Trainer Frank Sidrak has revealed the reason behind his greyhound Iona Tokyo's recent run of good form - she's finally home.
Iona Tokyo (pictured) recently came back into Sidrak's kennel after a campaign down in Victoria with Rob Britton and Sidrak believes this has been the reason behind her impressive performances of late, the most recent being a win in her heat of the Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg last Saturday.
"Since she has come home from Robbie (Britton) she has just gone up another level. She's really relishing being at home," Sidrak said.
"When Robbie had her, she was going fantastic. She was winning and racing well but since she's got home she has been so happy and I think that's a big reason why she is now finishing off races better.
"She's my favourite dog out of the whole litter and we've got a really special bond. I really think she just wants to make me happy so she goes out and gives it her all."
Iona Tokyo did just that last Saturday night in heat two of the Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg when she lead all the way to win by three lengths in a time of 29.78 over the Darren McDonald trained Where's The Surf.
Sidrak was thrilled with the win but admitted that she can do better and expects Iona Tokyo to improve in the semi-finals.
"She did better than I expected and my only fault with her performance was that her time at the start was a bit slower than what she can usually do," he said.
"We were outside for a long time before the race and I think that got her a little bit too stirred-up.
"But the way she finished off was the most pleasing thing for me. I thought she would get tired towards the end but she just kept going.
"She had a bit of a big campaign Victoria so after her last win before the Egg, I gave her about a month off.
"She probably came into the race a bit underdone and needed to get a run under her belt.
"I'm sure she is going to go a lot better this week with the confidence her heat run will give her."
Iona Tokyo will jump from box one in the fourth and final semi-final this Saturday night and Sidrak is over the moon with the draw.
"I never draw box one, so I'll definitely take it any day of the week," he said.
"The only pace in her semi-final is Tonk in box two, so it's an advantage for her to have drawn in box one. If she can keep Tonk out and put a bit of pressure on him, he should hopefully slow the rest of the field down.
"I really think she should have no problems qualifying for the final if she sticks to the rails and runs a clean race."
While optimistic about how far Iona Tokyo can progress, Sidrak is also realistic about what his greyhound will come up against if she makes it through to the $250,000 final and what she will need to produce if she is to win.
"I think she's capable of getting her best time down to around 29.60 mark but I reckon that's about her limit," Sidrak admitted.
"If she makes it to the final and she's up against really good dogs who come out and run their best time, she's probably not a chance on her current times.
"But if she can lead, which she can, and there is a bit of trouble behind her, the rest of the field are probably going to have to run 29.30 to catch her.
"Her biggest attribute is she is quick away, and more times than not these big races are won the first 100 metres.
"If everything goes her way, she's got more than a chance of winning because the other dogs only have to make one mistake and it's over."
If Iona Tokyo can win the series next week, it will add even more gleam to what has been a shining start to the year for Sidrak, having taken out the Group 1 Sportingbet Paws Of Thunder with Iona Seven.
While the Paws Of Thunder win was special, Sidrak admits a win with Iona Tokyo would be much sweeter.
"In all honesty, I'd get more satisfaction out of Iona Tokyo winning the Egg than what I got when Iona Seven won the Paws Of Thunder," he said.
In Sidrak's eyes, his favourite dog is a star not just on the track but off it too.
"She's just awesome. She's got such a loving personality," gushes Sidrak.
"She's a little bit more reserved than Iona Seven, but with me she is totally different.
"I'll just sit with her in the kennel and she'll bite my ears and pull my hair. She always just wants to play and jump all over me. Her tail never stops wagging when I'm with her."
