Champion Pearcedale trainer Jason Thompson produced a winning ‘signal’ with Transponder in the $110,000 Listed Sportsbet Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter final (460m) at Warragul on Friday night.
Owned by Amanda Tullio, Transponder ($4.80) ‘transmitted’ his brilliance in taking out a $75,000 first prize defeating Rejuvenate ($3.30F) by 2.4L, with Paddy Wants Pats ($18.40) a further 0.16L away third in a slick 25.47sec.
The Mar ’21 Deliver x Unquestionably speedster also delivered an $11,250 breeder bonus to Mark Filomeno of Craigieburn.
It was his 11th win from 22 starts and he remains undefeated in three starts over 460m at Warragul. His stakes spiralled to $127,950.
When it comes to ‘Pink Diamonds’, no one ‘sparkles’ like Thompson.
Since its inception in 2021, Thompson has prepared five winners, four seconds and three thirds from 36 individual feature finals.
JASON THOMPSON’S ‘PINK DIAMOND’ CV
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)
Rookie Short Course – Rebellious (3rd)
2022 – BALLARAT
Maiden Sprinter – Collinda Chips (1st)
Champion Distance – Collinda Patty (3rd)
Rookie Short Course – Plaintiff (2nd)
2023 – WARRAGUL
Champion Sprinter – Transponder (1st)
Rookie Sprinter – Navarino (1st)
Rookie Sprinter – Got Attitude (2nd)
Meanwhile, last year’s Group 1 Topgun Stayers winner Moraine Suzie ($5.90) – a five-time G1 finalist – displayed her class and courage to mow down Hector Fawley ($3.00F) within the shadows of the post in the $110,000 Listed Sportsbet Pink Diamond Champion Distance final (680m).
Trained at Lara by Brendan Pursell, Moraine Suzie (May ’20 My Redeemer x Miss Bo Wicked) snared a $75,000 first prize and notched her 14th win from 43 starts.
She also landed an $11,250 breeder bonus for Lorne Starr of Burnside.
And Red Reactor was simply ‘atomic’ in the $110,000 Listed Sportsbet Pink Diamond Champion Short Course final (400m).
Trained at Toolleen by Daniel Pell, Red Reactor ($12.00) released plenty of ‘nuclear energy’ in the latter stages to defeat General Winston ($13.80) by 0.5L, with Action Girl ($4.50) a further 0.1L away third in 22.48sec.
Red Reactor (Mar ’20 Fernando Bale x Subconscious) claimed his 16th win from 42 starts and secured a $75,000 winner’s cheque and $11,250 breeder bonus for Pell and his mother, Beverley.
Other Listed Sportsbet Pink Diamond final winners were:
(NB. All these finals carry a $25,000 first prize, with the breeder of the winner collecting a $3750 breeder bonus.)
$37,250 Maiden Short Course (400m)
RENEGADE COCHISE ($2.90EF) (Trainer: Anthony Azzopardi) (Breeder: Sandra Camden-Bermingham) (Time: 22.40sec) (NB. Azzopardi won the 2021 Maiden Short Course with Diamond Ability.)
$37,250 Maiden Sprinter (460m)
MEPUNGA SMOKEY ($9.40) (Trainer: Jeff Britton) (Breeder: Barry Smith) (Time: 26.01sec) (NB. Britton trifectaed the race with Mepunga Smokey, Mepunga Sunset and Weblec Wolf – with first and second being littermates and bred by iconic Mepunga East breeder, Barry Smith.
$37,250 Veterans (400m)
ASTON ULYSSES ($3.40) (Trainer: Michelle Sultana) (Breeder: John Finn) (Time: 22.37sec)
$37,250 Princess (460m)
DARKENED SPIRITS ($4.70) (Trainer: Tony Tufo) (Breeder: Sparkle And Fade Syn) (Time: 25.58sec)
$37,250 Rookie Distance (680m)
EXPLODED ($1.50F) (Trainer-Breeder: Amanda Tullio) (Time: 38.90sec) (NB. Tullio was the breeder of 2022 Challenger Sprinter winner, Loneliness.)
$37,250 Rookie Sprinter (460m)
NAVARINO ($7.00) (Trainer: Jason Thompson) (Breeder: John Connor) (Time: 25.68sec) (NB. Thompson quinellaed the race with Navarino and Got Attitude.)
$37,250 Rookie Short Course (400m)
NYALI KING ($3.50F) (Trainer: Lisa Delbridge) (Breeder: Worldly Syn) (Time: 22.43sec)
$37,250 Challenger Sprinter (460m)
STROMBOLI ($3.40) (Trainer: Dallan Klemke) (Breeder: Louie Cardillo) (Time: 25.88sec)
$37,250 Challenger Short Course (400m)
NO RETURN ($14.30) (Trainer: John Delaroche) (Breeder: Michael Delaroche) (Time: 22.82sec)
WATCH: TRANSPONDER (B8) was in ‘control’ of the Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter final at Warragul.
