Thompson Duo ‘Unleash' In Traralgon Cup Heats
JASON Thompson is on target to open 2024 with back-to-back cups after Unleash Collinda and Got Attitude set the Traralgon Cup pace.
JASON Thompson is on target to open 2024 with back-to-back Victorian country cup titles after Unleash Collinda and Got Attitude set the pace in Friday night's Group 2 Sportsbet Traralgon Cup heats.
One week earlier the champion trainer won the Group 2 Warragul Cup courtesy of Tim Zoo.
After qualifying four finalists at Warragul, Thompson only targeted the Traralgon series with two of his star-studded team and both duly saluted.
Unleash Collinda was the quickest of the six heat winners, careering away with the fifth run-off in 24.68sec.
Unleash Collinda is a litter brother to Traralgon 450m record holder Mr. Audacious, which established his 24.43sec benchmark in last year's Cup heats.
Next Friday night's (Australia Day) final will be Unleash Collinda's sixth appearance in a country cup decider, with the son of Beast Unleashed and Audacious Bell seeking a breakthrough victory.
In 2023 Unleash Collinda had to settle for second prize in the Ballarat, Healesville and Shepparton Cups.
"It won't be an easy race to win, but if Unleash Collinda was to win it, he'll have deserved it," Thompson said.
Got Attitude, a finalist in the Warragul Cup and runner-up in the Group 1 Hobart Thousand last month, completed a heat-to-heat double for Thompson in the final qualifier, clocking 24.81sec.
"They both had good draws (box 1). The red was a big help and they both used it," Thompson said.
"I thought Unleash Collinda's run was really good. He was only average out, but he accelerated very quickly and to still run ‘68' after the way he began was impressive.
"Got Attitude did everything right, but obviously went a couple of lengths slower."
Got Attitude will again exit the rails in the Cup Final, while Unleash Collinda moves to eight.
"I'm very happy with where they've drawn. They're both where they really prefer," Thompson offered.
"Got Attitude goes good off the red and box eight is a definite plus for the other bloke (Unleash Collinda) as well.
"It's hard to split them. The draw is good for both of them, so hopefully at least one can take advantage of it."
The heat double completed an excellent week for Thompson, with six of his eight starters scoring; he was especially delighted with winning returns from Explicit and Umberto at Shepparton.
Thompson is eyeing a third Traralgon Cup triumph, his previous successes coming via Light Of Fire (1994) and Typhoon Sammy (2022), while wife Seona won the event with Poke The Bear (2018).
Anthony Azzopardi will also have two finalists, with Pass The Buck claiming his 10th win from 14 starts with a narrow 24.82sec verdict over Warragul Cup finalist Burn Along, the third fastest heat effort.
Azzopardi's second finalist is former Traralgon 450m record-holder Salad Dodger, which will line up in his second successive Traralgon Cup after finishing runner-up to Tasmanian Ducati Roy in 24.83sec.
There were major upsets in the opening two heats, which went to Mighty Moose ($15), trained by Maria Barber, and Matt Clark's Black Viper ($22) in 25.07sec and 25.20sec respectively.
Unleash Collinda and Pass The Buck (box 6) have been installed joint favourites at $3.20, shading Got Attitude at $3.30.
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