New South Wales raider More Sauce will add great ‘flavour’ to Wednesday night’s $70,335 Group 2 SEN Track Traralgon Cup final, as he strives to emulate his litter brother Robbie Rotten, winner of the Group 2 Warragul Cup final earlier this month.
More Sauce (Box 8) is a two-time Group 2 runner-up in his home state, finishing second in both the Maitland Cup final and Black Top final, and owner/trainer/breeder Michelle Lill hopes it will be a case of third time lucky at Traralgon.
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“It’s a great litter and it’s special, because it’s the fourth generation of our line,” said Lill, 39.
“More Sauce’s great-grandmother, Special Sauce, was the first dog my husband Mick and I bought together. We paid $500 for her and she won about $20,000!
“Robbie Rotten has just thrived down in Victoria. It was exciting to see him win the Warragul Cup and it would be a huge thrill if his brother can win the Traralgon Cup.
“I still think More Sauce was feeling his way around the track, so there might be some more improvement, if he gets the start right.”
– MICHELLE LILL
“More Sauce injured a pin muscle in the Fireball final at Goulburn in October after he broke the track record in his heat.
“He had two-and-a-half months off and because he was coming back from injury, when they announced the Traralgon Cup was going to be run over a shorter distance, we thought it would be ideal for him at the moment.
“We’ve always wanted to race in Victoria but it was difficult because we both worked full-time. We’ve got a bit more serious about the dogs over the last couple of years and it’s a really big thing for us just to make the final.”
More Sauce, the winner of 21 races from 33 starts, made his first appearance outside New South Wales in last Friday night’s Cup heats, where after a moderate getaway he showed blistering acceleration in a 21.66sec victory.
“It was a massive effort because we travelled down on the day – it took about 12 hours,” explained Lill, who’s based at Greta in the Hunter Valley.
KEY TIMES
6:52pm First race
7:50pm Cup Night Match Race (Race 4) Gypsy Bun v Mr. Fix It
8:11pm First Quaddie leg (Race 5)
8:31pm $15,000 to-the-winner 500m Special Event (Race 6)
8:51pm G2 SEN Track Traralgon Cup Final (Race 7)
10:36pm Last race (Race 12)
“We did take him down for a trial and he got a bit lost in his trial.
“He is a dog that takes a couple of good looks at a track to do his best, so I was expecting a lot of improvement in his heat but I wasn’t expecting him to start like that!
“I was worried but he just mustered and has that brilliant pace. He got himself up there so quickly. He’s just a winner. He really wants to beat the other dogs.
“I still think he was feeling his way around the track in his heat, so there might be some more improvement, if he gets the start right.
“I was hoping to draw one, two or three, but from Box 8 I’m hoping he gets the chance to use his speed out there.”
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
– Live broadcast from the track with Troy Harley, Brooke Ennis and Corey Smith on GRV’s Facebook page and The Watchdog app.
– Watch every race live and free on Sky Racing and at watchdog.grv.org.au.
– Behind the scenes Twitter coverage with ‘@WatchDogRacing’.
– Live coverage on SEN Track (1593 AM) with Jason Bonnington, Mitch Ebeyer and The Watchdog.
– Regular updates with Trent Langskaill on RSN Racing and Sport (927 AM).
Inexperience at Traralgon won’t be a disadvantage for the lone interstate finalist, as six of the eight heat winners were on debut on the new J-Curve track, which only staged its first meeting on January 15.
Three-time country cup winner Ferdinand Boy (Box 5) and kennelmate Hill Top Jonah (Box 2), along with second reserve Mr. Fix It, are the only finalists to have had two race starts on the world-first circuit.
Here’s a rundown of the contenders:
Group 2 SEN TRACK TRARALGON CUP FINAL (395m)
Traralgon, Wednesday 8:51pm
First prize $47,000
1 LALA KIWI
Trainer: Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC
Breeding: May 2019 Aussie Infrared x Lala Shim
Record: Won 18 from 45
Traralgon PB: 21.61 seconds
TAB fixed odds: $4
Comment: Group 1 Melbourne Cup runner-up that returned to winning form with heat victory, where dropping back in distance proved to be no concern. Has won three-of-four career starts from Box 1, including heat success, and will get every chance from the ideal draw.
2 HILL TOP JONAH
Trainer: David Geall, Lara VIC
Breeding: May 2019 Fernando Bale x Up Hill Jill
Record: Won 25 from 47
Traralgon PB: 21.77 seconds
TAB fixed odds: $17
Comment: Group 2 Healesville Cup placegetter behind kennelmate Ferdinand Boy and continued his spectacular recent form with heat victory, his seventh win from his last eight starts. Has the benefit of two race starts on the new Traralgon track, finishing a close second at the return meeting. Draw suits and should be prominent for a long way at generous odds.
