will be chasing a third straight win in Saturday’s fourth event over 725m.
“At his very first trial in Victoria he cracked a hock,” Britton explained.
“That was in last April/May. We’ve been patient with him, he went home for a while, then he was sold and I retained him to train.
“He’s just starting to show what he can do and the thing in his favour is that he’s a genuine stayer too.”
Britton is also training the fourth Fernando Bale – Tears Siam litter and says at this early stage they look set to following the family distance tradition.
“They’ve only just turned 18 months,” Britton said.
“I’ve got nine of the litter and have started four so far. We won a race at The Meadows a couple of weeks ago with Dirt Farmer.
“They do show a distinct lack of pace, so they’re going to be in a bit of strife in the shorter races. But if they’re half as good as the first three litters we’re going to have a bit of fun with them.”
PAWNOTE: Zoom Top (aka “Sweetie”) was a dual NSW Greyhound of the Year (1968-69), had 68 wins from 136 starts, won the Wentworth Park Gold Cup (1968-69) and Association Cup (1968-69), established 15 track records, and won on 24 tracks in four states. She earned stakes of $59,032 (a then Australian prizemoney record).
Torpedo Tears, younger brother to Here’s Tears and Tornado Tears, is heading towards the G1 Super Stayers.
