Typhoon Sammy To Create A Storm In Traralgon Cup

PREMIER trainer Jason Thompson believes Typhoon Sammy will need to repeat his blistering heat performance to be a chance in Wednesday night's Group 2 Traralgon Cup (395m).

Typhoon Sammy stepped brilliantly from box four to set a first split of 3.62 – a length faster than any other Cup finalist – on his way to running 21.53 for the 395m trip. Both the split and overall time is the current standard on the new ‘J-curve' circuit.

"He hasn't been known for being blistering early but hits the ground with plenty of speed, but he began really well on Friday night," said Thompson.

FIELDS AND FORM TRARALGON WEDNESDAY

"Once he did that and with his explosive speed, he was able to set up a pretty good lead."

TAB installed Typhoon Sammy the $2.30 favourite despite drawing box seven for the $47,000-to-the-winner final.

It is the same box from which he ran third in the Bendigo Cup in December after overcoming a tardy getaway, and Thompson noted the need the start will again be crucial on Wednesday night.

MUST WATCH FROM FRIDAY

Bendigo 425m track record holder TYPHOON SAMMY (4) set the Traralgon 395m time standard in the eighth heat of the Group 2 @SEN_track #TraralgonCup in 21.526 seconds for trainer Jason Thompson.

Result ? https://t.co/atwlkW9EfQ#GreyhoundRacing @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/VLk2xpyXuw

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) January 21, 2022

"It'll be a different tempo in the final with plenty of noted speedsters in there – Ferdinand Boy, More Sauce, Lala Kiwi – so he'll need to begin every bit as well as he did in his heat to put himself in the final."

Thompson grew up in Traralgon, and the Traralgon Cup was one of the first feature races he won in his decorated career when Light Of Fire claimed the 1994 Cup before winning the Melbourne Cup later that year.

He was impressed with his first experience racing at the latest iteration of his home track.

"I think it's good. The few race meetings that they've had, it seems to be very clean racing and ensures less injuries so that has to be good,” Thompson said.

"Most tracks give tracks give dogs that show speed more chance than dogs coming from the back. (Cup finalist) More Sauce – if his race had of been on a half-circle track a doubt he would have won because he dwelt, but with the long straight run before you start getting into the turn it gives him a chance to work his way through and that's got to be a good thing.

“That's why I think it was such a good run – he missed the start and was back but the fact it's maybe 250m straight run it gives them a chance to pick themselves up and get back into the race."

After a quiet start to 2022 which has produced just 23 starters, Thompson will present five runners on Australia Day.

Despite his connection to Traralgon, Thompson will head to Ballarat while his son Luke will retain handling duties on Cup night.

"Luke did a good job last Friday, we won't change anything."