Considering the phenomenal success Robert Britton has enjoyed with the omnipotent ‘Tears’ dynasty – think Tornado Tears, Space Star and Here’s Tears, to name just a few – it’s a little surprising the latest incarnation has caught the champion trainer by surprise.
Youngsters from the April ’21 litter by Goodesy out of Freaky Tears, a litter sister to Here’s Tears and full sister to Tornado Tears, have been turning heads since arriving in Victoria.
Headline acts Trooper Tears and Trapper Tears are frontline contenders for the rich Group 3 Launching Pad series, offering over $530,000 in total prizemoney, which commences at Sandown Park on Thursday night.
“Even though Michael (Ivers, breeder) liked them a lot, I didn’t realise they could run the times they can.”
The duo ran the quinella in last Thursday’s Launching Pad Qualifier Final, with Trapper Tears ($6.50) defeating unlucky favourite Trooper Tears ($2) in a scorching Best Of Night 29.17sec.
“I do believe the dog that ran second, Trooper Tears, would’ve won the race without the interference on the first turn, so you’d have to say he would’ve gone quicker!” said Robert Britton.
Trapper Tears has now won four of his 11 starts, and three of five since relocating from NSW, while Trooper Tears has won five from nine, with his four defeats all seconds.
Trapper Tears (box 3) will contest Thursday’s second heat, with Trooper Tears (box 6) engaged in heat seven, while another sibling, Rachael’s Tears (box 8), will line up in the first runoff.
Treasure Tears – the “lesser one in the litter”, according to Britton – was a 10-length winner at Sandown on Sunday, posting 29.61sec.
WATCH: “The run is super”. TRAPPER TEARS (B2) won the Launching Pad Qualifier (515m) at Sandown Park in a sizzling BON 29.165sec last Thursday, with litter brother and favourite TROOPER TEARS “a tragedy beaten” in second place.
“They’ve been a little bit of a surprise packet to me,” he said.
“Even though Michael (Ivers, breeder and part-owner) liked them a lot, I didn’t realise they could run the times they can.
“I think Trooper Tears is possibly the best one, but Trapper Tears is stronger, and he might get over more ground later on.
“It’s in the breed to stay, but being by Goodesy might change the dynamic. They might have a little bit too much brilliance to stay.”
Britton’s champion stayer Tornado Tears qualified for the 2018 Launching Pad Final, running fifth to Beast Unleashed.
One week later he embarked on his legendary distance career, putting the writing on the wall with a sensational 41.20sec 11-length demolition job at Sandown Park.
Last Saturday night at Cannington, the Britton family added to their fantastic record in the Group 1 Galaxy (715m), with $25 outsider First Picked, trained by Chris Halse, Linda Britton’s partner, claiming the $125,000 winner’s purse with an all-the-way 41.83sec victory.
Owned by Robert and trained in Victoria by his son Tim, First Picked emulated her granddam Born Ali, the 2014 Galaxy winner, one of Robert’s three wins in the race.
Robert also claimed WA’s premier distance event with Space Star (2015) and Rippin’ Sam (2018), while sister Linda boasts five victories in the event.
“Originally we sent her over because I’ve always been of the opinion she’s two or three lengths off the very best stayers in Victoria,” Robert Britton said.
“So I thought a career over there would suit her and the change has helped her.
“To tell you the truth, when she made the final, I was just hoping she could run a place.
“She was lucky enough to lead and she can genuinely stay. I’d describe her as a real one-pacer.
“The plan was for her to stay over there for the rest of her career, but she’ll probably come back for the race at Newcastle (‘The 715’ at The Gardens, worth $500,000 to-the-winner) and then go back to Western Australia.”
First Picked was the second leg of a two-state winning double for the Benali x Erelda Bale (a litter sister to the immortal Fanta Bale) litter on Saturday, with Wheel And Go, prepared by Tim, saluting over 730m at The Meadows.
