Emerging Victorian stayer Blue Shadows will need to reverse a 14-length heat trouncing if he’s to turn the tables on odds-on favourite Tornado Tears in Saturday night’s Group 3 Top Cat Video Cup (725m) at The Meadows.

After finishing third behind Tornado Tears in Sandown Park’s Group 3 Speed Star series, Angela Langton’s Blue Shadows was well-backed to topple Tornado Tears in last weekend’s Top Cat Video Cup heats, with one TAB punter outlaying $20,500 at $3.50.

But when Tornado Tears jumped straight to the front it was a matter of times and margins as the champion careered away, gapping runner-up Blue Shadows in a near-record 42.01s.

It was Tornado Tears’ seventh win from nine appearances over The Meadows’ 725m course.

While Blue Shadows, the winner of 15 of his 42 starts, was no match for Tornado Tears last weekend, he’s TAB’s $4.80 second elect to deny his superstar rival back-to-back Top Cat Video Cup titles.

“Blue Shadows had the red box last week and we were hoping he could find the front and Tornado Tears might get held up but when Tornado Tears led it was all over,” Angela Langton said.

“I think the smaller field probably made it a bit more difficult for us than it might have been with eight dogs.”

Tornado Tears was able to negate box five in his breathtaking heat romp and he will have to overcome a box six hoodoo if he’s to defend his Top Cat Video Cup crown, having yet to salute in five starts wearing the green vest, the only box he hasn’t yet won from.

But the TAB’s market indicates that is a mere formality, installing Tornado Tears at $1.20, with Blue Shadows, which will exit four, the only other finalist at single figures.

“It’s a big ask – Tornado Tears is a super stayer,” Langton offered.

“Like last week, we’ll be hoping that Blue Shadows can lead and that Tornado Tears gets held up in the run.

“Blue Shadows is very consistent and he’s always a chance if he begins well but if Tornado Tears jumps as well as he did last week he’ll probably win and my dog will be a good chance of running a place.

“One-out Tornado Tears is impossible to beat but sometimes if he gets into trouble in a full field he can be vulnerable, like in the Sandown Cup.

“Blue Shadows is an up and comer and he’s starting to become a nice little stayer with a bit of age and more race experience.

“I think he’s probably good enough to win a race like this and if he stays sound hopefully he’ll continue to be competitive in these Group races.”