Alpha Zulu gives Thompson his sixth Group 2 Bendigo Cup title
Alpha Zulu came out of the boxes like a freight train to take a sixth Group 2 Bendigo Cup for his trainer on Friday night.
Pearcedale-based master trainer Jason Thompson had two chances in the race in Unleash Collinda and Alpha Zulu, with Alpha Zulu the more supported as the +160 race favourite in the 425m Group 2 final.
Jumping from box eight, he came out to get a clear path to sit second soon after box-rise behind one of the four Bec Gibbons-trained greyhounds in the final, Zella Bale, who was a +1490 chance with greyhound bookmakers.
Into the straight and heading for home, Alpha Zulu swept up past the leader, kicking away to win the $55,000-to-the-winner feature with ease.
He beat Zella Bale by 3.7 lengths in 23.48, with local hope Nineteen Crimes back in third.
2023 Group 2 Bendigo Cup – Alpa Zulu (23.48) T: Jason Thompson
For a second week in a row, Alpha Zulu stopped the clock with the best-of-night time, after last week running the fastest time of the heats in 23.52.
The winning time edges Alpa Zulu's personal best at Bendigo closer to the track record of 22.28 clocked by Typhoon Sammy on October 9, 2021.
Typhoon Sammy took out the Bendigo Cup last year for trainer Jason Thompson after winning two Group 2 finals prior: the Traralgon Cup and Horsham Cup.
Trainer Jason Thompson was ecstatic with Alpha Zulu's effort, saying, “We were rapt with him.
“We know he's got the ability, but he's a dog that is better suited when he's drawn near the fence.
“We were pretty confident he'd run straight from ‘the pink' and when he was up outside the leader, we knew he'd be strong, and he was”, said Thompson.
From a 2021 litter of six by Orson Allen out of Cyclone Jebel, Alpha Zulu is without a doubt the most successful, with 13 wins and four minor placings from 18 career starts, and has earned $134,125 for connections.
“He only turned two last month, so he's not old.
“Look at his record; he's only been unplaced once in 18 starts and won 13 of them”, said Thompson.
In ‘all-in' futures betting markets, Alpha Zulu features prominently, with his kennelmate Postman Pat, the favourites for most events.
For the Melbourne Cup on December 2, Alpha Zulu is currently a +1100 chance with Postman Pat the +600 favourite on greyhound betting apps.
In The Phoenix, to be run on December 16, Alpha Zulu is the +600 second favourite to his former Kiwi kennelmate, who is the +200 favourite.
Into the new year, he is a +900 hope in the Australian Cup on February 24, with Postman Pat the +500 top chance.
But for the immediate future, Alpha Zulu and Thompson will head toward the Cranbourne Cup, saying Alpha Zulu should only further advantage around two turns.
“I reckon he's more effective over 500m.
“He ran 29.66sec at The Meadows when he was only about 19 months old.
“Breaking five seconds early and running low 17.50's up the back.
“He hasn't been to Sandown yet, but he'll go there next for the Cranbourne Cup heats next week.”
2023 Group 2 Bendigo Cup
2023 Bendigo Cup Results Bendigo 425m Group 2 $55,000 to-the-winner Friday, October 13, 2023 23.49
|
|
| 1st |
8 Alpha Zulu
T: Jason Thompson 23.49 – $55,000 +160
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| 2nd |
1 Zella Bale
T: Bec Gibbons 23.75 3.7 lengths $16,000 +1490
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| 3rd |
3 Nineteen Crimes
T: Deb Carr 23.81 4.64 lengths $8,000 +1420
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| 4th |
4 Unleash Collinda
T: Jason Thompson 23.85 5.19 lengths $4,000 +430
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| 5th |
5 Nicolson Bale
T: Bec Gibbons 23.85 5.26 lengths $1,000 +2080
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| 6th |
7 Quinlan Bale
T: Bec Gibbons 23.89 5.71 lengths $1,000 +650
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| 7th |
2 Shima Shadow
T: Tom Dailly 23.92 6.3 lengths $1,000 +260
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| 8th |
6 Mr Anderson
T: Bec Gibbons 24.29 11.54 lengths $1,000 +3400
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