Tiggeralong Tonk

WAGGA breeder Michael Finn should rightly be proud of his endeavours to establish a damline of the highest order.

That was on show for the world to see on Thursday night when Tiggerlong Tonk (Dyna Double One-Tiggerlong Dot by Spring Gun) finally shook off for good his Group 1 hoodoo when winning the Harrison Dawson at Sandown.

It followed his G1 Perth Cup success a few weeks back and took his career record to 79 starts for 39 wins and 24 placings and earnings of $676,000.

What should be just as pleasing for Michael is the fact Tiggerlong Tonk's litter include nine named offspring and all have been winners.

Tonk's career is a credit to his trainer Correy Grenfell and the dog's own soundness, chase and toughness.

Those two G1 victories add to his wins in the G2 Horsham Cup and G3 Shootout and G3 Easter Gift.

But, he's also been placed in the G1 Hobart 1000, Silver Chief, Harrison Dawson, Maturity, Temlee and a finalist at G1 level in the Melbourne Cup, Hobart 1000, Topgun and Australian Cup.

To make just one of those finals is a crowning achievement for any dog let alone being a finalist in 11 of them.

Tonk, from all accounts, is NOTHING like his famed father, Dyna Double One, who has become notorious for producing offspring WAY over the top and some a nightmare for their trainers.

The pedigree Michael Finn put together to produce his lifetime superstar is based on the proven Hallucinate/Pure Octane cross that was G1 successful via Mepunga Hayley and many others.

Dam Tiggerlong Dot (Spring Gun-Tiggerlong Petal by Pure Octane) was a finalist in the Dapto Oaks and a Wenty winner. She is bred on the hugely successful Bombastic Shiraz/Big Daddy Cool/Bearability/Token Prince found in G1 stars like No Donuts.

Big Daddy Cool and Bearability are virtual brothers so close is their pedigree match. They come into Dot's pedigree 3x3 and intensely positioned to impact. Dot is a litter sister to Tiggerlong Cruz a finalist at G2 level in the Ballarat and Bendigo Cups.

Dot's half brother Tiggerlong Await (by Fabregas) was second in the G1 Perth Cup and the G1 Harrison Dawson, while another half brother Tiggerlong Amigo (by Cosmic Chief) won the G2 WA Derby and was multiple Group placed.

Correy Grenfell and Michael Finn have to be congratulated.

They are not like most rushing to put Tiggerlong Tonk to stud to reap the benefits of Group 1 success.

Tonk has NEVER been a dog put in cotton wool. His 79 career starts are proof of that and his 39 wins at a huge variety of tracks proves his versatility. Take for instance those tracks at which he has won ... Sandown, Warrnambool, Cannington, The Meadows, Hobart, Geelong, Healesville, Bendigo, Shepparton, Horsham and Ballarat.

Correy Grenfell remembers like it was yesterday Tonk's first race start way back on August 30, 2019 in a six-dog maiden over 460m at Geelong. He ran last, beaten 12 lengths, and everyone associated with the kennel were left lamenting and their money in the bookies bags.

Everyone, except Correy, backed up on Tonk at his next start when a $12.80 chance and a 30.18 winner of a maiden at The Meadows. It was September 2019. The rest is history.

While Tonk will continue to campaign throughout the country, his stud career is now assured.

His pedigree lends itself to mating even to daughters of Barcia Bale, bitches with Where's Pedro, any by Fernando Bale, bitches from the famed Spanish Dance family and those by Fabregas (proven with the damline).

Having Spring Gun as his damsire, Tonk will be ideal for bitches by Zulu Zeus (to recreate Zipping Garth) and especially daughters of Buck Fever to reinforce the Ready To Rain family.

Tonk is also crying out for bitches with an up-close cross of Brett Lee to link with his half brother Big Daddy Cool. This can be picked up strongly via Oaks Road, Cosmic Rumble, Lochinvar Marlow etc.

Cosmic Rumble, in particular, has done exceptionally well when linked to Tonk's direct damline.

Correy Grenfell is constantly amazed at the will to win and chase shown throughout his career by Tonk.

He is as proud as punch that Sandown recently showed Tonk and Fernando Bale are the only dogs to have five times won under 29.17 around Sandown. Tonk's career best of 29.03 is sensational.

Stud career?

Yes, Tonk is on his way. But, he's got a few more Group 1s to target yet!

WEEKEND racing was interesting pedigree-wise.

At The Meadows, How Not Too (High Earner-Shesa Felon) went super time and came along with a pedigree that is fascinating. He is in-bred 2x4 to Double Guess and Go Wild Teddy and they are hugely placed to impact with each other in his pedigree.

Double Guess is by a son of Head Honcho and has Malawi's Prince as the sire of her mother. Go Wild Teddy is a son of Head Honcho and his dam is by Malawi's Prince.

You see what I mean by saying How Not Too has an interesting pedigree.

At Wenty, Karen's Delight (Hay Fergus-Kasreyn) landed a city win and her pedigree is also interesting. Her sire Hay Fergus is bred on the famed Brett Lee/Bobniak cross.

Her damsire Barcia Bale brings in a cross of Hallucinate through his dam and we all know Hallucinate is by Brett Lee from a daughter of Bobniak.

Hay Fergus and Hallucinate, virtual brothers, come into the pedigree of Karen's Delight 1x4.

Also at Wenty, Lollipop Liz (My Bro Fabio-Lillipop Ollie) was impressive in her first city win.

She is line bred 2x1 to Flamenco and Lillipop Ollie who are both bred on the Where's Pedro/Elle's Commando cross but they also bring in Golden Currency and Alice Dooley who both trace to the very same famous direct damline.