Valpolicella's Next Six Months Set To Be Her Best

THE Sandown Cup, Queensland Winter Carnival, the Nationals, eventually the Topgun Stayers, and at the end of it all, she's off to stud.

That's what the future holds for staying star Valpolicella according to her owner/breeder Sandro Bechini.

Valpolicella (Shima Shine-Saldana) made heads turn once again last Friday night when she led throughout to win The 715 at The Gardens and smash the track record with a 41.23 second performance.

It made her trainer, hall of famer Tony Zammit, declare her the best he has prepared, better even that the great Trojan Tears.

"Tony doesn't put himself out there and way back when she first started to step out over longer distance, he was still reluctant to predict where she would make it to," Bechini said.

"But, for him to rate her better than Trojan Tears after The 715, well that was something.

"And last Sunday, Tony's brother Mick rang to congratulate me on the win. We talked for 40 minutes."

Valpolicella has broken the track record at The Gardens tonight to win ‘The 715' leading all the way in her 41.23 run! ????

@thedogscomau @TheGardensGRNSW pic.twitter.com/8v1iq9z47I

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2024

Owner and trainer have discussed Valpolicella's future.

"I thought Tony may have wanted to stay in Brisbane for the Winter Carnival, but he is very keen to take her back to Melbourne for the Sandown Cup," Bechini said.

"Then she will head back home where there are plenty of races coming up for her."

Those include the Queensland Cup, State Of Origin and the Super Stayers Invitation. After that, the Nationals are run in August.

"And that leads us on to the big staying races in Melbourne later in the year," Bechini said.

"Tony is very keen to chase the Topgun Stayers with her."

And what is daunting for her rivals, Zammit believes the bitch, who will turn three on May 12, will be at her peak in the next six months.

"It's scary thinking what she might do if that is the case," Bechini said.

A student of bloodlines for many years, Bechini said he has already mapped out an initial stud dog mating for his star stayer.

"Bernardo puts in hard chase and early speed to his progeny," he said. "I've already bought the straw to use on her for her first mating.

"The next generation, her daughters, will then be able to go to stud dogs that put in a solid influence.

"I'm also looking very strongly at Hector Fawley down the track for Valpolicella.

"It is amazing that I have already been contacted by a number of people with straws to Collision, Aussie Infrared and the likes, but I've made my decision on Bernardo for her first mating."

"It goes to another level"

Is Valpolicella's owner Sandro Bechini the happiest man in Newcastle tonight? We think he just might be!#thedogs #greyhoundracing #greyhounds pic.twitter.com/U20WxwdC7e

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) May 3, 2024

Obviously the nature of racing will decide Valpolicella's future.

"If her form goes off for any reason, or she was injured, I would have no hesitation in retiring her," Bechini said.

In the meantime, Valpolicella is a staying star after 48 starts for 26 wins, 16 placings and now earnings of $935,000.

And, the "scary" thing is that Tony Zammit believes her next six months could be her best.