Thompson In Pursuit Of Fourth Great Chase Title

JASON Thompson's bid to secure a fourth Great Chase title continues at The Meadows on Wednesday afternoon with Victoria's premier trainer represented by three talented types at the semi-final juncture.

Boasting wins in the group 2 event with Wot Price Harold (2007), Boris Fields (2012) and Despacito (2017), Thompson roars into Wednesday's semi-finals with a three pronged attack, led by unbeaten juvenile Immunity, winner at each of her six racetrack appearances in majestic fashion.

"She's going fantastic but I've still got a bigger opinion of the dog – Equalizer," Thompson said.

"When I kicked Immunity off at The Meadows I thought she'd jump and run but she was very immature and did a lot wrong. When she's at the track all she wants to do is jump on people and play – very puppyish.

"The fact she didn't lead but still won early on told me a lot about the bitch and since she's returned from a little break she's been racing far more mature.

"And she's very strong. I've got no doubt later on she'll get a strong 600m if we need." 

Such is the impression Immunity has left in her brief career to date, the younger half-sister to champion race bitch Black Opium has already been well found in pre-post markets for next month's TAB Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park.

"If her and Equalizer keep heading in the right direction then the Melbourne Cup is the target," Thompson said.

Thompson's Great Chase blitz kicks off in the opening semi-final where the exciting Equalizer, a litter-brother to Immunity, exits box two as a red hot $1.50 favourite.

Winner at five of his 11 starts, Equalizer, a son of Kc And All and Captivating, qualified for the Great Chase semi-finals with a sizzling 25.52 Geelong romp last Thursday.

"I really like him," Thompson said.

"It's been his last three starts that he's really showed me the penny has dropped. 

"He's very different to his sister Immunity. He's far more relaxed and easy going. Box two looks ideal for him Wednesday."

While the unbeaten Immunity steps out from box six as an odds-on favourite in semi-final three, recent kennel acquisition Pirate Pete exits the prized rails alley in semi-final four from box one as a warm favourite.

A sizzling 25.61 Warragul Great Chase heat winner at his debut performance for Thompson, the son of Dyna Tron makes his first appearance at The Meadows in Wednesday's qualifier.

"I haven't had him for all that long but he showed at Warragul the ability he has," Thompson said.

"I'm still learning about him and Wednesday is another step forward.

"In a month he could be a Melbourne Cup dog or a grade five dog – he'll tell me in the next few weeks. But I do think he'll be better suited to Sandown than The Meadows."

The TAB Great Chase has raised almost $650,000 for charities in Victoria's disability sector since its inception in 2003.

In the lead up to Wednesday week's rich finale, eight charity groups will be randomly selected and be aligned with a finalist, set to share in over $24,000 in prize money.

The charity aligned with the Great Chase winner will receive a cool $10,000.

FIELDS AND FORM THE MEADOWS WEDNESDAY