Saturday night, at The Meadows Jason Thompson lines up Australia’s fastest chaser, Explicit in a Free For All – All part of a training effort to claim Group 1 victory at Sandown Park in the coming weeks.

Explicit returns in race eight following a disappointing sixth placing in Perth’s Sandgroper last weekend.

“He blew the start and was flat footed,” trainer Jason Thompson said.

“It was his fault he missed the start, but he was only beaten eight lengths.”

Explicit’s biggest success came at The Meadows last year when he won the Phoenix which sent his prize money to over $2 million.

Explicit wins the 2025 Phoenix from box eight. 

“He is no different to any other dog. You have to get through the races you are in before you know exactly what’s going to happen,” Thompson said.

“The main thing is he’s happy and enjoying being back at the races.”

Following Explicit’s Phoenix victory he retired to stud, before making a triumphant return to the track in March at Bendigo.

Despite demand at stud, Thompson admitted he could tell that his star chaser just wanted to be back at the track.

While the Harrison-Dawson at Sandown Park is front of mind for Thompson with Explicit, he can add three more quality chances.

Excavation is one of the leading fancies in the Pre-Nomination market. He was scratched from the Warrnambool Cup heats and has one more box to tick before he is nominated for the Harrison-Dawson heats on Thursday night.

“It was safer to pull the pin the Warrnambool Cup heats,” Thompson said.

Another Harrison-Dawson fancy in Field Day goes around tomorrow night at The Meadows in race three and has drawn ideally in box one.

On initial glance at Field Day’s box draw record, boxes seven and eight look to be where he likes to be drawn with nine of his 17 victories coming from the wide draws.

“Box one is where he is better suited, he has overcome a terrible run of middle to wide box draws,” Thompson said.

“This is his second ever box one, the only other time he has had it, he won easily at Sandown.”

Temlee and Australian Cup champion Tim Zoo also heavily features in the Pre-Nomination market for the Harrison-Dawson.

Tim Zoo finished fifth in the Sandgroper ahead of kennel mate Explicit.

“He didn’t miss the start, but his box draw was horrendous and had no opportunity to get into the race – box eight isn’t where you want to be at Cannington,” Thomspon said.

“He has one more trial and will then head to the Harrison-Dawson.”

Tim Zoo (1) and Field Day (3) do battle on Phoenix night. 

“They are all primed and ready but Explicit is the number one pick for the Harrison-Dawson,” Thompson said.

“It all comes down to box draws. You can have them as good as you want them but if you don’t get the draw, it can mean very little.”

Time to learn more about Team Thompson.