Medhurst's Thousand Pursuit Gets Underway

TED Medhurst's pursuit of a second Hobart Thousand title begins on Thursday night with the Hall of Fame trainer represented in each of the five heats of the group 1 showpiece.

Winner of Tassie's flagship event back in 2004 with Regent Thunder, Medhurst steams into Thursday night's qualifiers with an embarrassment of riches, led by record breaking litter-brothers Stanley Gordon and Raging Ralston.

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The sons of My Bro Fabio have taken Tasmanian greyhound racing by storm in recent months, taking turns in holding the 461-metre time-standard with tantalizing performances of sustained speed.

Stanley Gordon goes into Thursday night's heats of the $75,000 to-the-winner series as the current record holder at 25.44, having bettered the 25.46 Raging Ralston posted when lowering the previous 25.52 benchmark, set by Above All when successful in the 2014 Hobart Thousand for trainer Robert Britton.

And while the prolific winning brothers lead an all-star cast of local sprinters vying for this year's Hobart Thousand title, the interstate brigade stands at five, spearheaded by Jason Thompson's star duo Hooked On Scotch and Flynn, the Melbourne Cup finalists odds-on favourites for their respective heats.

Jeff Britton is represented by Grey Ghost and He's For Me in the qualifiers while Samantha Grenfell ventures to Hobart with hugely exciting Dyna Double One prospect Tiggerlong Tonk, the last start Ballarat winner rattling the clock with a 25.66 Hobart trial last Thursday evening.

"Someone said to me the other day there's only five intersate runners and I returned back with ‘that's great but it only takes one'," Medhurst said in the lead up to Thursday's heats.

"They don't hand out Hobart Thousands … they're hard to win so you need everything to go your way. Touchwood my five go into Thursday's heats in good order – I couldn't be happier with them."

Medhurst gives an insight into his Hobart Thousand contenders

Heat 1 – CHILLED OUT (box 1)

She's in more because it's the only race she'd get a run in this week but she deserves her shot. Box one is a plus but Flynn looks very hard to beat. It is a very quiet lure at Hobart so it can catch you out without a trial but the quality here is a lot thinner than what he's been racing back home. He's got the box to win you'd think."

Heat 2 – FABULOUS BAROQUE (box 8)

He's a real racer this dog. Good, young professional race dog that's never far away. He takes on Peco Can and Stop Line, which is a big ask so he'll be relying on a lot to go his way. All his 10 wins have been won by less than a length margin, he doesn't like getting beat and gives another kick if challenged. Stop Line goes into the race in red-hot form and Peco Can loves Hobart. She was running into the race before she fell at Devonport last start.

Heat 3 – FREYA THE SLAYER (box 3)

She's a sister to Stanley Gordon and Raging Ralston and don't worry when you trial them she goes every bit as good as them. Whether she can beat Hooked On Scotch is another story but if he does something wrong I'm not dismissing her as a chance … she can run a big race if things go her way at the odds but the favourite is a freak and could run anything.

Heat 4 – RAGING RALSTON (box 3)

He's drawn a suitable field. I just don't need bad luck with him because he doesn't have that genuine five second speed early. If he gets a clear run and is in the first four … well his run home section is outstanding. He just needs a crack at them … I trialled him at Hobart on Saturday morning and he went sensational. He's spot on for Thursday.

Heat 5 – STANLEY GORDON (box 7)

That young Victorian dog (Tiggerlong Tonk) trialled sensational between races last Thursday with good sections so it's going to be a real race. I'm worried about Stanley Gordon getting a fat ear early from box seven from the dog in the pink. If he gets a clear run and can run his sub-5 first section then he'll take beating. It will come down to what happens early and how he begins. He trialled on Saturday morning brilliantly and has come out of the Devonport Chase great. He's exactly where I want him for Thursday.