The Brittons are flying the Victorian flag with a veritable ‘war chest’ of staying and middle-distance stars at Albion Park on Thursday night.
But a few of their sprinting counterparts– namely Jason Thompson’s ‘indomitable import’ Postman Pat, Brooke Ennis’ Amron Boy and Rejuvenate, and Jordan Cooper’s Crackerjack Aret – are also our torchbearers in $23,000 Brisbane Cup Preludes (520m), which carry a $16,000 first prize.
Postman Pat has been embraced by Victorian greyhound racing aficionados in a similar manner to which Australian’s have ‘adopted’ New Zealanders such as Phar Lap, Russell Crowe, Peter Jackson and Keith Urban – along with arguably pavlova and lamingtons.
Incidentally, Thompson was born in Tokoroa – in the Waikato region of the North Island of NZ – before moving to Australia as a 10-year-old.
Indeed, Postman Pat (Dec ’20 Hooked On Scotch x Birdie Tee) could be a ‘$650,000 surprise package’ in the $1m Brisbane Cup series. This dog from ‘the land of the long white cloud’ has a silver lining!
He will join Alpha Zulu (who is engaged in a 5th Grade on the program), Umberto and Stealth in Thompson’s ultimate quest for a sixth Brisbane Cup.
Owned by Jose Arthur of Christchurch, Postman Pat has won 15 races (with three seconds) from 19 starts. While racing in NZ, he won the G2 Far South Challenge at Southland and was runner-up in the NZ St Leger.
Postman Pat is a ‘gift from across the ditch’ that keeps delivering on time – and times!
He’s undefeated in five starts for Thompson and has clocked scintillating wins at Sandown Park 515m (29.12sec), Shepparton 450m (24.66sec), Bendigo 425m (23.44sec) and Geelong 460m (25.28sec & 25.35sec) – all in meeting-best times.
Postman Pat’s biggest assignment to date comes up in Race 6, 8.40pm. He will exit Box 3 and is at prohibitive odds of $1.35 on Sportsbet.
“Hopefully he’ll make his own mark,” Thompson said. “His ability suggests he can go to the top, but he still has to get there. This is his first crack at the ‘big time’, so we’ll find out a lot more about him.”
Thompson says Postman Pat is “up there (Brisbane) for a reason”.
“He handled Sandown well, so I see no reason why he won’t at Albion Park… He trialled out of the 395m boxes in 22.26sec on Sunday. (NB. Tyanna Belle holds the track record – 22.16sec (June 24, 2021).
“I don’t think box three will be an issue. In fact, I reckon he’s best suited right in the middle. Hopefully he gets the start right as he has plenty of early speed once he hits the ground.”
Postman Pat’s sire is Thompson’s former superstar, Hooked On Scotch. And Thompson admits that puts a smile on his dial.
“Any dog that we’ve trained that has gone on to stud, you just get a sense of connection when training their offspring.”
Pawnote: Other Victorian speedsters competing over 520m at Albion Park on Thursday night are G1 finalist Dundee Smokey and dual G2 finalist Mepunga Mustang, while Tammy is engaged in a distance event over 710m.
WATCH: POSTMAN PAT (B1) makes a 29.12sec (Best) ‘express delivery’ at Sandown Park on June 11.
