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GREYHOUND racing’s most famous pizza shop owner, Jihad Talgi, will finalise the deal to sell that shop on Thursday and go into training full time.

And what better way to do that than have defending champion Schillaci taking on the best of the sport in the Group 1 The Phoenix (525m) at The Meadows on Saturday night.

Talgi’s dream greyhound has drawn the rails and the son of Hard Style Rico and Flying Hareeba goes into the race in great form having won a heat of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup two starts back and then being dragged down when going to the front in the final.

Schillaci (16 wins, $1.19 million) won last year’s The Phoenix beating a staggering line-up of superstars with Postman Pat chasing him home in second and Hector Fawley in third.

Behind them were Wow She’s Fast, Big Energy, Pass The Buck, Jay Is Jay and Alpha Zulu.

Talgi is fully aware of just what Schillaci has meant to he and his family.

“Massive,” he said.

“He’s become a massive part of our life, he’s changed our life forever, changed our world.

“To have bred him, reared him and trained him is special.”

Talgi will have 20 family and friends at The Meadows to cheer on Schillaci on Saturday night.

The dog runs for slot holders Ladbrokes Racing Club.

“Ladbrokes have been sensational again this year,” said Talgi.

READ: The Phoenix Runner by Runner Guide

“Ryan Stanaway, their racing manager, has become a friend for life.”

Talgi is fully aware his dog needs to jump and lead around that first corner.

“The first 50 to 100 metres, it’s everything,” he said.

But, he also rates the dog much better than when he downed that super field to win The Phoenix last year.

“He broke a toe and I had to give him four and a half months off and you know what, it’s been the making of him,” said Talgi.

“He’s come back much better and stronger. He is going better now than when he won last year.”

Schillaci winning the 2023 The Phoenix Picture: Clint Anderson

Talgi kept to the winning formula when preparing his dog for Saturday night.

“He trialled at The Meadows, a box-to-box on Monday and went 5.10, 17.65,” he said.

“Last year he trialled 5.15 and 17.78, but when he got to the race itself, he ran 5.07 and 17.58 down the back.”

Talgi would not pick any one danger to his dog.

“The other seven,” he said. “They are all class dogs and you cannot discount any one of them.

“I never try to be too confident with my dogs. I’m hoping he just runs a top race and gets around safely.”

Talgi says he’d be at The Meadows on Saturday night even if Schillaci was not running in The Phoenix.

“It is an unbelievable atmosphere,” he added.

“When he won it last year, all we wanted to do was get in it this year and here we are.

Jihad Talgi with Ryan Stanaway at Sunday’s all important box draw Picture: Clint Anderson

“What an amazing dog he has been for us, winning The Phoenix the South Australian Derby, the Match Race at Angle Park and running second in the Australian Cup, making the finals of the Melbourne Cup, the Adelaide Cup, The Temlee and another Phoenix.”

Talgi has plans to build on his training team which now stands at just one, Schillaci.

And, after the dog contests the Australian Cup again next year, he will look at a stud career for Schillaci.

“I will get a couple of bitches of my own and breed them to him,” he said.

“We’ve got five kids, so each one of them will get a pup to be their own.

“I’ve sold the pizza shop after 35 years and now it is time to concentrate on training dogs.”

Original article written by The Greyhound Recorder’s David Brasch

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