Simon Told Helen will become just the eighth member of greyhound racing’s exclusive million-dollar prize money club with victory in the Group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup final.
Simon Told Helen boasts $760,135 in career earnings, placing him 12th on the Australian list, and he heads TAB betting at $2.50 to boost that tally by $435,000 on Friday night.
It’s the reigning Australian Greyhound of the Year’s second crack at Melbourne Cup glory after he was edged out by eventual winner Whiskey Riot in a heat last year at only his 10th start.
Little River trainer David Burnett is hoping it’s a case of third time lucky in the great race after two previous unplaced attempts with Teaman Titch in 2008 and Kiss Me Ketut in 2013.
“The difference this year is that he’s a genuine chance,” said Burnett.
“You’d like to think you’ll get there again but realistically if I’m ever going to win a Melbourne Cup this is it.
“We could be going for back-to-back because last year he led Whiskey Riot in his heat and was pipped on the line. Then he came out and ran faster in the consolation than Whiskey Riot went in the final.”
WATCH: Simon Told Helen win his Melbourne Cup heat from box four.
Simon Told Helen was undoubtedly the big winner in the box draw, allocated two while his main rivals all drew awkwardly.
“I was very happy indeed,” Burnett said.
“It was hard to work out what box I wanted but I wanted to be underneath Shima Shine, away from Tommy Shelby early and on the inside of Tiggerlong Tonk.”
Victory will result in an extra special 38th wedding anniversary celebration for part-owners Geelong surgeon Simon Crowley and wife Helen after whom the four-time Group 1 winner is named.
In a tragic side story, Burnett rated Simon Told Helen’s litter brother Who Told Stevie as his best Melbourne Cup prospect until he passed away recently due to illness.
“I had money on Who Told Stevie at $51 to say it was his race. I just felt he was the dog to do it but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be.”
