Thompson Trio: Luke's Australian Cup Run Down

LUKE Thompson is just 23 and while golf is his outlet, the son of leading trainers Jason and Seona, has a devotion to greyhound racing that knows no bounds.

These days he and sister Holly are the on-track face of the all-conquering Thompson kennel but their work behind the scenes runs far deeper.

With the kennel lining up three of the eight Group 1 Australian Cup (525m) finalists at The Meadows, Luke's thoughts on the kennel trio is insightful.

Flying Zulu, Excavation and defending champ Tim Zoo will be chasing the winner's purse of $300,000.

Here's what Luke had to say about all three.

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TIM ZOO (BOX 8)

(Aussie Infrared-Double Supreme by Dyna Double One)

He's started 46 times for 22 wins, 12 placings, and earnings of $603,000 winning the G1 Australian Cup, G1 Temlee, G2 Warragul Cup, G3 Dillon Memorial, Phoenix Challenge etc. He has won, been placed or a finalist at Group level nine times.

Says Luke: "He's airborne at the moment.

"His past two runs have been outstanding. His win in The Temlee was fantastic and then he went even better to win his Cup heat last week.

"The best thing about him is he is not box draw dependent.

"There is not a lot of early peed in this Cup final and that gives him a huge chance again.

"His temperament is perfect, he's such a beautiful dog.

"Every time we take him to Healesville he can break 19 he is so fast.

"We always thought he would get 600 metres, but 700 might be too far.

"Holly will be leading him out for the Cup."

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FLYING ZULU (BOX 7)

(Orson Allen-Cyclone Jebel by Hay Fergus)

He has started 45 times for 25 wins, 10 placings and $871,000. His wins have come in the G1 Brisbane Cup, Australia Day Sprint and he has won, been placed or a finalist at Group level 10 times.

Luke says: "I will be leading him out for the final.

"We have always had a massive opinion of him and when he won the Brisbane Cup it was very deserving for him.

"He needed a few months off a while ago when he got a slight crack in a hock, nothing that needed surgery, but enough to put him on the sideline.

"He flies under the radar a bit in the kennel.

"When Explicit emerged, most dogs in the country did that though.

"Flying Zulu is a family dog, he will not have a stud career because he has retained testicles.

"But, when he finishes racing, he will move into the house to be on the couch next to Black Opium as our two house pets.

"He loves an inside draw."

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EXCAVATION (BOX 5)

(Fernando Bale-Thriving by Moreira)

He has started 35 times for 14 wins and 11 placings earning $443,000. His wins have come in the G1 Topgun, G1 Adelaide Cup, SA Match Race and he holds the Angle Park TR. He has won, been placed or a finalist at Group level six times.

Luke says: "Mum will handle him for the Cup final.

"Out of the three finalists, Excavation has not had the best prep of them.

"But, he was really, really good in The Temlee and when he held off such a class dog and strong dog like Canya All Class in the Cup semi-final on Saturday night it was something.

"He's adaptable and we generally like him in the middle or wide draws so five is ideal.

"He will be tip top this week for the Cup final.”

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Of the final preparation of all three for the Cup, Luke says all three will have a quiet week at home.

"It will be normal routine for all three," he said.

"They are all 100 percent, all fit, so we don't need to do anything else with them."

Of the Cup final, he believes Vincent Bale will be hard to toss.

"His time in the heat was affected by the heavy downpour just prior to the race," Luke said.

"And, his two runs in Brisbane were fantastic."

The Thompson kennel keeps between 12 and 18 in training.

Luke also reports Explicit has mated 22 bitches since retiring to stud after his G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 The Phoenix wins late last year.