NZ import Postman Pat targets Brisbane Cup after two Australian wins
Leading Victorian greyhound trainer Jason Thompson has his sights set on the 2023 Group 1 Brisbane Cup with NZ import Postman Pat.
The new arrival from New Zealand, has certainly made a grand entrance on the Australian greyhound racing scene being undefeated after two Australian race appearances.
Postman Pat's debut performance at Shepparton was nothing short of sensational, clocking in a time of 24.66 seconds, just shy of Rejuvenate's 450m record of 24.59 seconds.
This awe-inspiring victory at Shepparton, an eight-length triumph no less, came on the heels of a swift 25.35-second win during his inaugural Australian race at Geelong over a 460m course.
Adding to his pedigree, Postman Pat is a December 2020 progeny of dual Group 1 winner and Sandown 515m record holder, Hooked On Scotch.
Postman Pat has claimed victories in 12 out of his 16 race starts, with a further three second place finishes in greyhound races.
Two wins from two starts in Australia, both in best of the night times, suggest the Kiwi import will not be out graded in the Group 1 company of a Brisbane Cup.
The greyhound's solid performance in New Zealand, which included a record-breaking run at Ascot Park (457m), sparked the owners' decision to see how he would fare on Australian tracks.
Thompson remarked that Postman Pat's achievements have not been surprising given his sheer speed.
His strong performances in Geelong and Shepparton, which boasted notable competitors, further underscore this fact.
Despite an initial hiccup at the start of the race on Monday, Postman Pat's impressive speed upon hitting the ground was a notable highlight.
Shepparton 4/5 Grade 457m May 22 2023 – Postman Pat (24.66) T: Jason Thompson
In addition to Postman Pat, Thompson has another promising contender in Alpha Zulu, a young dog making waves in the greyhound racing scene.
The plan is for Alpha Zulu to participate in the heats of the Group 2 Flying Amy Classic at Albion Park the following Thursday (June 1), with the Brisbane Cup as the ultimate goal.
The greyhound, born in September 2021 and partly owned by former Brisbane Lions luminary Jonathan Brown, recently notched up his fifth win from seven starts.
Alpha Zulu's latest victory took place at The Meadows, where he clinched the Grade 5 Final with a swift 29.66-second run, improving on his heat time of 29.71 seconds.