Jason Thompson kennel with double chance at a sixth Bendigo Cup
When boxes rise for the Group 2 Bendigo Cup on Friday night, trainer Jason Thompson will have a double shot at taking his sixth title in the $50,000-to-the-winner feature.
Based at Pearcedale, the kennel had two winners from the heats on Sunday night, with Unleash Collinda and Alpha Zulu both saluting.
Alpha Zulu won his heat as the -200 race favourite with online greyhound betting sites.
Jumping from box two, he got out well to lead all the way in a best-of-night 23.52.
Alpha Zulu beat Battle Royal by 3.50 lengths in the fastest Group 2 Bendigo Cup heat time, with Die Hard finishing in third.
2023 Group 2 Bendigo Cup Heat 6 – Alpha Zulu (23.52) T: Jason Thompson
The blistering run was off the back of a runner-up finish last time out, on September 22, in the Group 3 Warragul St Leger Final.
Kennelmate Unleash Collinda took out the second of the eight Bendigo Cup heats, starting as the -111.11 race favourite.
At box rise, Unleash Collinda came out only fairly to sit third as they turned the first corner.
Unleash Collinda was able to switch to the outside and storm down the home straight to win.
He beat Renegade Cochise by less than a length (0.69) in 23.85, with Canya Torque in third.
2023 Group 2 Bendigo Cup Heat 2 – Unleash Collinda (23.85) T: Jason Thompson
In the final, to be run on October 13, Alpha Zulu will exit from box eight and is the current +140 favourite in ‘all-in' 2023 Bendigo Cup greyhound betting markets, with Unleash Collinda quoted a +500 prospect having drawn box four.
Kennel handler Luke Thompson commented on the draws.
“They are both a bit awkwardly drawn,” he said.
“Having a look at the replays, the dog drawn in box 6 (Bec Gibbons-trained Mr Anderson) does like to scout wide.
“Hopefully Alpha Zulu can cross him as soon as possible.
“They must think Unleash Collinda's favourite colour is blue.
“He has had to contend with it four times in a row now.
“But his chances come down to what he does at box-rise.
“He is hit or miss early; hopefully this week it's hit,” Thompson said.
The Thompson team takes great pride having won the Bendigo Cup on five occasions: with last year's Bendigo Cup winner Typhoon Sammy, Aston Bolero (2016), Ronan Izmir (2013), Peggy May (2012) and El Galo (2008).
Luke Thompson also paid tribute to the Gibbons kennel on training half of the field for the Group 2 final next week.
“It's a great effort by Bec and Danny to half the field in the final.
“It's hard enough trying to win four grade five races at a meeting, let alone winning four country cup heats,” he said.