Highly decorated Victorian trainer Jason Thompson has won a myriad of big-race finals on the Australian greyhound racing calendar.
And in that respect, the Group 1 Brisbane Cup rates highly on his black type CV.
In fact, Thompson has won Queensland’s blue riband sprint on three occasions – Uno Joel (2007), El Galo (2008) and Got A Moment (2012).
And tonight he’ll be chasing his fourth Brisbane Cup when superstars Hooked On Scotch and Black Opium line up in the $54,000-to-the-winner event over 520 metres at Albion Park.
The ‘dynamic duo’ produced stunning heat wins last week, and Thompson provided the following thoughts on their chances in the final to Gareth Hall on RSN Central.
HOOKED ON SCOTCH (Box 4)
“It’s probably the best 500-metre group race we’ve had all year. The dog that does everything right will more than likely be the winner…
If he’s not there yet, he’s probably almost there as far as back to racing how he was before he got injured…
It took him three races to win a Maiden, but he just needed time to get used to racing…
Everything that he’d done before he got injured, he did before he was two years old. When he came back, it was always going to take time because he had to come back at the highest level…
He doesn’t ping to the front; he has to work into a race. And I think his run last Thursday night showed that he’s definitely getting back to what he was, and he’ll take a lot of confidence from that. I’m sure it will stand him in good stead for the final…
He’s not going to be going to the lead, which is pretty obvious. He’s going to have to rely on a little bit of luck early and get himself into a position through the first corner. But if he’s able to do that, well, he can unleash a good finish.”
WATCH: Hooked On Scotch (B6) win his heat of the Group 1 Sky Racing Brisbane Cup last week.
BLACK OPIUM (Box 5)
“I think with the way the field’s drawn, she’s probably at her right price in the market…
The way Black Opium’s going, ran second in a Brisbane Cup last year, all we wanted for her was box five. She does love coming out of the middle…
Hopefully she gets a clear run for the first 20-30 metres and quite possibly allows her to lead…
I’m very happy with the way she went last week and very happy with the draw.”
WATCH: Black Opium (6) strolls to a massive 12L win in a heat of the G1 Brisbane Cup at Albion Park last week.
Photo credits: Box 1 Photography, provided by Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club.
