Zulu Blast and Navarino give Jason Thompson kennel Sandown metro double
As superstar chaser Postman Pat looks to take Group 1 Brisbane Cup glory, it was a pair of his kennelmates who won impressively for the Jason Thompson kennel at Sandown Park on Thursday night.
In his first look at the 595m trip, Zulu Blast started as a -1000 greyhound betting odds on favourite the top greyhound betting sites.
Racing in a fifth-grade contest, he flew the lids to hit the lead and run away with the race to win by three lengths over Lakeview Lottie (+550) in a time of 34.08.
Sandown 5th Grade 595m July 6 2023 – Zulu Blast (34.08) T: Jason Thompson
Racing for the first time at a middle distance, after four impressive wins over the ‘500m' distances at Sandown and The Meadows, Zulu Blast showed his explosive pace and ability to dictate from the front,
Handler Luke Thompson was impressed with the performance from the dog.
“Zulu Blast was very pleasing because it was his first run over the 595m,” Thompson said.
“He hadn't had a trial on the bend start, but we weren't concerned about that being an issue.
“He began safe enough and utilised the box well to hold the front going into the corner.
“He lost a couple of lengths going through the catching pen the first time, which happens with dogs having their first run over the middle distance.
“He was very strong through the line though.”
No plans have been made for what was next for Zulu Blast, but Thompson said decisions would be made soon.
“We may drop him back for the Maturity or keep him for the longer trips and look to step him up to 700m in the near future,” he said.
The Orson Allen x Cyclone Jebel chaser has five wins and two placings from nine starts as he works through the grades.
Kennelmate Navarino also won on the night, coming over the top of Aston Lira (+340) in company with another Jason Thompson-trained dog, Triumph (+240).
Navarino started the race as a +150 favourite, and with a huge finish he made it two wins from five starts over the Sandown Park 515m trip.
The Aston Dee Bee x Madalia Maggie dog won by 2.75 lengths over kennelmate Triumph, in a time of 29.35.
Sandown 4th/5th Grade 515m July 6 2023 – Navarino (29.35) T: Jason Thompson
“He (Navarino) stepped away fairly,” Luke Thompson said.
“He had to hold his nerve through that first corner to keep his position in running.
“Once he did, he looked the winner a long way out.
“He'll definitely be in the Maturity heats next week at The Meadows.”
Navarino has nine wins and six placings from 19 starts and has banked over $55,500 in prize money for connections.