Champion Pearcedale trainer Jason Thompson has a ‘sparkling’ Pink Diamond CV.
Since its inception in 2021, Thompson has prepared three winners, three seconds and three thirds from 24 individual finals.
And already there’s a feeling of déjà vu in this year’s $1.175m Listed Sportsbet Pink Diamond series – Australia’s richest regional greyhound series.
Thompson has triple track record-holder Unleash Collinda (Box 4) in a Champion Sprinter heat (450m) at Shepparton on Thursday night. He also has Got Attitude (Box 2) in a Rookie Sprinter heat (450m) and Minister Mentor in a Rookie Distance heat (650m).
“He has heaps of speed but needs to get the start right, it’s crucial.”
Then, at Bendigo on Friday night, he lines up with Transponder (Box 5) in a Champion Sprinter heat (500m) – along with Triumph (Box 7) in a Champion Distance heat (660m) and Navarino (Box 6) in a Rookie Sprinter heat.
Thompson is quietly confident, albeit wary, on the prospects of speed machine Unleash Collinda – TR holder over 300m (16.057sec) and 350m (18.641sec) at Healesville; and over 400m (21.995sec) at Geelong.
Unleash Collinda (25 from 40) is also a three-time G2 finalist – including runner-up in this year’s G2 Shepparton Cup and G2 Ballarat Cup. He also finished fifth in last year’s G2 Healesville Cup.
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“He can be risky early… He wouldn’t want to miss it by too much,” Thompson said. “However, he’s jumped well at his past three starts.
“He has heaps of speed but needs to get the start right, it’s crucial. His two seconds (including the Shepparton Cup) here have been huge runs.”
Thompson says dual G1 finalist Triumph (10 from 42) and Transponder (10 from 20) will both “need a bit of luck” from their box draws.
Transponder clocked an ‘electrifying’ 27.75sec (Best) over 500m at Bendigo on May 26. It was around 4L off the track record (27.518sec), set by Midnight Ride on February 27, 2015.
“Triumph hasn’t drawn well in the ‘black’; he needed the inside. He’ll struggle from out there. Quite simply, it’s an issue of where he’s going to be early.”
And regarding Transponder, Thompson quipped: “He’s familiar with box five, as this will be his fifth successive race from the ‘yellow’.
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“He’s not overly reliable out of the traps, but having said that, he’s been jumping well lately. And he’s in good form, having won five of his past six.”
Thompson added that the Pink Diamond concept is a “good incentive for Victorian breeders, thus providing encouragement for them to breed litters”.
“You want to see breeders benefit because obviously without breeders there are no race dogs.”
WATCH: ‘That’s a great run!” Flying machine UNLEASH COLLINDA (B2) snares his third provincial track record with a blistering 21.995sec display over 400m at Geelong on May 27.
JASON THOMPSON’S ‘PINK DIAMOND’ DOSSIER
2021 – BENDIGO
Champion Short Course – Aussie Secret (1st)
Challenger Sprinter – Collinda Patty (1st)
Champion Sprinter – Catch The Thief (3rd)
Rookie Sprinter – Aston Fastnet (2nd)
Rookie Distance – Major Sacrifice (2nd)
2022 – BALLARAT
Maiden Sprinter – Collinda Chips (1st)
Champion Distance – Collinda Patty (3rd)
Rookie Short Course – Plaintiff (2nd)
Maiden Sprinter – Motive (4th)
Maiden Sprinter – Triumph (5th)
