Speed machine Typhoon Sammy created history tonight, winning the SEN Track Group 2 Traralgon Cup (395m) on a world-first ‘J-curve’ track.
An ex-NSW country champ, Typhoon Sammy (Box 7) displayed plenty of courage and class to land a $47,000 first prize.
In a desperate battle for the early lead, Typhoon Sammy ($2.90F) barged through on the bend ($7.20) and then held off the fast-finishing Paua Of Janie ($19.00) by 1.2 lengths with Hill Top Jonah ($8.20) a further 0.2 lengths away in 21.66sec.
It was his 23rd win from 34 starts, including 12 of his past 16 since being transferred to Thompson by the Dart family in Dulguigan in the Richmond-Tweed region of NSW. His stakes catapulted to $122,435.
Based at Pearcedale, Thompson – who spent most of his teenage years growing up in Traralgon – snared his second Traralgon Cup, 28 years after his superstar Light Of Fire in 1994. (He also trained Annie Doyle ,which finished third in that event.)
Thompson has also finished third in the Traralgon Cup with Hotshow Ben (2000), Regal Brett (2005) and Gringo (2007).
And his wife Seona trained 2018 Traralgon Cup winner, Poke The Bear.
Back in October last year, Typhoon Sammy broke Bendigo’s 425, track record with a scintillating 23.28sec performance prior to finishing third in the final. He was also first reserve for the 2021 G1 Melbourne Cup.
And in the lead-up to the Traralgon Cup final, Thompson issued some prophetic words.
“I do reckon the dog prefers out wide… He’ll run a straight line from there, but it’s going to come down to who boxes best.
“He’s going to have to begin similar to his heat performance and if he replicates that, he’ll put himself in the finish.”
Pawnote: The G2 SEN Track Traralgon Cup was the climax to the 2021/22 Gippsland Festival of Racing featuring three country cups.
Jarick Bale, trained by Mark Delbridge, won the G1 Sale Cup (650m) on Boxing Day and Robbie Rotten, prepared by Kayla Cottrell, took out the G2 Warragul Cup (460m) on January 14.
In other highlights on a gala night of racing, Gypsy Bun (Box 1) – trained by Andrea Dailly – took out a thrilling $10,000 winner-take-all Cup Night Match Race (395m).
Dual G1 placegetter Mr. Fix It (Box 3), prepared by Jeff Britton, showed superior speed to the first bend, but the sheer strength of Gypsy Bun came into play turning for home.
In an exciting finish, and an upset result for punters, Gypsy Bun ($2.90) accounted for Mr. Fix It ($1.10) by 0.6 lengths in 21.98sec.
Third in the 2020 G2 Laurels Classic and a finalist in this month’s G2 Warragul Cup, Gypsy Bun notched her 21st win from 88 starts.
Meanwhile, Aston Shine (Box 8) landed a $15,000 to-the-winner Special Event (500m).
Trained by Graeme Jose, Aston Shine ($5.20) clocked 27.59sec defeating Mystify Kick ($8.00) by 1.8 lengths.
A three-time G2 finalist, including runner-up in the Cranbourne Cup, Aston Shine registered his 16th win from 61 starts.
Photos by Clint Anderson
