Group 1 Brisbane Cup Hero Equalizer Retired

GROUP 1 winning powerhouse Equalizer has been officially retired following a decorated career for trainers Jason and Seona Thompson.

The son of Kc And All and Captivating, making him a younger half-brother to champion Black Opium, finishes his career with 26 wins and 20 placings from 69 starts with prizemoney of $484,370.

He will now stand at stud at Sires On Ice in NSW for a stud fee of $1760 or $2200 fresh.

Tipping the scales at an imposing 36 kilos, Equalizer qualified for no less than 10 Group race finals during his stellar career, with his crowning glory coming with victory in the 2021 Group 1 Brisbane Cup (520m) at Albion Park.

EQUALIZER AT STUD

In a list of career highlights, the hulking blueblood also won back-to-back Group 2 Super Sprinter Cups at Albion Park, was placed in Warragul and Cranbourne Cups and finished second to Aston Rupee in a Bill Collins Speed Star.

? EQUALIZER – G1 Brisbane Cup Final Winner ?

? Congratulations to the the Thompson and Brett families and connections on a brilliant 29.52 performance from box four! pic.twitter.com/W31geoISfV

— Dimity Maher (@DimityMaher) July 8, 2021

Trainer Jason Thompson was quick to list the regally bred chaser right up there with the best greyhounds he's trained.

"He had a lot to live up to being a brother To Black Opium and he certainly lived up to his end of the bargain," Thompson said.

"Without doubt he's right up there with the best I've trained. He had a presence about him when you went to the track and on the track was as brilliant as he was strong.

"He really was the complete package, just a fierce chaser that didn't know when he was beaten."

In early 2022, Equalizer made a successful return from injury which Thompson says was the grand chaser's greatest achievement.

"Not many dogs return from the injury he had at all let alone to the level he did," Thompson said.

"To return and be successful again at group company gives you an idea how big a heart he's got. To make the Brisbane Cup Final again this year after spending six months sidelined was a big achievement.

"Tony Brett played a big part in the dog's success in Queensland as well."

Bred in the purple, Equalizer's attention will now turn to the breeding barn where he'll be coveted by breeders.

EQUALIZER BRED FOR SUCCESS AT STUD

Sires On Ice's Tony Wiseman said he was excited to get the superstar chaser up and going at stud.

“It's fantastic to have a dog of his caliber as part of the team,” Wiseman said.

“I'm sure he'll be really popular with breeders, just a fantastic race dog with the pedigree to match.”