Postman Pat long odds-on to win Brisbane Cup Prelude at Qld debut
The Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival is set to witness the debut of the much-talked-about Kiwi chaser, Postman Pat, this Thursday night at Albion Park in a Brisbane Cup Prelude.
Anticipation is high for the New Zealand (NZ) import, who has set several tracks ablaze since his arrival in Australia, and that has been reflected in the price greyhound betting sites are offering for Postman Pat to win at his Albion Park debut.
Now aligned with the renowned Jason Thompson kennel in Victoria, Postman Pat has consistently delivered winning performances, adding five victories to his record since mid-May.
The long-speculated Sunshine State campaign for the 2023 group 1 Brisbane Cup is finally on the cards, after the greyhound had been sent to Tony Brett to prepare for the cup series.
Owned by Jose Arthur, Postman Pat ran an impressive 22.26 second trial over 395 metres at Albion Park on Sunday night, a time that left stand-in trainer Tony Brett astounded.
The dog's speed seemed almost implausible as he neared the 22.16 track record set by Tyanna Belle two years ago.
Brett will be supervising Postman Pat's northern campaign, a responsibility he is eagerly embracing.
The upcoming 2023 Group 1 Brisbane Cup series carries an impressive total prize money of $1 million this year, drawing competitors from across the country.
In an interview, Brett revealed his high expectations for Postman Pat's performance in the Brisbane Cup Prelude on Thursday night.
“It is amazing the number of times I've been asked if he was coming north,” he shared, indicating the buzz around Postman Pat's anticipated debut.
However, Brett cautioned that it's still uncertain what the dog could accomplish.
“His first section on Sunday night of 10.39 was super and let's hope he can bring that on Thursday night and run a 5.50 or even quicker to the first mark,” he suggested.
Postman Pat, a son of the Hooked On Scotch and Birdie Tee litter, has an impressive career record, winning 15 out of 19 starts across Australia and New Zealand.
He is undefeated since his transfer from New Zealand to the Jason Thompson kennel.
Sandown 4th/5th Grade 515m June 11 2023 – Postman Pat (29.12) T: Jason Thompson
Brett, who has worked with many of Thompson's top dogs, is no stranger to such talent.
He previously handled the superstar Black Opium for the Thompson kennel, leading her to win the Group 1 Brisbane Cup.
Brett was full of praise for Postman Pat, even comparing him to his sire, Hooked On Scotch.
“This bloke is a smaller version of his father,” Brett noted, showing his admiration for the young dog.
As the Queensland Winter Carnival beckons, Postman Pat is ready to deliver, and the racing world is ready to watch.
Postman Pat will race in the last of the three Brisbane Cup Preludes (race 6) on Thursday night at Albion Park, and the NZ-import dog's job has been made all the easier after drawing box three for the race, with both boxes one and two scratching soon after the box draw was released.
Australian greyhound bookmakers have jumped on the Postman Pat bandwagon pricing the young dog a long odds-on favourite to win the race at greyhound odds of -285.71.