Equalizer On Song For Brisbane Cup Defence

PREMIER Victorian trainer Jason Thompson struggles to articulate the admiration he holds for his comeback sprinter Equalizer.

Tomorrow night at Albion Park the prolific winning sprinter will be aiming to defend his Brisbane Cup title when he steps out from box six in the lucrative $525,000 showpiece.

Those that watched his breathtaking come-from-behind heat victory last Thursday – extending his unblemished Albion Park record to five – would be forgiven for thinking he hasn't missed a beat since last year's resounding Cup triumph.

However it's been anything but the case, spending the best part of seven months on the sidelines.

"He only had two starts after last year's Brisbane Cup before sustaining what we thought was a career ending injury," Thompson said.

ALBION PARK PERFECTION

EQUALIZER (4) has the opportunity to secure back-to-back Group 1 #BrisbaneCup victories at @BrisGreys after a stirring performance in the first heat in a winning time of 29.88 seconds for trainer Jason Thompson.#GreyhoundRacingpic.twitter.com/wwgxyYGh0f

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) June 30, 2022

"It was a case of expecting the worst and hoping for the best but in all likelihood we thought his racing days were over. We began his rehab but registered him for stud and he's been quite popular with a few litters already."

Fast forward seven months to March this year and Equalizer returned to racing, testament to the relentless work by all involved in his rehabilitation.

"He blew the cobwebs out at his first run and then strung wins together at both The Meadows and Wentworth Park," Thompson said.

"The team around us can put all the work in but at the end of the day the dog has got to want to do it. It's hard to properly explain what a special and talented dog he is.

"When I sent him to Tony (Brett) for his Brisbane campaign I told him he was going every bit as good as he was last year.

"For his age and injuries – missing seven months – it's been a big effort, at the highest level too."

Thompson, who has again entrusted leading Queensland trainer Tony Brett with Equalizer for his Brisbane Cup defence, concedes box six makes the job infinitely harder on Thursday night.

But given his relentless will to win, love for Albion Park and come-from-behind racing pattern, Thompson refuses to rule him out.

"He's always a chance in anything he contests," Thompson said.

"You only need to look at his record to see that. And I can't speak more highly of the job Tony does, especially with this fella.

"When we send dogs to him we barely need to talk because you couldn't have more trust that the dogs will thrive."

Remarkably, between Thompson and Brett they are responsible for nine of the past 19 Brisbane Cup winners.

Thompson, eyeing three in succession with last year's winner Equalizer preceded by his older half-sister Black Opium's victory in 2020, has won five, while Brett sits on four.

Brett, who has guided champions such as Bogie Leigh, Glen Gallon and Thirty Talks to victory in the race, is represented by dashing heat winners Just A Sort and Orchestrate in the rich decider.

Just A Sort will exit box seven while race favourite Orchestrate has drawn outside him in eight.

And while the premier training duo are front and centre in the Brisbane Cup they are also set to play a leading hand in the Group 1 Queensland Cup (710m) for the stayers.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

Brett will line-up race favourite Bedrock Fred from box one while Thompson has Collinda Patty, also in the care of Brett for her Queensland campaign, drawn in box six.

"Bedrock Fred has looked great winning the Dashing Corsair, Super Stayers and then his Queensland Cup heat last week and I can't fault him going into Thursday night," Brett said.

"But I'm not ruling out Collinda Patty running a big race either. She'll improve off her heat win and has settled in great. It's a very good race."