3 INDY HONEY
Trainer: Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC
Breeding: June 2019 Droopys Jet x Aeroplane Indy
Record: Won 7 from 19
Traralgon PB: 21.85 seconds
TAB fixed odds: $23
Comment: The second of Andrea Dailly’s finalists. Showing ability but will need to improve significantly on the clock from ‘slowest’ heat performance to measure up in this company.
4 EARN THE ANSWERS
Trainer: Lyn Smith, Nambrok VIC
Breeding: February 2019 Bewildering x Sharka Nova
Record: Won 17 from 53
Traralgon PB: 21.62 seconds
TAB fixed odds: $8.50
Comment: Talented and consistent sprinter that led all-the-way in heat, upsetting Group 2 Bendigo Cup winner Paua Of Buddy in smart time. Rarely far away, but looks to have the task ahead in this company from awkward alley.
5 FERDINAND BOY
Trainer: David Geall, Lara VIC
Breeding: January 2019 Fernando Bale x Nayla Swift
Record: Won 34 from 65
Traralgon PB: 21.65 seconds
TAB fixed odds: $6.50
Comment: Country cups king chasing fourth title after winning the Group 2 Ballarat, Healesville and Shepparton Cups last year. Form had dropped below his exceptionally high standards late in 2021 but bounced back with a vengeance in dominant heat win. Like kennelmate Hill Top Jonah, he has the benefit of two race starts on the new track. Rises to the big occasions and is a key player once again.
6 PAUA OF JANIE
Trainer: Steve White, Buln Buln East VIC
Breeding: April 2019 Aston Dee Bee x Paua To Admit
Record: Won 10 from 16
Traralgon PB: 21.67 seconds
TAB fixed odds: $11
Comment: Litter sister and kennelmate to Group 2 Bendigo Cup winner and first reserve Paua Of Buddy and is putting together an imposing record of her own. This is her biggest test to date but couldn’t have been more impressive in runaway heat victory, from this draw, and has each-way prospects.
7 TYPHOON SAMMY
Trainer: Jason Thompson, Pearcedale VIC
Breeding: January 2019 Aston Dee Bee x Zabaleta
Record: Won 22 from 33
Traralgon PB: 21.53 seconds
TAB fixed odds: $2.30
Comment: Brilliant speedster that produced easily the fastest qualifying performance, continuing sensational form since relocating to Victoria late in 2021. Broke Bendigo 425m track record in Cup heat last October before running third in Group 2 final, when also drawn in Box 7. Will start favourite and gets his chance to open Group account.
8 MORE SAUCE
Trainer: Michelle Lill, Greta NSW
Breeding: October 2018 Keybow x Ness Quick
Record: Won 21 from 33
Traralgon PB: 21.66 seconds
TAB fixed odds: $6.50
Comment: New South Wales star that enhanced imposing record with heat victory, where he missed the start but showed blistering acceleration. Has an exceptional record around this distance range and should be close to his peak now after an injury break. Winning chance.
Reserves
9 PAUA OF BUDDY
Trainer: Steve White, Buln Buln East VIC
Breeding: April 2019 Aston Dee Bee x Paua To Admit
Record: Won 8 from 12
Traralgon PB: No wins
TAB fixed odds: $6
Comment: Lightly-raced superstar sprinter that made first appearance since near-record Group 2 Bendigo Cup victory on October 16 when runner-up in his heat. Will only be better for the heat hit-out and would be a winning chance if he gains a start.
10 MR. FIX IT
Trainer: Jeff Britton, Anakie VIC
Breeding: January 2019 Fernando Bale x Alpha Demeter
Record: Won 20 from 47
Traralgon PB: No wins
TAB fixed odds: $16
Comment: Two-time Group 1 placegetter with great early speed. Has had two runs since a spell, both at Traralgon, and must be respected if a runner.
SEN TRACK TRARALGON CUP HEAT WINNERS
Friday January 21
(fastest to slowest):
21.53sec Typhoon Sammy 
21.61sec Lala Kiwi
21.62sec Earn The Answers
21.65sec Ferdinand Boy
21.66sec More Sauce
21.67sec Paua Of Janie
21.77sec Hill Top Jonah
21.85sec Indy Honey
RECENT TRARALGON CUP WINNERS
2011 El Grand Senor (Carolyn Jones, Rosedale VIC)
2012 Dyna Lowell (Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC)
2013 Paw Licking (Kel Greenough, Pearcedale VIC)
2015 Fernando Bale (Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC)
2016 Pantera Nera (Gavin Burke, Alberton West VIC)
2017 Jesaulenko (Terri-Maree Morris, Traralgon VIC)
2018 Poke The Bear (Seona Thompson, Pearcedale VIC)
** Not held in 2014 and 2019 to 2021 **
