Victorian sprint queen Black Opium blitzed a star-studded field in tonight’s $54,000-to-the-winner Group 1 Brisbane Cup (520m) at Albion Park.
Trained by Jason Thompson, Black Opium provided Thompson with his fourth win in the event, having scored with Uno Joel (2007), El Galo (2008) and Got A Moment (2012).
Boxing brilliantly from Box 5, Black Opium ($4.20) led throughout to defeat local hope Special Cyndie ($16.00) by 6.75L, with Vic counterpart Who Told Stevie ($4.60) almost 7L from the winner in a blistering 29.44sec – only 1L off the track record.
Black Opium’s kennelmate Hooked On Scotch ($8.50), finished fifth, with Simon Told Helen – a litter brother of Who Told Stevie ($2.80F) – sixth.
Box five is considered a ‘squeeze box’ in greyhound parlance, but Thompson was buoyant after she drew the ‘yellow’.
In an interview earlier this week with Gareth Hall on RSN Central, Thompson said: “The way Black Opium’s going, ran second in a Brisbane Cup last year, all we wanted for her was box five. She does love coming out of the middle. Hopefully, she gets a clear run for the first 20-30 metres and quite possibly allows her to lead.”
Prophetic words indeed!
It was Black Opium’s second G1, having taken out the Sapphire Crown (515m) at Sandown in mid-May.
And she redeemed her second to retired Victorian superstar Sennachie, who set a new track record (29.38sec) winning last year’s Brisbane Cup.
Owned by the See The Dream syndicate, managed by Sergio Buccilli, Black Opium (Mar ’17 Black Magic Opal x Captivating) notched her 28th win from 54 starts.
