One of the most feted trainers in greyhound racing history, Jason Thompson continually soars into the sport’s stratosphere.
And in Brisbane on Thursday night, he could once again be ‘Flying’ high!
Thompson will launch a two-pronged challenge with rising stars Umberto (Box 1) and Alpha Zulu (Box 5) in the $215,625 Group 2 Sportsbet Flying Amy Classic (520m) – Race 8, 9.10pm – at Albion Park.
Both were brilliant heat winners last week – Alpha Zulu (5.57/17.25/29.91sec) and Umberto (5.57/17.12/29.94sec).
“Alpha Zulu is a very progressive dog. Every time he raises the bar, he gets over it.”
Local ‘great white hope’ Magistrate (5.54/17.10/29.82sec) made the fastest qualifying ‘ruling’, while SA sensation Victa Damian (5.62/17.53/30.03sec) was a powerhouse heat winner.
Victa Damian (Box 2), a winner of 14 races from 20 starts, is Sportsbet’s $2.40 fixed odds favourite ahead of Alpha Zulu ($3) and Umberto ($4.50).
This year, the champion ‘Croweater’ has won the G1 National Derby (Wentworth Park) and G3 Howard Ashton (Angle Park) and finished third in the G1 Australian Cup (The Meadows).
Thompson concedes Victa Damian is “probably the fastest dog in the race”.
“Victa Damian is going to be hard to beat if he gets a clear run,” Thompson said. “You certainly respect him because he’s got so much ability.
“The box draw is a great leveller as he wants to head ‘off the track’, but if he finds the front early the race is all over.”
However, Thompson is buoyant about his ‘dynamic duo’ in the $150,000 to-the-winner race.
“Umberto has a good chance. Box one helps him as he’s going to get plenty of room. He’ll give them something to catch if he leads.
“Alpha Zulu is a very progressive dog. Every time he raises the bar, he gets over it.
“Box five is not ideal, but he’s a very good young dog and nothing with him would surprise. He’s a real fair-dinkum, tough race dog.”
Thompson bypassed the Pink Diamond series with Alpha Zulu (6 from 8) and G3 GRV VicBred Maiden finalist Umberto (7 from 15), saying it was a “no-brainer from a business sense”.
Indeed, both young tyros have bigger fish to fry up north as the forthcoming G1 Brisbane Cup series carries a mouth-watering $650,000 first prize.
Thompson has won the Brisbane Cup five times – 2007 Uno Joel, 2008 El Galo, 2012 Got A Moment, 2020 Black Opium and 2021 Equalizer.
Victoria’s other representative in the Flying Amy Classic is Dundee Rebel – trained by Geoff Scott-Smith. Dundee Rebel (5.64/17.24/29.89sec) finished second – beaten 1L – to Magistrate.
Pawnote: Thompson also has Stealth (Box 5), which finished third in a Flying Amy Classic heat, engaged in a Grade Five (520m) – Race 10, 9.55pm.
